Ground to Ground

Ever had a packet of seeds you just wanted to get started on but couldn’t because of cold weather? I want the real plant, not some picture of it!

I’ve found that there are only so many months of the year you can get most seeds going outdoors. Melbourne means September is about as early as you can go for most Summer plants.

There are plenty of seed raising trays you can buy, some with pre-built heaters to maintain a steady temperature. Buy one of those and you miss the spirit of frugality!

The methods below are fun to do with the kids, cost almost nothing, and just fun to do.

This is my working collection of Mico-Greenhouses.

The Milk Crate

As the heading suggests, this is made from a old plastic milk crate, lined with newspaper and wrapped in plastic. It spent most of Winter over a heating vent.

The Plastic Tray with Coir Pellets

This one went very well getting corn and sunflowers started, so here is how to make it:

• Plastic Tray (deep enough to hold the pellet and water)
• Coir Pellets
• Plastic Bag
• Bamboo Sticks
• A source of heat

Place the pellets into the tray, then add plenty of water to expand. Place the sticks around the end pellets, and put the whole thing into a plastic bag. Does not seem to matter if you keep the bag slightly open or shut tight – so maybe worth trying both.

The Milk Container Contraption

Finally a reason to drink more milk.

To make, cut the top off an empty, rinsed milk carton, then cut up that piece into 4 smaller pieces. You are going to use those smaller pieces to create partitions within the container, as below.

Fill it with soil (or half propagation sand and half peat moss for my favourite), add the seeds, label it, make sure it is all held together nicely, wrap it in a plastic bag and there you go.

This photo is a week or so after setting it all up.

And now 3 or so weeks after… From left to right looks like Chillies, Tomatoes, and a Catmint.

Now removing those seedlings out into the garden proper.

This chilli plant now has a new Summer home!

So get into it – at the least it’s something to do while watching TV 🙂