Repelling Dogs From Your Garden

Today, I’m sharing gardening tips on repelling dogs from your garden.  A pet can make your life easier. They are a part of most families, and they not only provide companionship, but can improve your social life, provide emotional support, and reduce blood pressure, anxiety and depression.

Even so, owning a pet has its fair share of the downside. Taking care of one is time-consuming; some pet foods are pretty expensive, you have to take regular trips to the veterinarian, and it can be dangerous if you have an infant.

If you own a garden, you know how strenuous it can be to protect your seedlings and other plants from your pets. Your dog could be digging up your carrots while the neighbor’s cat is using your flower garden as a litter box. 

Fortunately, there are ways to pet-proof your garden to protect it from domestic animals. Read on.

 

 

repelling dogs from your garden

 

 

Repelling Dogs From Your Garden

 

Repelling Dogs From Your Garden Using Animal Decoys

Mounting an animal decoy in your garden can make a visual impact with dogs.  This method is most applicable for night visitors such as racoons and bunnies. But, animal decoys can also stop dogs from entering your garden.

You can invest in various types of animal decoys, but most importantly, consider those that can move. A stationary animal decoy can work for a day or two, but if you want to keep pets and birds away from your garden long term, use a bait that can move.  For example, tying a rope to a plastic owl so that it sways can convince pets that the garden is on guard.

 

Keep Your Pets Occupied

Another effective way to keep pets away from your garden is to keep them occupied. For instance, if you want to prevent your dog from digging up your carrots, you can create a play area with bare soil for them to dig in.  Give them a few toys that they enjoy, and may bury to keep them busy.

Reward them for good behavior with ginger treats for dogs . They will motivate them to continue digging in that area.  Furthermore, having a digging pit for your dog is a surefire way to prevent them from messing up your garden. Also, ensure to enclose it to keep them from moving to your garden.

 

 

repelling dogs from your garden

 

 

 

Use Citrus Peels

Citrus peels from fruits such as oranges are unpleasantly bitter to most animals. And, dogs don’t like anything bitter. To keep your dog away, consider scattering citrus peels around the garden. Furthermore, you can also repel cats from your garden by using citrus peels.  They don’t like the smell of citrus either.  

This tip can be more effective if you mix the peels with coffee grounds. It can create an even more powerful and bitter dog-deterrent solution. Also, make it a habit to replace the peels regularly to ensure the method remains effective.

 

 

repelling dogs from your garden

 

 

 

Invest in Motion-Activated Sprinklers

Neither cats or dogs like water.  Therefore, this can be an effective way to pet-proof your garden. It would be best to invest in a sprinkler system that activates when your garden is being approached.  If any domestic animal approaches the garden, the sprinklers will activate, rendering them wet, thus fleeing from the garden.

There are probably tons of ways to handle this battle effectively.  Just determine the most effective way of repelling dogs from your garden and stick to it.  If necessary, experiment with a few of my suggestions until you find one that works. 

How to Grow Radishes for Beginner Gardeners

Today, I’m sharing gardening tips on how to grow radishes. Radishes are the perfect vegetable for beginner gardeners.  Actually, they are one of the easiest vegetables to grow.  I love radishes on vegetable trays, in salad or just to snack on.  Spicy radishes are what I crave.  However, there are 35 varieties of radishes for you to choose from to satisfy your taste buds.  

Besides being delicious, another reason to grow radishes is you can reap the benefits from two sowings.  One in the spring and one in the fall.  

Radishes provide great health benefits like antioxidants, calcium and potassium.  Furthermore, they can also help lower blood pressure.  

 

 

how to grow radishes

 

 

So, radishes are root vegetables and belong to the Brassicaceae family.  The Brassicaceae family includes cabbage, cauliflowers, collard greens, turnips, and beets to name a few.  Radishes originated in Egypt.  It gets it’s name from the Latin word root.  Radishes are loved by many, Americans eat approximately 400 million pounds of radishes each year.  

 

Varieties of Radishes:  

 

  • Cherry Belle
  • French Breakfast
  • Gourmet Blend
  • Fire and Ice
  • Pink Beauty
  • Black Spanish
  • White Icicle
  • Easter Egg
  • Purple Plum
  • Daikon

 

 

how to grow radishes

 

 

These radishes can be grown in a variety of containers.  They can be grown in raised beds, flower pots, baskets, colanders, galvanized tubs or buckets.  Personally, I plant them in rows in my garden.  

If you decide to grow radishes in a container, make sure it is a least 6 inches deep.  

 

How to Grow Radishes:  

 

  • Spring and fall are the best time to grow radishes.  Radishes prefer cool weather, so planting in April and or September is the perfect time to sow radish seeds.  
  • Add compost to your soil before you sow your seeds.  
  • Radishes are difficult to transplant; however, some gardeners have good luck transplanting them.  Because they are very easy to grow, I recommend direct sowing your seed as a beginner gardener.   
  • Grow radishes in full sun or partial shade. (They should be get at least 6 hours of sun a day).  
  • Avoid growing radishes next to potatoes, turnips or broccoli  and the herb hyssop.  
  • Not thinning radishes can stunt their growth. So, be sure to thin the radishes so they are an inch apart. You can simply pull or clip the radish seedlings you want to remove.  
  • Hot weather will cause radishes to bolt.  Once radishes bolt, they become bitter, woody and not at all tasty.  How do you know when you plant has bolted?  It will start flowering and attempting to set seed.  You can continue to let the plant bolt and go to seed if your radishes are heirloom plants.  Simply let the plant grow and produce seed pods.  When the pods turn brown and hard harvest the seed and plant them later.  
  • Water regularly.  Make sure your radishes receive at least an inch of water weekly.  When your radishes don’t receive enough water, they tend to crack or split.  You can use a soaker hose to water deeply when you’re pressed for time. 
  • Harvest your radishes timely.  Otherwise, they will become tough because they’ve been left in the ground too long. 
  • Harvest radishes within 30 to 45 days.  Be sure to read the package to ensure they are harvested timely. 
  • If radishes are about an inch out of the ground, they are ready to harvest.
  • When warmer weather hits in June, you should have already harvested your radishes. 

 

I hope that you enjoyed my post on on how to grow radishes.  Last, if you missed your chance to plant in the spring, plan a fall harvest.  Home grown radishes are so much tastier than store brought varieties.  You may also like: Spring Vegetables for Zone 6B.    Check out the Health Benefits of Radishes too.  

 

 

 

Best Companion Plants for Cabbage

Today, I’m sharing beginner gardening tips on companion plants for cabbage.  Are you wondering what companion planting is?  When I first started gardening, I was unknowledgeable about companion plants and their benefits too.  However, I soon learned that plants need help just like humans.  

 

What Is Companion Planting:

 

Companion planting is when you grow different plants close to each  other.  The two plants help repel harmful bugs/pests, they can also attract beneficial insects, and help provide shade, support or even improve soil. 

Native Americans mastered companion planting with The Three Sisters.  The Three Sisters are corn, pole beans, and squash.  The corn provided a support for the beans to climb and the squash leaves provided shade to help retain moisture for the plants.  Companion plants for cabbage will work in a similar way.  

So, I plant sunflowers and cucumbers together.  The sunflower stalks are perfect for the cucumbers to wrap themselves around and the leaves of the cucumbers help shade the ground.  This helps the soil retain water.  And, makes these two plants great companions.  

 

 

companion plants for cabbage

 

 

 

 Using Flowers as Companion Plants 

 

Tomatoes and marigolds are good companion plants as well as tomatoes and basil. Lots of marigolds in your garden will bring insects that will eat pests in your garden.  Furthermore, those insects will enjoy the nectar or pollen of the flowers that you plant. 

So, petunias, zinnia, cosmos, and sweet peas are great flowers to plant in or around your vegetable garden too.  Get creative.  Plant them in circles around the base of your vegetable plants, make borders, use containers that sit close to the companion plants or intersperse flowers in your garden rows.  Those that produce clusters or trumpets are excellent choices to attract pollinators.  

 

 

companion planting for cabbage

 

 

Companion Plants for Cabbage

 

  • Dill
  • Chives
  • Beets
  • Yarrow
  • Mint
  • Geraniums
  • Sage
  • Oregano
  • Thyme
  • Onions
  • Marigolds
  • Mint
  • Celery
  • Basil
  • Calendula
  • Peas
  • Nasturtium
  • Bush or Pole Beans

 

 

 

companion plants for cabbage

 

Avoid Using These Plants with Cabbage:  

 

  • Tomatoes
  • Grapes
  • Strawberries
  • Garlic

 

I hope that my list of companion plants for cabbage will help you make a decision on what additional vegetables you want to add to your garden.  Also, adding companion flowers will make a lovely and colorful addition to your garden and backyard.  Last, the companion plants will help increase your yield and keep your produce disease free.  You may also like Understanding Companion Planting.  

What’s Eating My Cabbage and Remedies

Today, I’m sharing beginner gardening tips on what’s eating my cabbage.  Are you seeing holes in the leaves of your cabbage plants?  Lets discuss the garden pests that put holes in cabbage or other members of the cabbage family; cauliflower, kale and more.  When you see those tiny little holes on your plants, you wonder what’s eating my cabbage, what’s eating my kale or cauliflower?

More likely than not, it’s the cabbage worm. However, there are other culprits.  So, it’s important that you identify what’s eating your cabbage and take action immediately.  Your cabbage plants are the most vulnerable when they are seedlings.  

 

 

whats eating my cabbage

 

What’s Eating My Cabbage:

 

Cabbage Worm  – The cabbage worm is actually the caterpillar of the cabbage white butterfly.  It can create a huge amount of damage in your garden.  First, if you see the Cabbage White Butterfly in your garden, more likely than not it is laying eggs.  Probably hundreds of them.  Cabbage Whites lays their eggs under the leaves of plants.  So, eradicating the eggs should be your first step if possible.  

Turn over your cabbage leaves and look for small yellowish white eggs.  But, be careful because the eggs of ladybugs and Cabbage Whites look similar.  The difference is lady bugs lays their eggs in clusters, Cabbage Whites lay theirs here, there and everywhere.  Simply remove the eggs and squish them.  A pair of garden gloves will be beneficial here.

So, once the worms emerge from the eggs they start eating the leaves leaving small holes.  As they get bigger growing into caterpillars, the holes on the leaves will also get bigger. This process could last for several weeks or until the caterpillar reaches the stage where they prepare to turn into the Cabbage White butterfly.  Once they turn into a butterfly, the cycle will repeats, eggs, worm, caterpillar, and butterfly.   

 

 

whats eating my cabbage

 

 

Cabbage Looper – Chubby, little cabbage loopers will devour your cabbages if not removed.  So, removing cabbage loopers is imperative if you want a productive cabbage crop.  Instead of holes, the leaves on your cabbage plant will have jagged edges.

 

 

whats eating my cabbage

 

 

 

Slugs and Snails- Slugs and snails prefer cool weather and moist soil. Slugs can be found at the base of your cabbage or between the leaves.  They will be the toughest to eradicate.  Often, they are found deep inside the cabbage plant eating their way outward.  Sadly, when they are found they have pretty much destroyed the cabbage plant.  Unfortunately, removing them manually can be a challenge because they are burrowed deep inside the plant.  Slugs roam when we sleep.  Unlike the cabbage worm and cabbage looper, using an insecticide on slugs is not beneficial since they are not an insect. But, all is not lost.  

 

 

whats eating my cabbage

 

 

Remedies for Cabbage Pests:

 

  • Neem Oil – Spray the entire plant with an organic Neem Oil.  Be sure to spray both sides of the leaves for best control.  
  • Monterey BT Spray – Monterey BT is an organic spray as well that will eliminate chewing worms and bugs.  However, it’s safe for good worms, earth worms, and humans.  
  • Soap Spray – Make a mixture of Castile Liquid Soap and water.  You can also add neem oil to your mixture. For an easy mixture, check out this insecticidal soap recipe.  
  • Crushed EggshellsUse crushed eggshells around your cabbage plants and other members of the family including kale, broccoli, collard greens etc.  This the solution for keeping slugs at bay.  
  • Bowls of Beer or Milk – Use bowls of beer and milk throughout your garden to lure snails and slugs.  Dig a hole so the bowl sits at ground level.  This will make it easier for the slugs and snails to crawl into the beer or milk.  
  • Row Covers – Row covers can help save your plants too.  Secure them with landscape pins. 

 

If you’re planting any member of the Brassica family, preparing for garden pests should be at the top of your list.  So, get suited up and prepare to do battle.   

Health Benefits of Gardening for Beginners

Today, I’m sharing beginner gardening tips on health benefits of gardening. Many people believe that gardening is difficult.  However, if you take small steps, you can become a successful gardener.  Furthermore, you can garden in a small space or in containers.  You don’t need a large tilled plot like our grandparents had to grow your own produce and flowers.    

 You can grow fruit and vegetable or flowers.  However, most gardeners do a little of both.  Trying your hand at growing all is fun and very fulfilling.  Most importantly, gardeners reap health benefits from gardening.  Unfortunately, many beginner gardeners don’t realize the health benefits associated with gardening.  Furthermore, there are many people period who don’t know about the health benefits of gardening.  

 

Areas of Health Benefit That Benefit from Gardening 

Gardening has been proven to have physical, mental and physiological health benefits.  Personally, I have found that gardening makes me happy.   Endorphins stimulate feelings of self-satisfaction, happiness, positivity, and reduces stress and pain.  

 

 

 

health benefits of gardening

 

 

Health Benefits of Gardening: 

 

Gardening Reduces Stress

There’s nothing more peaceful than spending time in your garden nurturing what you’re growing.  Gardening allows you to focus on caring for your flowers, veggies and fruit so they can produce beautiful bouquets and fresh ingredients for your family meals.  It’s a great way to get away from life’s responsibilities, and focus on other things.  So, many people turn to gardening because it helps reduce stress.  

 

Gardening Provides Exercise

Gardening is not only great for your mental health, it provide physical benefits too.  Gardening provides your body with at least some level of low impact exercise, which is always a benefit with any activity.  You bend, reach, lift light items, pull and walk.  It gets you using muscles and joints that you may not have used in a while. You may feel stiff the first few days, but afterward you will look forward to the exercise.   

 

Great Way to Socialize

Furthermore, join a gardening plant exchange group.  There are plenty of gardeners in your local area who are willing to help new gardeners.  They exchange seeds, plants and advice.  It’s a great way to meet people who have a gardening interest. I have made new friends from the groups that I have joined. 

 

 


Infographic Design By Trim That Weed

 

Gardening Get Your Moving

Last, gardening if a great way to get off the couch, out of bed and on your feet too.  It’s the perfect way to get a healthy dose of sunshine.  So, turn off the TV and start listening to your favorite songs on your playlist while you’re pulling weeds, planting veggies or beautiful flowers.  

 

You will find that at the end of the day, gardening is a fulfilling and peaceful hobby that anyone can get into.  It just requires patience and a desire to learn gardening basics.  Furthermore, it allows you to reach out other gardeners. 

So, get ready to move and reap the health benefits of gardening.  You will be growing you own fresh produce and beautiful flowers in no time.   You may also like Healthy Gardening for Beginners too.  

 

 

Best Vegetables for Container Gardening

Today, I’m sharing beginner gardening tips on best vegetables for container gardening. Do you think you can’t garden because you don’t have a garden plot, raised beds or simply don’t have space?  Wrong, if you have a patio, balcony or a small area of ground space you can garden.  The possibilities of what you can grow in containers is endless.

Furthermore, there are plants and seeds that are grown specifically for patio or small garden spaces. Look for container or patio varieties for small spaces.  These plants and or seeds are grown specifically for patio and small garden spaces.

 

Best Vegetables for Container Gardening

 

Also, if you’re wondering what containers to use for your vegetables, you can use 5 gallon buckets, large flower pots, grow bags, plastic or galvanized tubs to grow vegetables  The key is to make sure the containers have drainage holes and are large and deep enough to house your plants.  Grow bags don’t require drainage holes drilled into them.   

 

 

best vegetables for container gardening

 

 

Best Vegetables for Container Gardening:   

 

Growing Tomatoes in Buckets or Containers:

  • Tom Thumb
  • Sun Gold
  • Roma
  • Red Robin
  • Plum Regal
  • Sunrise Sauce
  • Tomato Patio
  • Bush Early Girl
  • Tiny Tim
  • Husky Red

 

So, these tomatoes are great container gardening varieties to growPlan tomatoes in large buckets from Lowes or Home Depot, or your local paint store, flower pots, or grow bags.  These are all perfect for growing on a patio or deck. However, you will need to drill holes in the bottom of the containers for drainage.  But, if you’re using grow bags you don’t needs holes drilled into them. But, make sure you drill holes in the bottom of your containers. Furthermore, make sure your containers are deep enough to house the tomatoes.  Tomatoes need to be planted deep.  

 

 

 

best vegetables for container gardening

 

 

 


 

 

Growing Basil in Containers: 

  • Spicy Globe
  • Genovese
  • Sweet Basil
  • Purple Ruffles
  • Dark Opal
  • Cinnamon
  • Lemon

Next, grow basil in regular flower pots, colanders, baskets, grow bags or flower bed borders.

 

Best Carrots for Container Gardening: 

  • Kaleidoscope
  • Thumbelina
  • Little Fingers
  • Scarlet Nantes
  • Short and Sweet

All of these carrot varieties are great for containers.  Just make sure your containers are deep enough for the carrot to grown down and straight in the pot.  

 

Growing Lettuce For Container Gardening: 

  • Romaine
  • Buttercrunch
  • Black Seeded Simpson
  • Arugula
  • Gourmet Blend
  • Spring Mix  

I love fresh lettuce for my BLTs in the summer.  Additionally, I love to use the long window boxes to grow my lettuce.  You can set the planters on your patio or deck for easy access.  You can also use baskets, colanders, buckets, tubs and chair planters to grow this delicious treat.  

 

Best Radishes For Container Gardening: 

  • Cherry Belle
  • French Breakfast
  • Gourmet Blend
  • Fire and Ice
  • Pink Beauty

These radishes can be grown in a variety of containers.  They can be grown in raised beds, flower pots, baskets, colanders, galvanized tubs or buckets. These are a few varieties that can be grown in a container.  

 

Best Herbs for Container Gardening: 

  • Rosemary
  • Oregano
  • Mint
  • Basil
  • Thyme
  • Sage

Herbs can grown in pots, mason jars, buckets, baskets, colanders and other containers with drainage.  You can also plant herbs in flower beds or borders, rock gardens or raised beds too.  

 

 

best vegetables for containers

 

 

 

Cucumbers

  • Bush Cucumber
  • Space Master
  • Salad Bush
  • Salty and Crispy
  • Burpless

These cucumber have been given a thumbs up by container gardeners around the world. Furthermore, they don’t require a trellis to support their growth.  Flowers pots, 5 gallon buckets or grow bags will house these delicious treats.  

 

Potatoes

  • Red Norland
  • Yukon Gold
  • Adirondack Blue
  • Red Pontiac
  • Fingerlings
  • Russet
  • Kennebec

Potatoes can be planted in grow bags, 5 gallon buckets or contractor garbage bags.  I use contractor garbage bags for my leaf and shrubbery cuttings.  They are much studier and stronger than regular lawn bags.  However, you will need to poke holes in the bottom of the bag.  You can use a stick or skewer to poke holes in the bag.  Make sure you make the holes big enough for water to drain out.  You will need to drill holes in your 5 gallon buckets too.

 

 

best vegetables for containers

 

 

Peppers

  • Mini Belle
  • Jalapeno
  • Cayenne F1
  • Banana
  • Bulgarian Carrots
  • Super Chili
  • Mohawk Patio


Last, look for container variety peppers.  Grow bags or 5 gallon buckets with holes drilled in the bottom are perfect for growing peppers. Use a tomato cage or sticks to stake your belle peppers.

Finally, start small by selecting a few vegetables from my list.  And, add a few more veggies to your container garden next year.  You may also like easiest flowers and vegetables for pots.  

 

Using Banana Peels as Fertilizer

Today, I’m sharing gardening tips on using banana peels as fertilizer for beginner gardeners. I love recycling and upcycling things, and banana peels just happens to be one of those things.  So, I’ve found ways to use in banana peels in my gardens and I make a banana tea fertilizer for my plants.  Read on for this simple fertilizer recipe

 

 

banana peel fertilizer

 

 

 

Using Banana Peels as Fertilizer

Making banana peel fertilizer is easy and beneficial to both flower and vegetable garden.  Bananas are a great source of potassium, sodium, iron, zinc, and manganese, all of which plants need for healthy growth and blooms. 

Furthermore, potassium helps plants use water better and be more drought resistant.  Because it contains no nitrogen, it is perfect for low nitrogen plants like tomatoes and peppers. Banana peels contain calcium, which helps prevent blossom end rot.  You can also use the fertilizer on flowers, house plants and roses. 

 

  • Remove any stickers from the bananas.
  • Place 1 – 2 banana peels in a quart jar. 
  • Cover banana peels with rain water if available or regular water. 
  • Cover quart jar loosely with a top.  
  • Allow peels to stand in water for 48 hours to a week.  
  • Remove banana peels from the jar, and chop them into small pieces.  
  • Bury the banana peels beneath your plants when planting your garden and posts.
  • Store the fertilizer in a pitcher or gallon jug until ready to use. 
  • Water the plants at the base with the banana peel fertilizer.  

 

 

banana peel fertilizer

 

 

Furthermore, you can save banana peels throughout the year by freezing them.  You can make the fertilizer with fresh or frozen banana peels.  I freeze banana peels all year to ensure that I have enough to make fertilizer throughout the gardening season.  Once used they can be tossed into your compost bin. 

You can also lightly mist your tomato and pepper plants throughout the growing season. Place your fertilizer in a spray bottle and mist.  Don’t saturate your plants, a light mist will do.  Pepper and tomato plants don’t like to stay wet too long.

Try using banana peel fertilizer on your plants this growing season.  You’ll give them the boost they need to produce delicious fruit, vegetables and flowers.  You may also like:  Building Healthy Soil.

 

Growing Pepper Plants From Seed for Beginners

Today, I’m sharing gardening tips on growing pepper plants from seed in your backyard garden.  Peppers find a spot in my garden every season.  I grow them from seed.  So, my harvest includes lots of Jalepeno, Belle peppers of every color, chili peppers and sweet banana peppers.   

 

Growing Pepper Plants From Seed

 

I start my seeds using the winter sowing method about 8 – 10 weeks before I plant them in my garden. You can also grow pepper plants from seed under grow lights.  Actually, peppers have a lot of requirements that the tomato has.  So, I actually start my tomato seeds the same time I start my peppers.  Furthermore, I plant my tomatoes and peppers at the same time in the garden and in the same vicinity.  Since they have the same needs, I can water and fertilizer them at the same time.  

 

Correct Spacing for Pepper Plants 

If you decide to grow both, make sure you give your tomato plants more space to grow.  They will be taller and grow wider than pepper plants.  Both need full sun, at least 6 – 8 hours of sunlight per day is good. As a result, I plant my tomatoes in one or two rolls and my peppers in another roll with 3 feet of space between them. You want to make sure your plants have good air circulation. 

Also, plant your tomato at least 24 inches apart.  You will need to get between them harvest your delicious treats and maintain them.  I plant my peppers about 20 inches apart.  So, lets focus on peppers.  

 

 

growing pepper plants from seed

 

 

Decide the type of peppers that you want to grow.  If you don’t want to grow them from seed, or you’re simply not ready to take that step, it’s all good.  You can purchase plants from the local nursery.  Better yet, you may find a local gardener who has too many plants and would love for you to take them off their hands.

My family eats a lot of hot spicy foods, so jalapenos are a must.  I also plant a variety of belle peppers.  I freeze them to add to chili, salsa or other foods during the winter.  They’re also great fresh on a vegetable tray for a BBQ, girls night or baby shower.  Chili peppers are great in salsa or chili too.  My point, grow what you and your family will eat.  

 

 

how to grow peppers

 

 

 

Planting Pepper Plants in Your Garden: 

 

  • Once the ground has thawed and is workable, transplant your seedlings to a container or plant in your garden. If you’re using a container make sure it is large enough for the plant to grow in and you can fit a stake or trellis in.  They have small stakes and trellis for containers. You can make one out of a small branch or find one at your local garden center. 
  • Add lots of compost or organic matter to your soil while preparing your soil.  I use composted leaves; however, I use Black Cow compost too.  
  • Plant your peppers so they are sitting at ground level in the pot.  Remove the plant and backfill your hole.
  • Water thoroughly and regularly until the plants are established.  I’m in Zone 6B.  In July and August, I still have to water my garden regularly.

 

how to grow peppers

 

 

  • Stake your pepper plants.  I use untreated garden stakes from Home Depot.  
  • Mulch your plants with chopped leaves or straw.  
  • You will need to tie your pepper plants to the stakes so they don’t touch the ground when fruit develops.  So, it’s important that you put your stake in place when you plant your seedings or plants.  You can cut an old tee-shirt into strips, panty hose, use yard or whatever soft material you have on hand.  Don’t have time to cut up tees or hose, purchase twist ties from your local Dollar Store.  You can save them from year to year, I do. 

 

I love being able to walk down to my garden and pick a few peppers off the vine for whatever dish I’m making.  Home grown peppers have a different flavor from the store brought variety.  As a result, I grow enough to preserve during the winter months.  There’s nothing like locking in freshness and saving it for another day.  

Start growing pepper plants from seed with a goal of germinating one or two plants.  If you enjoy nurturing and enjoying fresh peppers start planning to grow more for next year. It’s always best to start small and increase your plants.  

How to Germinate Seeds for Your Garden

Today, I’m sharing gardening tips on how to germinate seeds for your garden.  Getting a jump start on your garden is a great thing, especially if you have a short growing season like me.  So, I’m sharing this valuable information with you today. 

So, starting my seeds early takes away the winter blues for me.  It gets me excited about the upcoming gardening season, and all of the delicious vegetables and beautiful flowers I will be nurturing.

Furthermore, if you want a successful growing season you must prepare.  Preparation starts long before you step into your garden.  So, investing a little time and energy to perform certain tasks will go a long way in making your gardening season a success.  Your first step is germinating your seeds. Lets go.

 

 

seed starting tips

 

 

How to Germinate Seeds for Your Garden:

 

Clean and Sterilize Containers – Sterilizing your seed starting containers before planting your seeds is imperative. If you’re using containers other than peat pots, wash them in hot, soapy water.  Rinse well, and take it a step further.  Soak them in bleach water or spray with a peroxide and water solution.  Wipe well and allow to air dry.

 

Use Seed Starter Mix  – There are a many seed starter mixtures on the market, so choose wisely.  There’s Jiffy, Black Gold, Miracle Gro  or make your own.

 

Generate Heat for Seedlings Seedlings don’t need light to germinate, but they do need heat.  I highly recommend using heat mats.  I have two mats that I use to help germinate my seeds, and I love them.  You can also set your plants on top of your refrigerator if you need additional space.

 

 

 


 

 

Use a Gro-Light System – You will need light to keep your seedlings from getting leggy.  Using a lighting system will help your plants to establish strong, healthy roots.  I have two of the 4 foot grow lights.  Seedlings need at least 12  – 14 hours of light per day and a rest period of 6  – 8 hours, without light.  You can set a timer to regulate your lights.  Furthermore, the lights must be kept close to the plants so they can become established and healthy.

 

 

 


 

 

Mark Your Seedlings – Be sure to use planter markers so you will know what you planted.

 

Cover Seed Starter Pots – Cover your pots with saran wrap to help keep moisture in while your seeds are germinating.  You can remove the saran wrap one the seed germinates.  I simply place a piece of saran wrap over the pot and secure it with a light rubber band.  When I see green, I remove the saran wrap.  You want to see droplets on the plastic.  That’s a sign that your pot contains the right moisture amount.  If you don’t see a mist, gently spray the top of your pot.  Once your seed germinate, remove them the heating mat and get them under the grow lights.

 

 

 

 

 

seed starting tips

 

 

 

Pot Up When Needed  – I use peat pots or pots from the nursery to start my seeds indoors.  Sometimes plastic cups.  If my plants outgrow the pots, I will transplant them to a bigger pot.  You can use a 16 ounce cups or bigger pots for this step if you have them in smaller pots.

 

Hardening Off Plants – Seedlings that are started indoors must be acclimated to outdoor temperatures.  See my post how to harden off your seedlings.

 

 

 

Seed Starter Pots for Gardeners

Today, I’m sharing gardening tips on seed starter pots for gardeners. First, I start the majority of my garden plants from seed.  I’m a frugal gardener, so I try to garden as cheaply as possible. Recycling, seed swapping, build your own is my motto.  Over the years, I have found that my biggest gardening expense were the vegetable and flower plants.  I have cut my expense tremendously, by germinating my seeds and producing my own plants.

Furthermore, it’s rewarding to plant veggies and flowers that you have grown from seed and nourished through the growing season.  For the most part, I have success with the majority of my seeds germinating.  However, there are some that don’t germinate. Gardening is trial and error. 

My attitude is, I’ll just try again next year.  Now, I have to be honest with you.  I do end up purchasing a few plants from the garden center, mostly flowers.  I love shopping the clearance tables and scooping up a few half dead bargains.  Bringing neglected plants back to life can be rewarding too.  I digress, but here’s a few container ideas for starting seeds. 

 

 

seed starter pot for gardeners

 

 

Ideas for Seed Starter Pots for Gardeners 

 

Winter Sowing Seed Starting Containers:

  • Milk Jugs – Gallon or half gallon will work.
  • Orange Juice Jugs – Clear orange jugs are perfect for starting seeds.
  • Gatorade Bottles – The 32 oz. bottles are perfect to house tomato seeds. Larger bottles can be used for larger plants like sunflowers.
  • 2 Liter Soda Bottles – I love using these for sunflowers, tomatoes, herbs.  They work great for single seed items.
  • Take out Chinese Containers –  These dish/trays are perfect for starting lettuce.
  • Old plastic containers – If you have storage containers that have cracked or just old and you don’t want to use them anymore, save them for you winter sowing.
  • Plastic fruit containers – These are perfect for starting lettuce, carrots, radishes and more.

 

 

seed starter pots for gardeners

 

 

 

Seed Starter Pots for Gardeners

Indoor Seed Starter Ideas:  

 

  • Eggshells – Rinse out your eggshells thoroughly.  You can store them in a container for egg carton for later use.  They are so adorable with new life in them.
  • Yogurt Cups or Fruit Cups –  I don’t eat much yogurt, but my grandkids do.  I eat lots of fruit cups though.   I’ve used them for the pass few years to start my birdhouse gourds, and they’ve worked great.  I’m sure you can use them to start tomatoes, peppers and more.
  • Sour Cream Containers – These are perfect seed starter containers too.  Tomato plants can grow a nice root ball in these containers without having to be transferred.
  • Toilet Paper Rolls – Biodegradable and perfect for germinating seeds.
  • Clear Fruit Containers – Next, I save the plastic containers that I purchase grapes or strawberries in.  Blueberry containers are good too. I like using these when I need to plant several seeds.  For example, cabbage, beets etc.
  • Newspaper Seedling Containers  – Next, recycle newspaper and make seedling pots. (See my post on making newspaper seedling pots.
  • Cardboard Milk or Juice Containers – Simply cut the top off the containers and you have a great seed starting container.
  • Plastic Cups – I save my disposal drinking cups throughout the year.  The 8 or 16 ounce cups are perfect.
  • Peat Pots – You can purchase these from the Dollar store, Lowes, Big Lots and more.
  • Pots from your local Nursery – Save pots that you purchase plants in from your local nursery.  They are perfect for starting seeds, and fit great into nursery trays.
  • Egg Cartons – Finally, save your egg cartons, they are perfect for starting your seeds and/or housing your eggshells.  A Philips Head screwdriver makes an excellent drainage hole.

 

 

Sanitizing Seed Starter Pots

So, you have your containers gathered and you’re ready to go.  Stop, you must sanitize them before use.  I use hot soapy water to remove any remaining food or liquid from the containers.  Rinse each container.  Next, spray and wipe each container with peroxide or spray with bleach. Rinse well and allow to dry.

Last, once the containers are dry you must drill holes in the bottom of each container.  This will allow water to soak into your trays.  You may be able to use a glue gun on some. For example, the plastic cups, clear fruit containers, yogurt and fruit cups.

 

Best Seed Starting Mix

Also, be sure to use a quality seed starting mix.  I use Miracle Gro Seed Starting Mix. 

 

Once you follow all of the steps, your containers are ready to be filled and used to germinate your seeds.  Good luck, and let me know if you have questions.  You may also like Starting Seeds in Eggshells