If it’s your first time planting a Garden or you have planted many, I hope this posts gives you some helpful tips.
Is it too late to start a Garden? Nope. I live in the Fraser Valley on the outskirts of Vancouver BC Canada and we are considered Zone 8. We are in a rich area for growers and lots of gardening centers because of our great growing climate.
Truthfully, I’ve started mine even later then March and even had to restart some plants several times due to deer eating my stuff. I still got a good harvest at the end of the season.
Buying/Organizing Seeds
I see buying seeds like grocery shopping. Find seeds that are similar to veggies you would buy or herbs. Some are easy to grow, others can be picky. I’ll be completely honest and have had many gardening fails. But, that’s how we learn.
My seeds are a collection from seeds I have saved from Harvest or seeds from my mom’s garden or seeds I bought. I’ve gotten seeds in a gift exchange and even got seeds from church.
Easy DIY – Seed Markers
- Re-purpose an empty plastic container and cut them into strips and use Permanent Marker to write your plant names on them. Shown in picture above and seen in video in this post.
- Hopefully they don’t get destroyed and can be useful for years to come!
Prepping Seed Containers
Use what you have. Even if it’s a egg carton. Get creative, seeds will grow in rich soil and they aren’t picky how fancy the container is that they grow in. I’ve re-purposed containers I saved from times. I bought starter plants when I didn’t have time to start seeds and have saved the holders to use as seed starters.
I grabbed soil from my Raised Garden Beds and filled up the containers. Something I forgot to do in this picture was moisten my soil.
Yup, I’ll say it again, get the soil wet. FYI I bought my gardening gloves from the dollar store a couple years ago.
I made a hole with my finger to make a nice spot for the seeds to go in.
Planting Seeds
I love this photo. Popping open seeds pods that I let dry on the vine from last year is something that’s exciting to see what’s inside.
Pretty straight forward to drop the seed in the hole you made and cover it up with soil.
Not all seeds will grow, I usually drop at least 2 seeds per spot
Mini Greenhouses – Encouraging seeds to start
Keeping it real and again, using what I have. A plastic container, vacuum bag and my window. Anyway I can to encourage the seeds to grow. I usually put it in my greenhouse and check on them if they are watered. This year the frost is still here in the mornings.
I can’t end this post here and just say “Happy Planting”.
Bonus Tip – Community Outreach
My heart has been heavy with the current world state. I see bloggers I’ve connect with here online in full on Quarantine. My husband and I are blessed he’s still working and we are not affected by job loss. Many are loosing their jobs here in Canada with COVID 19 outbreak happening.
With having young kids and we are taking the government order very seriously to stay home. I would love to reach out and help my community in any way I can.
I created a Garden Swap Box.
- I took an old planter box that was made for a Garden Party a couple years ago. I don’t have a fancy word making machine.
- I used my stencils and pre-planned my words on paper.
- Using a Foam Brush I painted the words on.
Here’s how it turned out.
While the kids painted I painted too. I asked a neighbor if I could put it out on his corner of his yard. I put a plastic container with some seeds in unopened seed packages that I won’t be using and some pots to get people started. Not sure who will use it.
Have you started seeds?
What are you planning to plant in your garden this year?
Notefull Living 