Red Russian Volunteers 5.5.15

Spring 2012 I bought a 4 pack of Red Russian Kale. Fall 2012- I was a bad gardener and did not clean up for the winter. Winter 2013 - one of the hardest winters we have had in years. Spring 2014 Despite the cold winter one of those Red Russian Kale roots shot back up and produced Kale for me. I was surprised. Fall 2014 - I didn't clean it up well and  it seeded every where...Result, millions of tiny Red Russian Kale volunteers. I LOVE GARDENING! These are my babies!

Spring Seed Starting 3.23.15

Okay, so we are so excited about this year's gardening. I have began starting my seeds. Initially I started with Roma Tomatoes, Bell Peppers, Hot Peppers, Thyme, and Cress. The rest I was going to start outside  BUT then I got the bright idea since I purchased the greenhouse and have space I may as well go ahead and try to start mostly all of my seeds indoors except for things like carrots. I like to make sure that my seeds germinate so I use the paper towel method to germinate the seed. Fun project to do with the kids, they like seeing things grow. All you need is:

-Roll of Paper Towel or napkins

-Plastic bags

-Water

-Seeds

-Permanent marker 

1. Wet the Paper Towel, make sure it is moist, but not soggy wet.

2. Place the seeds in the paper towel and fold it

3. Put paper towel in bag and seal

4. Write the date and the contents (if you forget this you will be doing a guessing game when they germinate)

5. Check the bag every day and when you see a tail on it, this means it germinated, and now you can put the seeds in the ground! 

Doing it this way is an extra step but the benefit of doing it this way is this-you have a 100% way of knowing if your seed has germinated or not, and you don't have extra seedlings and won't feel like you are "aborting" the baby seedlings when you have to thin them.

Carrots are not a good candidate for this- I hear they grow crooked when you try to put them in ground. 

Happy Seed Starting!