Seeds Today, Food Tomorrow

Spring is on its way. Really, it is. After four months of cold, snow, ice, cold, wind, and cold, warm weather and green grass are within sight. Among other things, Spring means planting the garden. This weekend I started tomato and pepper plants indoors, about 6-8 weeks before outdoor planting time. After last year’s disaster in which 4 hungry housecats enjoyed a delicious salad bar of young vegetable seedlings, I’m doing things a little different this year.

First off, I searched high and low (OK…I searched a little on Amazon) for a small, portable, inexpensive, greenhouse-like container. I found this one, which is transparent, the right size, and has a tight-fitting lid to keep the cat-monsters out.

I purchased my seeds from Burpee. I love Burpee. They have a great selection and a generous return policy. Last year, both varieties of carrots I attempted failed to do a darn thing (including grow) and they gave me a refund without any undue rigamaroll. I love this. There’s also usually a discount code online, so that’s a plus. As for tomatoes, I’m planting Roma, San Marzano, Black Pearl, and Long Keeper; three of each plant. I’m hoping to produce enough to sun-dry and can a good amount. The peppers, also three of each plant, include Chocolate Bell and Red Bell. Yum!  

I used empty toilet paper tubes to hold the plants. 

This seems like a great idea because everyone has some around the house (it only takes a few weeks to save enough for all the seedlings) and they’re just the right size and shape to hold the veglings. Unless of course you don’t use toilet paper, in which case you probably have some interesting ideas about life. Good for you. Anyhow, I started by cutting four, one-inch slits in one end of each tube and folding them over, then taping them down to form a base. 

I then added about an inch of aquarium rocks to each tube and filled them with seed-starting mix. 

I also carefully labeled each tube so I’ll know which plant is which. (This is important.) I then planted the seeds (according to package directions), gave them a little water, and nestled them snuggly into the aquarium rocks (approximately 1 inch deep) in the plastic container. 

After snapping the lid on the container, I put it in a nice sunny spot near the window. Seeds today, food tomorrow. (Actually, seeds today, food in four months, or something like that.)

Here’s hoping!