It is official! I am once again growing vegetables! The 2015 gardening season is under way...
Today I planted more seeds, and seeing as my little greenhouse was still full of artichokes and physallis, I had to go back to my previous seed germination methods. Ladies and gentlemen, I give you.... the eggshell!
Eggshells are a marvel in the garden. They are excellent fertilizer (what better source of calcium?), they act as a pest repellant (slugs and snails don't like crawling over their jagged edges), and they are excellent vessels for germinating seeds. Why germinate seeds in eggshells, you ask? Well, for one, it eliminates plastic from the gardening process. Always a good thing. The small seedlings get an early boost of calcium, as well. And when the seedlings are ready to be transplanted, they don't have to be removed from the shell, possibly damaging small roots. You simply crack the shell a bit and plant the whole thing.
So I save eggshells. And if you buy your eggs in pressed paper cartons, as opposed to plastic or styrofoam, you'll want to save those, too. Perfect 'pot' holders!
Today I planted seeds for leeks and tomatoes. I made a small hole in each shell, for drainage, then added dirt, seeds and water.
The leeks wanted to germinate in a cool place, so they got tucked between the washing machine and a cabinet. I'm hoping the cat can't get to them there. Tomato seeds want warmth to germinate, and the skinny egg cartons rest perfectly on top of my bathroom radiator.
Happy growing, little seeds! I hope you do as well as your artichoke friends. I have two artichoke plants up and running, and another one about to burst through the soil.
The physallis isn't doing as well, I'm afraid. Only one seed has germinated, and it looks so frail! My hopes are not too high for this little fella.
Can you even see it? It's no bigger than a thread! Nothing to get excited about here. So I'm pinning all my hopes on the artichokes. In my mind's eye I am already dipping leaves in melted butter.
Mmmmmmmmm.............
