seed starting

How I Beat The Winter Blues By Winter Sowing

by Kathy Purdy January 31, 2016 – Posted in: How-to, Seeds and Seed Starting

I woke up on the wrong side of the bed today. A good remedy when I feel snappish and sorry for myself is to cross something off from my never-ending to-do list--preferably a project that has been hanging over my head for a while. That way, I get a morale boost from getting it done, [...]

Ten Things to Do While You’re Waiting For the Snow to Melt

by Kathy Purdy April 4, 2015 – Posted in: FAQ, Mud Season

Watching the snow pack melt is sort of like watching the tide recede--in slow motion. It is tempting to grit your teeth, clench your hands and mutter "C'mon, already!" but since that really doesn't get you anywhere, here are some things to do instead. Some of them I've already done, some of them I've done [...]

How to Garden Like You’re in the Tropics
When You’re Stuck in the Snow

by Lisa Ueda August 23, 2010 – Posted in: How-to, Seeds and Seed Starting

Editor's note: Starting seeds is usually something cold climate gardeners do in the wi-- no, I won't say that word. But some seeds can be started now. Guest blogger Lisa Ueda shares her method for starting cannas from seed. My winter vacation destination of choice has always been the Florida Keys, where I usually fantasize [...]

Seedling light stand cleanup

by Kathy Purdy April 18, 2009 – Posted in: Garden chores, Garden Tweets, Seeds and Seed Starting

Finished reorganizing the seed stand. Culled all the broken flats. Organized the cell packs. All this for the master seed starter, not me. My eldest daughter does most of the seed starting. I taught her everything I knew, and she improved upon it. So I just get everything back in order after a winter of [...]

Light Stand for Seed Starting

by Kathy Purdy March 1, 2005 – Posted in: Hardscaping and Projects, Seeds and Seed Starting

Many people try to start some seeds and grow them on in a window sill. Unless you happen to have a really deep window sill in a south facing window, growing seedlings in this manner rarely proves satisfactory. The seedlings don't get enough light and grow pale and leggy. You can grow far more seedlings [...]