Seeds & Planting

Instructions Step 1: Cut the jug Cut the jug horizontally with the knife or scissors, leaving a small attached piece that acts as a hinge where the handle is connected. Poke several holes in the bottom for drainage, around the top for air, and one in each side. Step 2: Fill with soil Fill the …

Instructions Step 1: Consider plant needs Consider each prospective plant’s nutrient needs, shade tolerance, growth patterns, and optimum growing season. Step 2: Compare plant needs Compare the needs of these plants with your garden’s micro-climate and soil conditions. Then choose your plants accordingly. Step 3: Consider pH level Consider testing your soil’s pH level, which …

Instructions Step 1: Sketch the garden bed Sketch the proposed garden bed on a piece of graph paper, labeling the compass directions and locating any surrounding landmarks. TIP: The boundaries of a square foot garden bed do not have to be square. Although the boundaries are usually wooden planks, they can be almost anything — …

Instructions Step 1: Determine if you can keep your seeds Go online to determine whether you have the kinds of seeds you can keep. Hybrid plants produce seeds that are often sterile or don’t reproduce true to their parent plants. Open-pollinated plants have to be isolated from others in their families so that don’t cross-pollinate. …

Instructions Step 1: Pick the best Pick seeds from the biggest and most colorful flowers and vegetables. Step 2: Look for mature seeds Look for signs that the seeds are mature by finding plants whose flowers are dry, falling off, or have puffy tops. Plants with pods are mature when the pods are brown and …

Instructions Step 1: Prepare the soil Prepare your soil bed by tilling and adding compost to enrich. TIP: Choose a large area with good sun and drainage for the best results. Step 2: Choose your tea Choose the types of teas you’d like to plant. Bee balm, anise hyssop, lemon verbena, and mint chamomile are …

Instructions Step 1: Use sharp knife Use a sharp knife, razor blade, or small nail clippers to nick the outer coat. Step 2: Rub seed Rub the seed with a nail file or sandpaper. Step 3: Soak in water Soak the seed in water prior to planting. Step 4: Remove when swells Remove the seed …

Instructions Step 1: Lay out newspaper Spread out the newspaper and lay it flat. Then fold it horizontally, and then vertically. Cut or tear the result into 5-inch strips, which will comprise the pots. TIP: Avoid using the shiny, colored newspaper pages, which are toxic. Step 2: Roll strips Roll the strips around a tall …

Instructions Step 1: Use knife Use the tip of a knife to chip off the top of an egg. Discard the egg or cook it. Step 2: Pierce egg Gently rinse the shell. Use a pin or a needle to pierce the bottom of the shell creating a drainage hole. Step 3: Place in carton …

Instructions Step 1: Store your bulbs properly Store your bulbs in a cool, dark place away from direct sunlight while you are waiting to plant them. Step 2: Wait for the right temperatures Check your thermometer and wait until average nighttime temperatures have fallen to around 50°F or cooler for 2 weeks before putting the …

Instructions Step 1: Start indoors Start your seedlings indoors, especially if you live in a cooler climate. Plant two to three seeds per pot and choose the healthiest seedling for transplantation. TIP: For best results use peat pots that can be transplanted whole without uprooting and potentially traumatizing your seedling. Step 2: Give space Give …

Instructions Step 1: Add organic matter Mix organic matter such as commercial or homemade compost into the soil using a garden spade. Anything derived from plant or animal matter will help improve the soil structure. TIP: Do not add sand, which will not mix with clay. Step 2: Add iron sulfate Mix in iron sulfate …

Instructions Step 1: Laying down the granules Spread your garden tarpaulin flat on the ground next to the garden. Place the bag of dry fertilizer on the tarp and scoop the granules on top of the old growth. TIP: A good formula for using fertilizer is 10 pounds for every thousand square feet of garden …

Instructions Step 1: Put on your gloves and lay the tarp out flat next to your garden. Using the shovel, remove enough dirt to create a hole 1 foot and 2 inches deep. Place the dirt onto the tarp. Step 2: Step to the side of the hole you created and make another one exactly …

Instructions Step 1: Prepare pots or flats Wash the pots and flats in warm soapy water. Rinse them thoroughly and drain. TIP: To kill fungi and bacteria in previously used pots, soak them for 30 minutes in a solution of 10 parts water to 1 part bleach, then rinse and drain. Step 2: Prepare seed …