The Cheap Vegetable Gardener

Harvesting your own seeds

16.8 years ago seed saving

This past fall I made my first attempt to harvest my own seeds. If you can’t tell from the picture I chose cilantro (or coriander if you eat the seeds) and seem to be worth the minimal effort. Just as a warning, if the plant you are dealing with happens to be a hybrid (parents of different species) what you get the next year may not be the same as it was the previous year. In the end this could be disappointment or a pleasant surprise so the risk might be worth it. This next year I am planning letting some of my other vegetables finish going to seed to save a couple bucks but also the flowers don’t look half bad.

Tags: cheap, cilantro, garden seeds, outdoor plants, vegetables

Sow what your actually going to eat

16.8 years ago garden planning

It is getting that time a year when we are all getting our seeds in order and start planning what we will be including in your garden. Every year I always tell myself “Take it easy, don’t overdo it” but unfortunately I never listen to myself and look at the many seeds in the packet and end up composting at least half of my crop of spinach, carrots, and lettuce. I hope that writing this down will help me to remember to listen to that little voice when I plant my peas and spinach tomorrow.

Tags: compost, garden seeds, outdoor plants

My Lettuce seeds have sprouted

16.8 years ago indoor seed starting

My lettuce seeds sprouted faster than usual this year, I expected to have some problems since I have saved the seeds for 3 years now. I don’t have a heating pad (yeah I’m cheap) so just put them on top of the refrigerator in a makeshift greenhouse out of an old strawberry container. They would have still germinated in my mid-60 degree house, but the extra heat gained from being on top of the refrigerator will allow my cucumbers to sprout about 10 days sooner.

I will have to give coconut coir my two green thumbs up, my only complaint is that it retains water a little too well. I would recommend 1 part perlite to 2 parts coconut coir to let the roots dry out a little more. For now I am just watering from the bottom so guess I am doing some cheap hydroponics. I have also added them to my PC case grow box.

Tags: cheap, garden seeds, growbox, strawberry plants, vegetables

Strawberries in the PC grow box (UPDATE)

16.8 years ago indoor growbox

Well the strawberry plant seems to be doing great in the $20 PC grow box. Can’t wait to try it out on my recently planted seedlings.

Tags: cheap, garden seeds, growbox, outdoor plants, strawberry plants, vegetables

Gardening with kids

16.8 years ago kids

The appeal of working in the garden has always been natural to my daughters. But then again what could be better than going outside playing with dirt and water. I do have a few tips I have picked up that might make it a little extra fun for the young ones:

• Let them have their own garden, not only does this give them their own space to play but also protects your own garden from their desire to keep digging. I made a little 2 foot square garden with one 8 foot length of 4X4 and a few long screws. Was the perfect size where she could reach everything from any side.
• Buy them their own gardening tools. Otherwise you might be fighting to get your claw and trowel away from them and also that little plastic watering can works great for gently watering those newly planted seedlings.
• Pick seed that work well with their little fingers. Some of my favorite seeds are peas, radishes, sunflowers, pumpkins, and cilantro.
• Start some seeds indoors. A little Dixie cup and some coconut coir works great and they can keep a close eye on it several times a day.
• Go to the nursery and buy some flowers. It is hard to be patient a $0.99 primrose can definitely hold the sprouts over while wait for their own to grow.

Not only can this be fun activity to together but also can be educational. I recall during a preschool planting activity where many parents were very impressed as my daughter teased the roots before she carefully placed her plant in her very well loosened soil.

Tags: cheap, cilantro, garden seeds, outdoor plants, vegetables

Saving money by saving seeds

16.8 years ago seed saving, seed storing

Many people do not know that given the right care you can save a package of seeds for 3 years and depending on the variety possibly even longer.  When you want seeds to germinate you provide heat, moisture, and light. To prevent them from germinating you want to do the opposite by storing them in a cool, dry, and dark environment.

I happen to live in the humid Pacific Northwest so finding a dry location can be difficult, but I happen to have the perfect environment in my kitchen in my refrigerator.  Just thoroughly clean and dry a glass jar and drop in your seed packets and close the lid. If you happen to one or two of those silica packets lying around (those things you find in the toe when you put on new pair of sneakers) drop that in the bottom it will help soak up any moisture that may exist in the jar.  If moisture seems to appear inside your jar simply open the top and the dry environment will suck all the moisture out.

Tags: garden seeds