Starting Seeds and Making Your Own Potting Soil

In an effort to become more organized with my garden plans and seed starting I decided to make a seed file box to organize my seeds by the month they need to be started inside or planted outdoors.  I got a 5 X 8 index card box with monthly card dividers in which to store the seeds that need to be planted or started for that month.  Because I will not be using the December tab I store seeds that may not be planted that year, like perennials, flowers or certain herbs.  This year I found a new seed carrier I really like called Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds, from here on out I will be ordering all my seeds from them and as their name states, they only sell heirloom seeds that come from all over the world.

Today I will be starting seeds from the February tab which include; hot peppers, basil, parsley, and onions.  First I gathered all my supplies; my seed starter tray, organic potting soil mix (see below), and a squirt bottle or cup of water.

Decide how many plants you will be starting and fill that many cells with the soil mix.  Spray with water until very moist and let sit for a day or two in order to allow the soil to absorb all the water. 

 Place two seeds in each cell, tamp down and cover with the plastic top until they germinate.  Once they have their true leaves remove the plastic top and bring out the shop light, keeping it 1-2 inches above the plants at all times. 

Many people use craft sticks to label what is in each cell but that makes it difficult to place the plastic lid on top.  I just use a sheet of paper and draw the cells on it with what is in each cell.  I then tape this on top of the plastic lid right over the actual seeds.  Once I remove the lid I can either tape it to the bottom to reference or I can then use the craft sticks (although I have little helpers that like to mess around with those).

Print Seed Starting Info

Make Your Own Potting Soil

I usually buy prepackaged garden box mix from one of my local nurseries.  This year they didn't have any in stock this early, only the chemical fertilizer filled potting mixes so I decided to make my own based off recipes found in Making Vegetables, Old World Garden Farms and Square Foot Gardening.  

4 parts peat moss
2 parts compost
2 parts perlite or vermiculite or 1 part of each (the vermiculite was pretty expensive so I used the 2 parts perlite)

We used a wheelbarrow to measure our parts and an empty sandbox for mixing and storing. The children had a lot of fun mixing it up and Big Woman even had to get in with her bare feet and pretend she was Lucy in Italy smashing grapes in the wine vat.  (Yes, we are I Love Lucy fans around here)

I don't know why I ever purchased pre-made mixes before, this was so easy, fun and cost effective.  I saved tons of money by mixing this myself and could've saved even more if my homemade compost had made it through the fall. 

For more information on seed starting and making your own compost check out these posts from Old World Garden Farms:

How to Start Garden Seeds on the Cheap
Starting Seeds Indoors
Composting Tips

Shared on: Tuesday Garden Party, Maple Hill Hop, Homemaking Party, Natural Living, Mostly Homemade, Homestead Barn Hop,  Wild Crafting Wednesday, Pintastic Pinteresting, From the Farm, Old Fashioned Friday, Simple Lives.