Gardening Chores for February!! Now that its the 15th!!

February chores...

Start your greens : ) and other cool weather loving plants that you can then transplant when it warms a bit more. Not outside, but in the greenhouse , garage or basement under lights!
Here it what you will need..

1. Seeds ( wow, I know, obvious)
2. heating pad, larger the better or several. Make sure they are safe, no damage to wires, etc.
3. metal, plastic trays, need to be at least 1 inch deep.. think brownie pan depth.
4. fluorescent lights, no need to full spectrum light "bulbs/tubes", unless you have them. lamps w/ fluorescent bulbs are OK, in a pinch.
5. Here is where it becomes tricky... the soil. There is potting mix, there is seed started soil, there is peat, there is top soil. Personally, I use potting soil. It is light, easily purchased and can be found at a discount store. I spend my money on the fertilizer for seedlings. A Miracle gro product for starts. click here to view/buy product.
6. Tabletop space, shelving - however you want to arrange your trays. They can even be cinderblocks w/ wooden planks... the plants are not fussy! Leave enough head space for the florescent lights to hang or rigged to be above the trays.

Here is a video on YouTube that shows the general jist of what I am talking about. His starts are indoors, so he does not use heating pads. If yours are too, do not feel obligated to use them. If in an unheated area, you will need them, on low, under the trays. His trays are VERY deep, this is great, but unnecessary.



After watching the video, collect your materials, and start your greens! The same principle applies to all your seed starts, but it is feasible now to grow cool weather loving greens!

Look on craigslist in your area for containers to transplant your little plants, the black nursery trays you put the pots into (many times free from local Home depot / Lowe's or other gardening centers!) or watch this video on how to make your own pots out of newspaper! Moving paper works also, if its easier to get gobs of. She uses a glass, for safety sake, I recommend something else! Plastic or melamine cup, mug or something you have of the same shape.. Use  your imagination here! :  )



Remember: She mentions NOT to put the newspaper pot + plant into the ground... the paper takes too long to disintegrate to let the roots free! It will stunt the growth of your seedlings or they could die off. Toss it, as she mentions, onto the compost pile!

Here is a video on how to transplant those seed starts into the next phase of their life... transplants. Which is after the 2nd left bud  (2 leaves appear on the seedling) and being put outside.

Here is a video on how to do this!

It is not rocket science, but care needs to be taken. He shows an easy technique and has some tips on how to do it without getting bored! Watch...



Now that your plants are a couple months old, here is the last step in getting them into the garden!!
Smitty, in this video.. must live where it is warmer as he is setting out very small seedlings. If you live in CA or Florida... this is for you! If anywhere else, keep those little plants warm inside on their heating pads!
I recommend, if using peat pots to pinch the bottom so that the roots can grow down into the soil easily. I have tried it both ways and it works much better pinching the bottom of those pots. If using the plastic pots, just slip the plant out! If using the newspaper pots the above video mentions, remove the plant as in tact as possible! Be easy with it and take as many roots with it as possible : )

Here's Smitty, showing how easy it is to transplant your BIG plants into the ground.


That was easy!
Here are the cool weather plants you might try growing for transplanting to your own garden later in the Spring  - or selling for some extra cash!!

What are some of the cool weather crops to plant?

 

1. Radishes, Radishes and more Radishes.
2. Lettuces of every type and don't forget your Spinach.
3. Kale and Collards.
4. Beets, Parsnips and Turnips.
5. Kohlrabi.
6. Peas with edible pods and non-edible pods.
7. Swiss Chard for the taste and beautiful colors, it is hardy , even when very cold.
8. Broccoli, Cauliflower and Cabbages.
9. Finally Carrots.

 There are more cool weather crops but this is enough to get you started. Ask at your local gardening center / Nursery for recommendations on what grows in YOUR area. Each area of the country has a Zone rating, find yours here , enter your zip code and it will tell you!

Well... Have fun, experiment, use what you can get a hold of in your area and start feeding yourself : )
Any questions? Post them!! I can try and help you locate the answer : )

Take care..