I like to use red solo cups; they are cheap, reusable, and deep so they give the roots more room and hold more moisture, meaning I don’t have to up pot before transplanting into their final homes. I start multiple seeds in red solo cups and then divide the seedlings out so that they each have their own cup, or remove the extra seedlings from the cups so that there is one plant per cup, and it works well for me.
Yes, they work great too. You reminded me that I tried to do this when I first started growing indoors here in France. The only thing available at that time was tiny plastic cups that we would serve preschoolers with in the US lol I think Solo cups might be available on Amazon nowadays but haven’t checked since I have all my supplies now.
@@NowGardening ahh, I see, totally makes sense. Use what you can get your hands on! Here in Canada you can buy a big pack of red solo cups for cheap and you can find them easily around here, so it makes a lot of sense for me to use them in my situation.
Solo cups are generally good and less expensive than some alternatives. I wish Solo made them in more sizes. I've seen the 12 oz, (360 ml) and 1 oz. (30 ml) sizes, but still, one need not use the whole cup, eh?
I use solo cups as well, but I cut the bottom out of one and set it in another solo cup. When its time to go to the garden, I prepare a hole that will fit the solo cup, then set the one with the bottom cut out into the hole. Not disturbing the roots at all and my transplants do really well.
Thanks for sharing your experience, Janice. I just saw this on another TH-cam channel last week and absolutely love this idea! I’ve added solo cups to my list to buy when I go the US next month, so I can try it. I can’t get them over here in France.
This is a great video because it’s simple, it’s not too long and it’s right to the point. And it makes me feel much better about not spending a lot on expensive seed starting containers.
I agree about the peat pots. I've dug them up the following season and they look pretty much like when I planted them. Even after throwing them in the compost bin they take a while to break down. I wouldn't recommend them, but if you have some lying around that you want to use try this. When you up pot, gently tear the bottoms out, then tear one side down all the way. Make sure that they are good and wet when you do this. Then you can plant the whole thing with minimal shock to the root system. I love the reduce, recycle, reuse! Most of us already have these things in our homes.
Thanks for the tip, Jason. I just discovered an unused 10-pack of them yesterday and was trying to thing of how I could use them instead of throwing them away.
@@NowGardening I've seen, and done this, years ago - making my own small, square seed starting pots (up to 4 inches size), with nothing but newspaper folded into the correct shape. You can directly plop these biodegradable containers in the ground and the roots will push through the thin paper as needed. I'll try to find the link, brb..
@@NowGardeningHere is the first one that pulled up on youtube - there are others under this topic, as well. Cheers! th-cam.com/video/7dlGQP81yfo/w-d-xo.html
One way I toughen up my plant sets is to set up a fan set on low that will blow across the plants and then rotate the trays of plants once a day. The movement that the fanned air causes seems to make the plants stronger, but you have to watch the dryness of the soil.
Great tip. I mention fans in one of my videos on seedlings, and you’re right, it helps strengthen the plant and get them ready for the real-world conditions of the garden. I’ve seen that wind can be a big killer for transplanted seedlings if they’re not prepped beforehand.
Me too! I even tried see-through food-grade buckets last year for a container experiment, but the plastic couldn’t take the sun and heat and broke before the season was out
Totally agree re: the "biodegradable" pots - they might be biodegradable over years, but they limit seedling growth for sure - sometimes I'll even find them still clinging on at the end of the season when I'm cleaning things up or even in the ground still hanging on the following year!
I’m stunned that they sell them as something to plant directly. I went back and looked at the package to see if perhaps they just meant biodegradable in the big scheme of things, but right on the packaging was a picture of someone transplanting them into their garden.
I think the degrading pots/cups are a poor execution of a good idea. Too often they are either too weak for the seedling stage or too strong/lasting for the grow-out stage (as you say). I would like to see some R&D here, especially with trials of wheat paste or corn paste-based papier-mâché. Still, the problem is that delicate balance of strong enough for the seedling stage while dissolving quickly in the ground at the grow-out stage. Thanks for adding your comment.
@@jwstanley2645agree! Go for it R&D folks! We need something just right! Not too weak, but something that will degrade soon enough to avoid inhibiting growth! And go!
We love to use yogurt cottage cheese and sour cream containers. Keeps plants better for indoors vs constantly up potting. We start our tomatoes and peppers in February for planting out end of May in greenhouses. Better to be mature in our short season. Reusable is great for sanitizing also and drilling drain holes. Vs peat pots that are useless. They end up drying out and or molding. Great info!
I had the same experience with biodegradable pots, now I put 4-5 long slits from top to bottom using a craft knife, half an inch down from the top all the way to the bottom, the roots form a lateral growth and provide a stable platform 🌱. Great instructional keep them coming 😊
Hi Bryan. Thanks for sharing your experience. I can’t believe how many people have responded likewise. I hope your seedlings get off to a great start this year.
I take a few sheets of newspaper, wrap it around a can from the pantry and hold the folds at the bottom and sides with some tape. I pop the can out and it leaves a little container. They can get a bit flimsy so I put them in a tray or those small nursery pots. The upside is that when it's time to transplant, I can just cut and peel the newspaper off which disturbs the roots less than getting them out of a plastic pot.
Cut down "clear" distilled water gallon containers work great, also :) I started HAYWARD KIWI vines from the tiny black seeds in a grocery store kiwi (indoors) and when got larger planted outside - and about 3 years later got fruit (325 kiwi fruit). Fortunately I ended up with both male and female plants this way. WHO KNEW that Kiwi vines would successfully grow and produce fruit every year in the state of Virginia !!! They lose leaves each fall and gain them back with flowers and fruit in the Spring. Thank You for this video !!!
finally!!! a vid that is real. too many times i see vids that really get too intricate for a beginner like soil testing stuff that some ole bag like me wont bother to mess with, if it grows great. if it dont i can go to the pantry. but i think containers is important and i have friends saving water bottles so i should have 36 of them soon. i just want 4 plants of 5 veggies and some flowers to puts around with this summer. well done video. ps, luvd the brn pots falling, just like home, lol
Thanks so much for your kind comment. You sounds a lot like me, a keep it simple kind of gardener. To that point, the fact you’re starting with only a handful of plants and flowers is super smart and exactly what I recommend for new growers. It makes me sad that so many people bite off more than they can chew and end up hating gardening when they could have easily loved it instead.
Super helpful and one of the only videos that is doing what I want to do. I have been collecting blueberry containers and my take out and random trays and that’s what I want to use. So many other videos have fancy this and that but I just know I can do it this way. Thanks for sharing and I will be following you advice on setting them on top of the fridge. I was pondering about where to put the little seeds to be warm, the fridge is the perfect idea. Thank you
Thanks for your comment. I’m so glad to hear this video was helpful. Simple is best from what I’ve found over the years. I wish you a wonderful growing season ahead.
Totally agree with you about using all our plastic tubs from recycling - reuse is even better than recycling. Good video and presentation - only thing I would add is that I had a lot of seedlings not germinate this year because I planted them outdoors too early - April - usually OK but in the UK was very cold thn early spring this year ( less than 6 Centigrade). Warmer now so playing catch up.
Hi, thanks for your comment. I agree with you about the weather affecting this year’s seedlings. We had delays in outdoor seeds germinating too. Also, here in France we had barely any rain since January and then it all came over the last 3 weeks (and chilly temperatures to go with it). Everything is hanging on but not looking their best. Good luck with your garden and catching up!
Just recently found you. I love your channel. I love how short, but very informative your videos are. I'm an intermediate skill level gardener. You're concise, but provide important details. I feel confident after I watch a video that I'll be able to do the things you show and have an idea what I'm doing.
Hi Salem, your message made my day. Thanks for taking the time to send it, and I’m happy to hear my videos are helpful to you. I hope you have an amazing gardening year ahead!
I notice you quickly passed over egg crates without comment. I find they really good but require good moisturising. This also applies to the small carry trays from coffee shops for milti cup purchases. Really good for melon family...zucchini, cucumbers etc. Another hint for germinating. We have small bricks of coir fibre in Australian stores, which expands when watered. This medium is absolutely brilliant and encourages great root growth. Can be used neat or with a seed growing mix.
Hi Frank. I accidentally edited out my speech on egg cartons. I personally don’t care for them, but I do have another video specifically on egg cartons and toilet paper rolls that goes into detail. I like that you’re using the carry trays, and it’s working for you. We have bags of coir instead of bricks here, and I’ve been experimenting with it a lot this year. It seems to be great for some really hard to start seeds. Some seedlings seem to like it while others not so much. Do you see that too?
On the instructions of some peat pots that I used was if planting in the ground, trim or carefully tear the excess material from the top of the pot and pinch the bottom out. I never had a problem with peat pots.
So interesting, I wonder if our brands here in Europe are different. They are super thick and would have to be cut for sure. I have a few extras I found and am going to try it
Super! When experimenting, much better to work with plastics you would put to waste basket. Dryness. Well, if the pot is on a very warm place, you NEED to water more often. Anyhow, later, change room and let it grow slowly and steadily untill.... time to plant out. I am using urin-water mix succesfully.
One of the problems I have with heat mats it dries out the soil so fast. So for me that was a waste of money. I had the same problem with the biodegradable containers. I am with you the clear containers are the best and I have used trays from frozen dinner's to put my pots in. .
As a first time indoor seed starter gardner, I found this video to be very well done. Included all the essential topics and advice based on your actual, practical experience. Very helpful, thanks.
Thank you! Just subbed. I also believe in reusing and repurposing. Your tips here and in your other vids have been a great help in understanding why my beginner veggie garden -- and trying to start seeds indoors -- was a flop last season. You get to the point without needless rambling, and have a most articulate way of speaking.
Thank you for your comment and for subbing. I hope this will be your year for getting a garden started. Once you have a few successes, you’ll love it. Our first attempt here years ago was a disaster, but we changed a few things and it’s been great since. Good luck and thanks again!
2:50 those biodegradable containers do not restrict the plant growth if you slice a few openings into them before planting or even open the bottom like a can. the roots will grow out trough them. it takes some time for the material to degrade so you will help your plant out by adding a few doors and windows. I have made a similar experience with using the cardboard from an empty toilet paper roll. you can either fold the bottom shut or just leave them open and densely line them up on a tray or in a box. works with watering from the bottom too. keep them sitting in a shallow puddle. they wick up moisture. you do not get a lot of soil volume out of them though so they dry out quite quickly if you do not cover them or provide enough water. you can raise a lot of single plants in those rolls and evaluate the germination rate of your seeds.
I agree clays...an egg tray will also dissolve eventually--i cut the bottome off first, and once in ground take my ling scissors and cut all the way down 2 sides. Rarely talked about extra advantage: earth worms arrive, surviving almost entirely on cardboard when there.. they eat up disentegrating containers,b obliterating it.
I transplant several times before planting outside. This year: Seeds-K-Cup pod cups. Holes in the bottom. I also cut 1/2 way around the bottom to push the seedlings up to transplant. I can write on the sides with a marker so they fit under the dome cover. The tags don't fit under the dome and the marker wears dull. Seedlings-5.3 oz, 2.5 x 2 x 2.5" yogurt cups. These are deeper than the more common round yogurt cups. Holes in the bottom, of course. Can write names on these too. Small plants-In small flower pots I've collected thru the years. Now I use the tags to label the plants.
A little tip from uk. Last year i did an experiment with Tomatoes. 1 seed in 3" pot. 1 seed in 1 litre pot 1 seed in 2 litre pot.. The first in 3" pot was transplanted into bigger pots 3/4 times before final plant out.. Second seed in 1 litre pot was only moved 2 times. And finally the last seed that was in the 2 litre pot wasn't re potted At all.. Not surprisingly the seed in the 2 litre pot that wasn't moved did the absolute best. And then the 1 litre pot did next best And finally the seed in 3" pot was a good way behind in both size and yield. Proof indeed that plants need the very least amount of stress to fully perform.. hope this helps..😉👍
That’s really smart, and I’m glad you’ve found a way to reuse the paper. I never have newspaper around anymore, so it’s not an option for me unfortunately.
I started using soda bottles to plant my carrots and works so well. I just have a balcony, 60 cm deep and 3 m wide so super small space but I could eat from my garden last year
Great tips, Rick. In France those aren’t available, but you’re right that they work great. My brother uses them in the US. As for sand in place of perlite, I’ve used it before. Don’t know why I don’t use it more to be honest. It’s cheaper I’m sure
I've been known to lift up some soil from mole hills. It's super dark loam that will contain no wild seeds and is full of minerals. As good as any garden centre seed compost.
I thought I was the only one that got the moles to work for me! I don’t use the mole hills for seed starting because ours is clay and still too heavy for seeds, but I do add it to my raised beds.
I covered last summer my seeds with peat moss instead of soil...and watered only at sunset with watering jug directly on the peat moss ...worked awsome,!!!
Wonderful and very helpful information. I too keep all the plastic trays from berries and from the 4 litre “distilled” water jugs. Just cut off the tops, add holes on the bottom and you have nice sized pots for free🙏🏼💜🇨🇦
That’s awesome! I’ve enjoyed learning other gardeners favorite reused materials from the comments and seeing how many other people are committed to saving money and plastic!
Easiest way to germinate seeds - soak a bunch of seeds in water for 1/2 to 1 day, then fish the seeds out and put them into an empty disposable water bottle, add a few drops of water if necessary, put the cap back on and put it in a warm place. The water would condense near the top and drop back down to keep the seeds moist. After a week or so, rinse out the seedlings and replant in soil.
Thank you so much for sharing your wisdom! I tried the peat pots- found it’s not my favorite but tried it again because it’s suppose to be convenient. I will try more plastic- I was even thinking if deli lunch meat containers would work. I’ll have to try some of your plastic ideas! Thank you again!
This is great information! Just found you today and learning lots. I was about to start my garden but felt a bit lost/anxious. Thanks for the info, and a big thanks for keeping it economical. I watched a lot of videos by other TH-camrs and cost is rarely a consideration for a lot of them. Thanks again
Thanks for your comment. Don’t get discouraged. Gardeners make growing seem much harder than it really is. After seed starting, I have several videos that might help you with starting economical garden beds once you’re ready for that. Let me know if I can help 😊
The biodegradables are tricky indeed, some work some don't. Cutting the the bottom off before planting outdoors or in bigger pots worked a charm last year.
This video WAS very helpful...so THANK YOU! The growing season where I am is such that planting cannot be done until 3rd week in May, but when you were mentioning starting tomatoes 8-10 weeks before taking outside...mmmm...that is coming up SOON!😊😊
Hi Lilly. Thanks for your comment. I’m glad it was helpful. You are exactly right-it’s coming up quickly. I plant tomatoes out on the first day of May, so I start them inside by the first of March! I hope you have lots of great harvests this year!
Thanks for this video! I started seeding last week and now they are germinating and I can see leaves! You earn new subscriber here! Keep sharing! Thanks so much!
Thank you for mentioning the problem of those peat pots, I just planted some tomato and pepper seeds in them. They haven't germinated yet, hopefully they live after I transplant them later this month
Good luck. If you transplant the pots directly into something else, then try cutting the bottom of the pots off so the roots can get out. That’s the advice I’ve received from other gardeners.
Awesomeness Val!! You know, we're big fans of frugality!! We got almost all our Trays, pots and mats last June. Everyone around here buys their starts from a garden center, 1 week later, all those items are in their recycling bin on the curb, waiting for a good home 😁😁😁 I wanna plant some more stuff now !! Cheers J&C 🌱😁🌱
That’s so cool and I appreciate that about you guys. I enjoy seeing the second life you give to things. I picked up canning jars off the recycling corner today. Figured I can use them for organizing if not for actual canning. I hate seeing things just thrown away for no reason.
Hi Eileen. That’s so exciting! My advice is to start with a small number of things to grow, so you don’t get overwhelmed by it. You can add more vegetables as you get more comfortable. Let me know if I can answer any questions.
I have those issues with those biodegradable seed starting pots! I love recycling containers! I really believe that gardening should not cost too much to enjoy!
This is all exactly what I do. The first few months of the year, I save all the plastic clamshell containers and dairy product packaging. I run most of it through the dishwasher to sterilize it and the lids make excellent “coasters” for their repurposed container to catch any water that drains out. Eggs come in clear plastic clamshells at Costco. I cut off the lid and stack it with the bottom to reinforce it as one layer is not super sturdy. You could use another layer from a different clamshell to be the “coaster” as they come with no holes and the other half as a “humidity dome” for itty bitty stuff like lobelia or stuff you start a lot of like brassicas & greens.
Smart ideas and creative too. I love it. Ive used the lids too, first as a cover to help seeds germinate and then as a coaster like you do. We don’t have plastic egg cartons over here, but the double stacking idea is a good one for some cheap trays I have that are too flimsy to use on their own.
Getting a pin mic will greatly improve your sound quality. Im sorry for sounding like im complaining but i appreciate your information and it would be alot better experience for us. Thank you
I appreciate your constructive feedback. I just bought a new mic only to find out it sounds worse. I am working actively to fix this, so thanks for bearing with me.
I do use the peat pots but had the same issue with the plants being rootbound after they were planted in the garden, so I now break the peat pots up before putting the plant in the ground. I tried a new type of pot this year - a plant fiber pot instead of a peat pot, and the roots have grown through the sides quite easily, but they also have already started breaking down. My potting mix is raised bed soil (which is very porous) covered with a couple of inches of the seed starting mix from the store. I will be building a 6' x 6' greenhouse this spring which will eliminate the need to start seeds inside the house and use up all my window space.
I’m so happy for you about your upcoming greenhouse! It’s my dream to have one too. Thanks for sharing your experience. What brand are you using if I can ask?
If I were to use those biodegradable containers, I would make a few cuts or slices in the sidewall of them just before buying them so the roots could find their way out while the containers degrade. We use a lot of recycled yogurt containers and they work great. Enoyed your video.
Thanks Briar. I’m glad we can agree on how great yogurt co gainers are 😄 You’re right on track with the idea to cut the sidewall of those biodegradable pots. I’ve had an overwhelming response from growers saying that’s what they do. Thanks for taking the time to suggest it.
Thanks for telling us about those so called brown bio degradable pots . I was thinking of buying them but now forget it I will just use any food grade plastic containers like yogurt containers or large see thru plastic containers we get organic lettuce in . Thank you for the great advice
I like to use red solo cups; they are cheap, reusable, and deep so they give the roots more room and hold more moisture, meaning I don’t have to up pot before transplanting into their final homes. I start multiple seeds in red solo cups and then divide the seedlings out so that they each have their own cup, or remove the extra seedlings from the cups so that there is one plant per cup, and it works well for me.
I do the same. 😊
My exact method! It's so perfect!
Yes, they work great too. You reminded me that I tried to do this when I first started growing indoors here in France. The only thing available at that time was tiny plastic cups that we would serve preschoolers with in the US lol I think Solo cups might be available on Amazon nowadays but haven’t checked since I have all my supplies now.
@@NowGardening ahh, I see, totally makes sense. Use what you can get your hands on! Here in Canada you can buy a big pack of red solo cups for cheap and you can find them easily around here, so it makes a lot of sense for me to use them in my situation.
Solo cups are generally good and less expensive than some alternatives. I wish Solo made them in more sizes. I've seen the 12 oz, (360 ml) and 1 oz. (30 ml) sizes, but still, one need not use the whole cup, eh?
"We're not burying treasure here." LOL!! Nice channel - like learning basic gardening from a friendly neighbor, with great bone structure.
Ha, your comment made me laugh. I’m glad you’re enjoying the videos
I use solo cups as well, but I cut the bottom out of one and set it in another solo cup. When its time to go to the garden, I prepare a hole that will fit the solo cup, then set the one with the bottom cut out into the hole. Not disturbing the roots at all and my transplants do really well.
Thanks for sharing your experience, Janice. I just saw this on another TH-cam channel last week and absolutely love this idea! I’ve added solo cups to my list to buy when I go the US next month, so I can try it. I can’t get them over here in France.
Love this!
This is a great video because it’s simple, it’s not too long and it’s right to the point. And it makes me feel much better about not spending a lot on expensive seed starting containers.
That’s great to hear. Thank you and here’s to lots of great harvests this year.
I agree about the peat pots. I've dug them up the following season and they look pretty much like when I planted them. Even after throwing them in the compost bin they take a while to break down. I wouldn't recommend them, but if you have some lying around that you want to use try this. When you up pot, gently tear the bottoms out, then tear one side down all the way. Make sure that they are good and wet when you do this. Then you can plant the whole thing with minimal shock to the root system.
I love the reduce, recycle, reuse! Most of us already have these things in our homes.
Thanks for the tip, Jason. I just discovered an unused 10-pack of them yesterday and was trying to thing of how I could use them instead of throwing them away.
@@NowGardening I've seen, and done this, years ago - making my own small, square seed starting pots (up to 4 inches size), with nothing but newspaper folded into the correct shape. You can directly plop these biodegradable containers in the ground and the roots will push through the thin paper as needed. I'll try to find the link, brb..
@@NowGardeningHere is the first one that pulled up on youtube - there are others under this topic, as well. Cheers! th-cam.com/video/7dlGQP81yfo/w-d-xo.html
One way I toughen up my plant sets is to set up a fan set on low that will blow across the plants and then rotate the trays of plants once a day. The movement that the fanned air causes seems to make the plants stronger, but you have to watch the dryness of the soil.
Great tip. I mention fans in one of my videos on seedlings, and you’re right, it helps strengthen the plant and get them ready for the real-world conditions of the garden. I’ve seen that wind can be a big killer for transplanted seedlings if they’re not prepped beforehand.
Hi Valerie!
I love the clear see-through containers. I’m nosy and like to see what’s happening under the soil. 😂
Thanks for the tips and tricks!
Me too! I even tried see-through food-grade buckets last year for a container experiment, but the plastic couldn’t take the sun and heat and broke before the season was out
Totally agree re: the "biodegradable" pots - they might be biodegradable over years, but they limit seedling growth for sure - sometimes I'll even find them still clinging on at the end of the season when I'm cleaning things up or even in the ground still hanging on the following year!
I’m stunned that they sell them as something to plant directly. I went back and looked at the package to see if perhaps they just meant biodegradable in the big scheme of things, but right on the packaging was a picture of someone transplanting them into their garden.
I think the degrading pots/cups are a poor execution of a good idea. Too often they are either too weak for the seedling stage or too strong/lasting for the grow-out stage (as you say). I would like to see some R&D here, especially with trials of wheat paste or corn paste-based papier-mâché. Still, the problem is that delicate balance of strong enough for the seedling stage while dissolving quickly in the ground at the grow-out stage. Thanks for adding your comment.
@@jwstanley2645agree! Go for it R&D folks! We need something just right! Not too weak, but something that will degrade soon enough to avoid inhibiting growth! And go!
Hello 🖐Love your videos ❤💕❤look forward for your next video! 💪💯 Thanks for sharing! 🌹☝👍
Thank you for your kind message 😊
We love to use yogurt cottage cheese and sour cream containers. Keeps plants better for indoors vs constantly up potting. We start our tomatoes and peppers in February for planting out end of May in greenhouses. Better to be mature in our short season. Reusable is great for sanitizing also and drilling drain holes. Vs peat pots that are useless. They end up drying out and or molding. Great info!
Great idea!! Thanks for sharing your tips!
I had the same experience with biodegradable pots, now I put 4-5 long slits from top to bottom using a craft knife, half an inch down from the top all the way to the bottom, the roots form a lateral growth and provide a stable platform 🌱.
Great instructional keep them coming 😊
Hi Jimbo. That’s smart. I found a leftover pack in my garden shed and will try that out 😊 Thanks for the tip
I'm glad you mentioned the issues with biodegradable pots. I've had the same issues. I no longer buy them.
Hi Bryan. Thanks for sharing your experience. I can’t believe how many people have responded likewise. I hope your seedlings get off to a great start this year.
@@NowGardening Thanks. Same to you! 👍
I take a few sheets of newspaper, wrap it around a can from the pantry and hold the folds at the bottom and sides with some tape. I pop the can out and it leaves a little container. They can get a bit flimsy so I put them in a tray or those small nursery pots. The upside is that when it's time to transplant, I can just cut and peel the newspaper off which disturbs the roots less than getting them out of a plastic pot.
I love that! I don’t have extra newspapers anymore, but this is a great way to use them. Thanks for sharing your tips 😊
You can find free newspaper at your local recycling center.
Cut down "clear" distilled water gallon containers work great, also :) I started HAYWARD KIWI vines from the tiny black seeds in a grocery store kiwi (indoors) and when got larger planted outside - and about 3 years later got fruit (325 kiwi fruit). Fortunately I ended up with both male and female plants this way. WHO KNEW that Kiwi vines would successfully grow and produce fruit every year in the state of Virginia !!! They lose leaves each fall and gain them back with flowers and fruit in the Spring. Thank You for this video !!!
That’s an incredible story! Thanks for sharing and for your water jug tip.
finally!!! a vid that is real. too many times i see vids that really get too intricate for a beginner like soil testing stuff that some ole bag like me wont bother to mess with, if it grows great. if it dont i can go to the pantry. but i think containers is important and i have friends saving water bottles so i should have 36 of them soon. i just want 4 plants of 5 veggies and some flowers to puts around with this summer.
well done video.
ps, luvd the brn pots falling, just like home, lol
Thanks so much for your kind comment. You sounds a lot like me, a keep it simple kind of gardener. To that point, the fact you’re starting with only a handful of plants and flowers is super smart and exactly what I recommend for new growers. It makes me sad that so many people bite off more than they can chew and end up hating gardening when they could have easily loved it instead.
Super helpful and one of the only videos that is doing what I want to do. I have been collecting blueberry containers and my take out and random trays and that’s what I want to use. So many other videos have fancy this and that but I just know I can do it this way. Thanks for sharing and I will be following you advice on setting them on top of the fridge. I was pondering about where to put the little seeds to be warm, the fridge is the perfect idea. Thank you
Thanks for your comment. I’m so glad to hear this video was helpful. Simple is best from what I’ve found over the years. I wish you a wonderful growing season ahead.
Totally agree with you about using all our plastic tubs from recycling - reuse is even better than recycling. Good video and presentation - only thing I would add is that I had a lot of seedlings not germinate this year because I planted them outdoors too early - April - usually OK but in the UK was very cold thn early spring this year ( less than 6 Centigrade). Warmer now so playing catch up.
Hi, thanks for your comment. I agree with you about the weather affecting this year’s seedlings. We had delays in outdoor seeds germinating too. Also, here in France we had barely any rain since January and then it all came over the last 3 weeks (and chilly temperatures to go with it). Everything is hanging on but not looking their best. Good luck with your garden and catching up!
Just recently found you. I love your channel. I love how short, but very informative your videos are. I'm an intermediate skill level gardener. You're concise, but provide important details. I feel confident after I watch a video that I'll be able to do the things you show and have an idea what I'm doing.
Hi Salem, your message made my day. Thanks for taking the time to send it, and I’m happy to hear my videos are helpful to you. I hope you have an amazing gardening year ahead!
I notice you quickly passed over egg crates without comment. I find they really good but require good moisturising. This also applies to the small carry trays from coffee shops for milti cup purchases. Really good for melon family...zucchini, cucumbers etc. Another hint for germinating. We have small bricks of coir fibre in Australian stores, which expands when watered. This medium is absolutely brilliant and encourages great root growth. Can be used neat or with a seed growing mix.
Hi Frank. I accidentally edited out my speech on egg cartons. I personally don’t care for them, but I do have another video specifically on egg cartons and toilet paper rolls that goes into detail. I like that you’re using the carry trays, and it’s working for you. We have bags of coir instead of bricks here, and I’ve been experimenting with it a lot this year. It seems to be great for some really hard to start seeds. Some seedlings seem to like it while others not so much. Do you see that too?
On the instructions of some peat pots that I used was if planting in the ground, trim or carefully tear the excess material from the top of the pot and pinch the bottom out. I never had a problem with peat pots.
So interesting, I wonder if our brands here in Europe are different. They are super thick and would have to be cut for sure. I have a few extras I found and am going to try it
Super! When experimenting, much better to work with plastics you would put to waste basket. Dryness. Well, if the pot is on a very warm place, you NEED to water more often. Anyhow, later, change room and let it grow slowly and steadily untill.... time to plant out. I am using urin-water mix succesfully.
I’ve heard a lot about gardeners using that who claim it’s the best fertilizer. Thanks for your comment
One of the problems I have with heat mats it dries out the soil so fast. So for me that was a waste of money. I had the same problem with the biodegradable containers. I am with you the clear containers are the best and I have used trays from frozen dinner's to put my pots in.
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Thanks for sharing your experiences. It's always good to hear what's working (and not) for other growers.
As a first time indoor seed starter gardner, I found this video to be very well done. Included all the essential topics and advice based on your actual, practical experience. Very helpful, thanks.
Thank you for your kind message. I hope you have a wonderful growing season ahead.
Thank you! Just subbed. I also believe in reusing and repurposing. Your tips here and in your other vids have been a great help in understanding why my beginner veggie garden -- and trying to start seeds indoors -- was a flop last season. You get to the point without needless rambling, and have a most articulate way of speaking.
Thank you for your comment and for subbing. I hope this will be your year for getting a garden started. Once you have a few successes, you’ll love it. Our first attempt here years ago was a disaster, but we changed a few things and it’s been great since. Good luck and thanks again!
2:50 those biodegradable containers do not restrict the plant growth if you slice a few openings into them before planting or even open the bottom like a can. the roots will grow out trough them. it takes some time for the material to degrade so you will help your plant out by adding a few doors and windows.
I have made a similar experience with using the cardboard from an empty toilet paper roll.
you can either fold the bottom shut or just leave them open and densely line them up on a tray or in a box.
works with watering from the bottom too. keep them sitting in a shallow puddle. they wick up moisture. you do not get a lot of soil volume out of them though so they dry out quite quickly if you do not cover them or provide enough water.
you can raise a lot of single plants in those rolls and evaluate the germination rate of your seeds.
Thanks for the tips 👍🏻
I agree clays...an egg tray will also dissolve eventually--i cut the bottome off first, and once in ground take my ling scissors and cut all the way down 2 sides. Rarely talked about extra advantage: earth worms arrive, surviving almost entirely on cardboard when there.. they eat up disentegrating containers,b obliterating it.
I agree with your experience on the biodegradable containers. Crap!
100% and they’re expensive too!
I transplant several times before planting outside. This year:
Seeds-K-Cup pod cups. Holes in the bottom. I also cut 1/2 way around the bottom to push the seedlings up to transplant. I can write on the sides with a marker so they fit under the dome cover. The tags don't fit under the dome and the marker wears dull.
Seedlings-5.3 oz, 2.5 x 2 x 2.5" yogurt cups. These are deeper than the more common round yogurt cups. Holes in the bottom, of course. Can write names on these too.
Small plants-In small flower pots I've collected thru the years. Now I use the tags to label the plants.
Nice. It sounds like you're all set for the season. I love that you reuse so much!
Great information, I saved a lot of seeds from my garden last year. This just remind me that I need to start my Tomatoes indoors now.
Glad it was helpful! Good luck with your tomato seedlings 😊
A little tip from uk.
Last year i did an experiment with Tomatoes.
1 seed in 3" pot.
1 seed in 1 litre pot
1 seed in 2 litre pot..
The first in 3" pot was transplanted into bigger pots 3/4 times before final plant out..
Second seed in 1 litre pot was only moved 2 times.
And finally the last seed that was in the 2 litre pot wasn't re potted
At all..
Not surprisingly the seed in the 2 litre pot that wasn't moved did the absolute best.
And then the 1 litre pot did next best
And finally the seed in 3" pot was a good way behind in both size and yield.
Proof indeed that plants need the very least amount of stress to fully perform.. hope this helps..😉👍
Thanks for sharing this. I love this expriment and am going to try to replicate it. Brilliant!
@@NowGardening Great let us know it works out for you... Here's to great growing season
@@djsimonrossprice9400 Cheers to that! I'll let you know on the tomatoes :)
Love that you reuse and also use your own seeds
Thank you. I’m a huge fan of saving seeds and reusing plastic just makes good sense 😊
Nice one, 'Now Gardening ' = no time wasted in getting your advice across. Thank you. Regards from Blighty :).
Thanks, Blighty 😊 I hope you have lots of great harvests this year.
I use newspaper and fold it up to form little pots. It's easy, doesn't cost anything and it degrades faster then the biodegradable ones you can buy.
That’s really smart, and I’m glad you’ve found a way to reuse the paper. I never have newspaper around anymore, so it’s not an option for me unfortunately.
I started using soda bottles to plant my carrots and works so well. I just have a balcony, 60 cm deep and 3 m wide so super small space but I could eat from my garden last year
One carrot per soda bottle? I love that idea. It’s such a creative way to garden in a small space! I want to try this now 😄
You really harvested carrots grown in a pop bottle? What a rock star!
My Wawa coffee cups are wonderful for starting seeds. ❤
That’s awesome!
I use those big theater soda cups before I do a final transfer.
Smart. I love that you’re reusing them.
Thank you, your video was very helpful.
Glad it was helpful!
Nice. You can use course sand instead of perlite. Equal by volume. Also, clear solo cups are great.
Great tips, Rick. In France those aren’t available, but you’re right that they work great. My brother uses them in the US. As for sand in place of perlite, I’ve used it before. Don’t know why I don’t use it more to be honest. It’s cheaper I’m sure
I've been known to lift up some soil from mole hills. It's super dark loam that will contain no wild seeds and is full of minerals. As good as any garden centre seed compost.
I thought I was the only one that got the moles to work for me! I don’t use the mole hills for seed starting because ours is clay and still too heavy for seeds, but I do add it to my raised beds.
I covered last summer my seeds with peat moss instead of soil...and watered only at sunset with watering jug directly on the peat moss ...worked awsome,!!!
Smart! Great tip. Thanks for sharing it!
Nice to know someone else is like me!!
Awesome!
Many thanks 😊
You're welcome. Good luck with your seed starting!
I like the aesthetic of clay but I have used several of your suggestions. I started my seeds in 2.5" clay pots.
Wonderful and very helpful information. I too keep all the plastic trays from berries and from the 4 litre “distilled” water jugs. Just cut off the tops, add holes on the bottom and you have nice sized pots for free🙏🏼💜🇨🇦
That’s awesome! I’ve enjoyed learning other gardeners favorite reused materials from the comments and seeing how many other people are committed to saving money and plastic!
Great video.
Thank you. Glad you enjoyed it.
Easiest way to germinate seeds - soak a bunch of seeds in water for 1/2 to 1 day, then fish the seeds out and put them into an empty disposable water bottle, add a few drops of water if necessary, put the cap back on and put it in a warm place. The water would condense near the top and drop back down to keep the seeds moist. After a week or so, rinse out the seedlings and replant in soil.
Thanks for sharing your tip
Short. Clear. To-the-point. GOOD!
Glad to hear you liked it
Wonderful Content. Thank You For Sharing. Have a Nice Day!❤👍
Thank you! You too
Thank you so much for sharing your wisdom! I tried the peat pots- found it’s not my favorite but tried it again because it’s suppose to be convenient. I will try more plastic- I was even thinking if deli lunch meat containers would work. I’ll have to try some of your plastic ideas! Thank you again!
Information that is very useful for sowing seeds is very useful for my agricultural inspiration
Glad to hear that. Good luck with your garden
Thanks for your great suggestions!
Pat W.
Thanks, Pat. You are so welcome!
Thank you for this video! Right now I have seedlings growing in the biodegradable cups but i will transfer them out of the cups when they are ready.
Best of luck to you. I hope you have a great harvest this year.
@@NowGardening Thank you so much!
This is great information! Just found you today and learning lots. I was about to start my garden but felt a bit lost/anxious. Thanks for the info, and a big thanks for keeping it economical. I watched a lot of videos by other TH-camrs and cost is rarely a consideration for a lot of them. Thanks again
Thanks for your comment. Don’t get discouraged. Gardeners make growing seem much harder than it really is. After seed starting, I have several videos that might help you with starting economical garden beds once you’re ready for that. Let me know if I can help 😊
The biodegradables are tricky indeed, some work some don't. Cutting the the bottom off before planting outdoors or in bigger pots worked a charm last year.
Thanks for the tip. It seems like that’s the most recommended solution. I’ll have to give it a try!
I'm new to gardening and found this helpful thanks.
I’m happy to hear that and best of luck getting started.
excellent video!! No excessive yaking! To the point!
Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for your comment!
I like the idea of reusing containers. Thanks
It’s really practical. I love it
Thank you, your straight forward approach just made me your newest subscriber
My pleasure. Welcome to my channel, and thanks for your comment.
Tak, ten film był bardzo pomocny:) Dziękuję.
Thanks 😊
Great useful information. Thank you.
Thank you. Good luck with your seed starting
very good! i do the same with recycling stuff, also the same soil managment
Wonderful!
Brilliant upload, I've learnt so much.
Have joined your channel
Like done 👍 Thank you for sharing 👌🏼
Thank you. I'm happy to hear it was helpful :)
This video WAS very helpful...so THANK YOU! The growing season where I am is such that planting cannot be done until 3rd week in May, but when you were mentioning starting tomatoes 8-10 weeks before taking outside...mmmm...that is coming up SOON!😊😊
Hi Lilly. Thanks for your comment. I’m glad it was helpful. You are exactly right-it’s coming up quickly. I plant tomatoes out on the first day of May, so I start them inside by the first of March! I hope you have lots of great harvests this year!
Thank you! I loved your video, I always thought plastic containers wasn't good but you changed my mind. I just suscribed.
You’re welcome. So glad it was helpful. Thanks for subscribing and good luck with your seed starting !
Great tip
Glad it was helpful
Thanks for this video! I started seeding last week and now they are germinating and I can see leaves! You earn new subscriber here! Keep sharing! Thanks so much!
Thanks for sharing your experience. I’m so happy it was helpful, and also congratulations on your new seedlings! Have a great week 😊
I love this video and fully agree with your ideas.
Thank you so much. I’m glad we agree
What a great video. Love the tip on clear containers for viewing growth phases.
Thanks for your comment. I hope you're off to a great start.
Love your `fridge magnets.
Thank you for mentioning the problem of those peat pots, I just planted some tomato and pepper seeds in them. They haven't germinated yet, hopefully they live after I transplant them later this month
Good luck. If you transplant the pots directly into something else, then try cutting the bottom of the pots off so the roots can get out. That’s the advice I’ve received from other gardeners.
Like your cabin
Thanks. The doors blew off in a storm a couple of year back, so we reused old French shutters to replace them :)
Paper pots. Easy to make, and holds moisture
Awesomeness Val!! You know, we're big fans of frugality!!
We got almost all our Trays, pots and mats last June. Everyone around here buys their starts from a garden center, 1 week later, all those items are in their recycling bin on the curb, waiting for a good home 😁😁😁
I wanna plant some more stuff now !!
Cheers J&C 🌱😁🌱
That’s so cool and I appreciate that about you guys. I enjoy seeing the second life you give to things. I picked up canning jars off the recycling corner today. Figured I can use them for organizing if not for actual canning. I hate seeing things just thrown away for no reason.
Thank you for sharing what doesn't work. I leave a couple of think I never thought of..👏👏👏👏👏
Awesome, glad it helped and thanks for your comment 😊
Thank you so much it was very helpful
You're welcome. I’m so happy it helped
New subbie!!! Thank you I’m starting mine today his weekend.❤
Awesome! Best of luck to you. Wishing you loads of great harvests this year
This video earned my Subscription! Loved all the tips and tricks! .
Welcome! Thanks for joining us 😊
Thank you super helpful
Thanks, I’m glad it helped
Thank you for this video. I would like to learn more about growing vegetables.
Hi Eileen. That’s so exciting! My advice is to start with a small number of things to grow, so you don’t get overwhelmed by it. You can add more vegetables as you get more comfortable. Let me know if I can answer any questions.
Great video! Your tips on how to start seeds indoors are really practical and easy to follow.
Thanks for watching and taking the time to leave a comment.
I have those issues with those biodegradable seed starting pots! I love recycling containers! I really believe that gardening should not cost too much to enjoy!
Agree 100% Gardening should be fun and relaxing, not a headache.
When direct planting peat pots, soak them thoroughly first and then tear off the bottom.
Thanks, Jim. I appreciate the tip
very helpful - thanks for sharing
Glad it was helpful.
This is all exactly what I do. The first few months of the year, I save all the plastic clamshell containers and dairy product packaging. I run most of it through the dishwasher to sterilize it and the lids make excellent “coasters” for their repurposed container to catch any water that drains out. Eggs come in clear plastic clamshells at Costco. I cut off the lid and stack it with the bottom to reinforce it as one layer is not super sturdy. You could use another layer from a different clamshell to be the “coaster” as they come with no holes and the other half as a “humidity dome” for itty bitty stuff like lobelia or stuff you start a lot of like brassicas & greens.
Smart ideas and creative too. I love it. Ive used the lids too, first as a cover to help seeds germinate and then as a coaster like you do. We don’t have plastic egg cartons over here, but the double stacking idea is a good one for some cheap trays I have that are too flimsy to use on their own.
Great, concise and informative guide. Also, love your refrigerator magnets 1:24
Getting a pin mic will greatly improve your sound quality. Im sorry for sounding like im complaining but i appreciate your information and it would be alot better experience for us. Thank you
I appreciate your constructive feedback. I just bought a new mic only to find out it sounds worse. I am working actively to fix this, so thanks for bearing with me.
I do use the peat pots but had the same issue with the plants being rootbound after they were planted in the garden, so I now break the peat pots up before putting the plant in the ground. I tried a new type of pot this year - a plant fiber pot instead of a peat pot, and the roots have grown through the sides quite easily, but they also have already started breaking down. My potting mix is raised bed soil (which is very porous) covered with a couple of inches of the seed starting mix from the store.
I will be building a 6' x 6' greenhouse this spring which will eliminate the need to start seeds inside the house and use up all my window space.
I’m so happy for you about your upcoming greenhouse! It’s my dream to have one too. Thanks for sharing your experience. What brand are you using if I can ask?
@@NowGardening Jiffy Natural & Organic Seed Starting Mix.
I’m using Mott’s/Dole applesauce/fruits cups to start seeds this year. It’s a 2-for-1! 💜💜💜
Smart idea !
If I were to use those biodegradable containers, I would make a few cuts or slices in the sidewall of them just before buying them so the roots could find their way out while the containers degrade. We use a lot of recycled yogurt containers and they work great. Enoyed your video.
Thanks Briar. I’m glad we can agree on how great yogurt co gainers are 😄 You’re right on track with the idea to cut the sidewall of those biodegradable pots. I’ve had an overwhelming response from growers saying that’s what they do. Thanks for taking the time to suggest it.
We are not burring treasure hahahahahah. Thank you! This was great.
Lol glad it made you smile!
Thank You ✨💜✨
You are so welcome! Have a lovely week 💚
Helpful video! Thank you!
Thank you 😊
This was very helpful. Thank you.
Glad it was helpful 😊
thanks
My pleasure, good luck with your seedlings
very helpful and just in time for my area seed planting, thank you
Glad it was helpful. Good luck with your seed starting
I use any container, bottom half of a gallon of milk, packaging for screws, or anything that looks practical.
Smart, I love reusing these things we’d otherwise throw away
Great tips Valerie.. I use old carry out containers too! 🌱
Love that, Barb. I like my reused stuff better than any trays or kits I’ve bought through the years.
Thanks for telling us about those so called brown bio degradable pots . I was thinking of buying them but now forget it I will just use any food grade plastic containers like yogurt containers or large see thru plastic containers we get organic lettuce in .
Thank you for the great advice
You are so welcome! You won’t regret it. Just don’t forget to make drainage holes 😊
Thanks for the good ideas, concepts, attitudes, and advice.
My pleasure. I’m glad you enjoyed it
Thank you! Great information!
Thanks for your kind comment!
so great🖤
Thank you