Skip to Content

Trimming Your Organic Budget ~ Keep Those Seedlings Alive!

Whether you have been following along or just getting started,  we started some veggies from seed. Keeping seedlings alive has been a learning process. We are sharing all that we have learned!
Like we said before we are learning as we go. Between Mama K’s tips and our own trial and error we are sharing how we have been keeping our seedlings alive.

Tip #1

Keep them happy. Good sun and moist well drained soil. Mine are everywhere…
Behind the couch, in windows, in J’s room, you name it they might be there.
Luckily at this stage they are pretty small.

Tip #2

Don’t let them get too tall. They will fall over and die off quick.
I started these Roma Tomatoes in tall cups since they wont be planted in the garden until May.
To keep them happy I just carefully loosened the soil using a fork, lifted out the seedling, stuck my finger in to make a deep whole, and placed the seedling back in.
These plants will get quite a bit bigger by the time they are going to go into the garden.

Tip #3

Give their roots a place to grow.
I started quite a few of each seed that I wanted… I knew they wouldn’t all make it, in fact I wasn’t too certain any of them would.  Some of my cabbage and broccoli were outgrowing their little pods behind the couch, so it was time for them to get a little more space.
Make sure you make plenty of holes in the bottom for water drainage.

Tip #4

Be patient! Once the true leaves (the second set) grow in they are well on their way to becoming your next dinner… Getting them past the first few weeks might be the hardest part. I have to admit mine didn’t all make it.
and sometimes even once you think your in the clear, one just gives out on you… Still think one of the kids got to this one…
3 out of 4 isn’t too bad. I have plenty more going and I don’t even like cabbage that much…
Seeds are super cheap, even for organic so if a few don’t make it you’re only loosing out on some change. These guys will be going into the garden soon enough. It has finally been plowed!!
Next we will be going over composting for your garden. We touched on this in our Use it Don’t Lose it post a few weeks ago. So start saving your scraps!
 post signature
post signature
Don’t get discouraged if you lose a few plants to damping off (when the plant dies where the stem meets the soil), it happens to even seasoned gardeners.
Starting from seeds doesn't have to be so scary! Here are a few tips and tricks that will get even the brownest thumb growing something.

BLT inspired Spinach Side Dish | Twitchetts

Saturday 23rd of May 2015

[…] that’s a go-to side dish. Soon I will be pulling the tomatoes and spinach right out of the garden. What are your quick go to […]

Trimming Your Organic Budget ~ Get Your Grow On | Twitchetts

Saturday 23rd of May 2015

[…] you are just catching up we started from seed, took care of our seedlings, & started some compost. These are some final tips in the seedling process, from here things […]

Erin

Tuesday 14th of April 2015

Fabulous tips! I'm starting up for the year right now but I wish I would've read this sooner! lol.

Aleshea

Monday 13th of April 2015

how fun. I've never tried this but this makes me want to. Love the tips as well

Jenn, hellorigby.com

Sunday 12th of April 2015

These are awesome tips! I have a terrible black thumb and need all the help I can get!