Starting your seeds indoors - Home Vegetable Garden

[webcajun]

@Efetida ... I'm still planting some broccoli seed directly in the garden. Got some 8 inches tall and some 1 inch tall......Donald

[Involved6]

Thank you, sir. Loving your videos and your informative but laid-back style.

[webcajun]

@Involved6 ...You're welcome, glad you enjoy the videos......Donald

[spyman0071]

Why did you put three seeds on top as opposed to just one?

[webcajun]

@spyman0071 ...Germination rates usually run about 80% so to make sure I'd have at least one to come up.....Donald

[alicetheDroog]

I'm in trade school for gardening, so I've heard many techniques for seed starting; but yours was new to me. Great vid!

..but I'm pretty sure damping off refers to a fungus such as mold attacking the seedlings. You're only describing a symptom.

[webcajun]

@alicetheDroog ...Each time I've had plants "dampen off" was a results of too much watering which promotes it. I was extra careful with watering this year and have not had that problem. Good luck with school......Donald

[fkelly84]

what on-off light schedule do you put vegetables on before going outside? does it matter?

[webcajun]

@fkelly84 ... bring the plants outside for a couple of hours the first day and increase that time over about 5-7 days. That should harden them off just fine......Donald

[rayvt1]

Donald, we moved down here to the Wills Point, TX area from NE Nevada where our growing season was very short. We have about 7 acres of decent flat, fertile ground with a full stock pond. Have tilled up about 1 acre so far. I truly appreciate your very informative and very usable information Your going to be our gardening bible especially as we have similar growing conditions...Will watch with anticipation for any of your 2011 videos. Thanks Ray

[webcajun]

@rayvt1 ... Hey Ray, sounds like you have a real nice setup there in Texas. We've been getting steady rains so the garden here is wet which means I can do very little out there now. I should be starting my tomatoes, peppers and eggplant inside in the next couple of weeks so you should see a gardening video next month. Check out my garden Calendar on the web site. Getting tired of shooting videos in the house. lol.....Donald

[johnped]

When's the best time to start the seeds cause its recommened for where i live to plant the broccoli at he end of March

[johnped]

@johnped I didnt finish the video before i sent the commet, i got it though 6 weeks lol

[webcajun]

@johnped ... for vegetables like tomatoes, peppers and eggplant it's about 8 weeks before transplanting time. Stuff like broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, lettuce it's about 6 weeks before transplanting into the garden. Check out the last video I posted.....Donald

[rayvt1]

Donald, we moved down here to the Wills Point, TX area from NE Nevada where our growing season was very short. We have about 7 acres of decent flat, fertile ground with a full stock pond. Have tilled up about 1 acre so far. I truly appreciate your very informative and very usable information Your going to be our gardening bible especially as we have similar growing conditions...Will watch with anticipation for any of your 2011 videos. Thanks Ray

[vikramyt]

Excellent video! Very informative!

[webcajun]

@vikramyt ... Thanks........Donald

[MsLahdeedah]

Lil bitty jiffy pots.... too cute!

[webcajun]

@MsLahdeedah ... one of my favorite ways of starting seeds......Donald

[0987654321libra]

How laid back is this man??!!......That wonderful s..l..o..w.. d..r..a..w..l. he has. He's a pleasure to listen to. Enjoyed every minute. And great information toboot. Loved it.

[webcajun]

@0987654321libra ... lol  Thanks.......Donald

[YourGardenShow]

Quick question: Have you ever used the peat pots made without glue? I think they are a few pennies more but the root balls are better formed. the BugLady told me about them.

[webcajun]

@YourGardenShow ... not quite sure why the one without glue would be better. When possible I try to remove most of the peat pot before planting...... Donald

[YourGardenShow]

Great video.

[webcajun]

@YourGardenShow ... thanks.... Donald

[jplerwill]

I know that this is an older video, but after you have relocated the "wet" jiffy pots to the dry trays in the mini green house...do you water from tray up like the soak method, or with spray or watering can from on top at that point. You seem to have great end results so Im just trying to gleem as much from you or these videos as I can

[webcajun]

@jplerwill ... I chose to water from the bottom so I don't disturb the seeds. If the top dries out I use a hand sprayer to lightly moisten the soil. The weather has a lot to do with how fast the soil will dry so you may only need to water every 2-3 days if it's cloudy and raining or every day if it hot and dry with lots of wind. Only keep the soil mosit NOT wet and you'll do just fine.......... Donald

[Vegetable3366]

What kinds of soil do you need for the jiffy pots?

Thanks.

[webcajun]

@Vegetable3366 ... the easiest starter mix is sifted potting soil that you can get from any garden center. Get the brand name stuff........  Donald

[hmr80]

thank you for the great video. i just planted some seeds using your method.

after few days, the pot and the soil has dried out. do i water it again to keep it moist?

[webcajun]

Yes keep it moist not wet and they'll come up just fine.......... Donald

[hmr80]

Thank you. They are sprouting now.

[AIRSOFT24503]

nice technique when trying to get the dirt moist. i ALWAYS have that problem, and when i put the water in the cup, it will just sit there, and sometimes the water will not even move, or fall through. nice overall video too!

[webcajun]

Glad it helped........ Donald

[sauceykat]

I love your videos, very helpful. Thanks very much!

[webcajun]

Glad you enjoy em and you're welcome........ Donald

[pgm98387]

Thanks

[webcajun]

You're welcome......... Donald

[ThisIsWar14]

That is a good little trick there!

I will give that a try.

Thanks!

[webcajun]

Works every time......... Donald

[Like2MilkGoats]

Im using plastic to start my seeds in. I need a good potting medium to start my seeds in. I want to pretend I dont have a "outside world" to depend on, so no peat, perlite, or vermiculite can be used. I want to be sustained so anything that is not produced by a man or machine will work.

[webcajun]

Make your own compost, start a worm bed to harvest the castings and plant in trays, not pots......... Donald

[Like2MilkGoats]

I have a compost pile as well as a worm casting bin going. I can create my own sand. Im looking for a good ratio. Also, Im adding Peat "even though its not sustained" to my depleted soil. Now I need to adjust the PH. Rather not run to the store to buy limestone. Can I add ash instead? Thank you SO much for your expertise!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I really appreciate it.

[webcajun]

I would suggest getting with your county agent and finding out exactually what you need to add and how much. IMHO that's better than guessing and adding stuff that won't work and delay a good harvest for another year......... Donald

[Like2MilkGoats]

Iv heard some people say to send you soil in to have it professionally tested. I think Ill be ok without it. Iv been volunteering at a local farm here recently. Ill be asking plenty of people what they think. Thanks for your interaction, it help me a lot!

[Like2MilkGoats]

whats a more sustained or renewable medium?

[webcajun]

Newspaper......... Donald

[rosuabsc]

Love your idea's, can you tell me what I do wrong, everytime I start my own seeds they come up and get tall and leggy and fall over. I have about given up on starting my own seeds. But really want to learn how to do it. Thanks!

[webcajun]

It's a lack of sunlight. Once the plants start coming up, move them in direct sunlight and you see a big difference....... Donald

[clarkstondude]

you need a fan so that the stem can support the plant, you know what will happen without. Direct sun will just make it grow taller faster without wind. Outside is different because they will have natural wind.

[justmom66]

Great video glad I found ya =]

[webcajun]

Thanks........ Donald

[Pimporly]

Nice video my dear friend!! Love the music at the begining!! I love how you canned them too!!

- Orly

[chemtraildanger]

cute man too :)

[member699]

Great Vid, Thanks allot.

My little cauliflowers were going really great about 4 weeks old, then yesterday I noticed they started to brown and look like they are dying... 8(

[webcajun]

Got to keep the soil moist. I water every day when needed....... Donald

[member699]

I just water over the pots with the hose on 'mist' nozzel for a few seconds... This appeared to work great to beggin with. Would you suggest more (like really drenching the top so it pools a little) or just just wet them down more than once a day?

Thx

[webcajun]

Want to make sure you are watering the soil and not just the plants. Have you tried bottom watering? ...... Donald

[member699]

Havent tried that yet, ill give it a go, thx allot.

[rlewismays]

Hi! Just wanted to say I love your videos, your accent, and the fact that you are in my neck of the woods (generally speaking) so your insights are relevent to my garden. Rosanne Dallas TX

[webcajun]

What accent? LOL We are pretty much in the same planting zone. You may be a couple of weeks later than me. Glad you enjoy the vids and hope they help...... Donald

[vermonofdeceit]

Is Cajun a real language or a made up one like pig latin?

[webcajun]

Cajun is old French. Similar but not the same...... Donald

[newjersey02]

Don, You are lucky..Do you know the dollar will collapse and food will be sparse.

[webcajun]

Open pollinated / heirloom varieties are the answer.  Seed are getting harder to come by so order early...... Donald

[newjersey02]

Thank you..You believe in Jesus ;)..Peace & Love.

[bahamalesster]

Amen to that.

[lilmac44]

comment ca va is french

[webcajun]

Yes it is ...... Donald

[LPF767]

Hi Donald, LOVE your youtube page and your website and just adore that accent of yours ;-) Hey Sweetie, my dad and I are planting a garden and he's also using the peat pots to start the seedling. Can you do this for any kind of vegetable? For example can you start sweet corn in the peat pots? Are there any restrictions to what NOT to plant in the peat pots? Thanks for your time honey and LOVE your garden. God Bless You~*~

[webcajun]

Any vegetable that can be seeded directly into the garden really should be. Corn, beans, okra, greens, carrots, spinach, etc. can all be planted directly in the garden. Tomatoes, bell peppers, hot peppers, eggplant are normally started in cells or pots...... Donald

[BalconyGrow]

When I planted my tp rolls I used this idea of putting the seeding mix on top. Thanks for the tip. ~Jeri

[webcajun]

I've been getting excellent results doing my small seeds this way. Let me know how yours turn out...... Donald

[wongricky2398]

Is that clay pots

[webcajun]

They are peat pots. Plant pot and all...... Donald

[Pimporly]

Your An Inspiration!!!!! great points! 5 stars! Keep the videos comin man!

[webcajun]

Thanks I really appreciate it...... Donald

[theproducegarden]

its summer mate, all 47 degrees of it, lol

[theproducegarden]

great stuff mate!

[webcajun]

Here it's winter, what season is it in Australia? ...... Donald

[TnWormsCastings]

i started my seed indoor on many plants and they are up and doing great i live your vid thanks for the ideas!!!

[webcajun]

Hoping to have a worm bed this summer so I can have casting to throw into the mix next year...... Donald

[evcrawfish]

hello sir,

thanks for the heads up on them tiny seeds, lil pains in the behind sometimes, but good eatin.

got most of the wood cleared for the "big garden" today. got to get some chicken wire to put around it, dang rabbits kicked my butt last yr on my lil test beds.

[webcajun]

Looking forward to seeing your progress. Got an electric fence this year to do battle with the coons. Hope it works cause I sure love my sweet corn...... Donald

[EmelinaChaCha]

You've inspired me to finally plant my seeds this week. Thanks for a great video. Keep us updated on how yours turns out. Such a joy to watch your videos :)

[webcajun]

Thank you and let me know how yours are coming along...... Donald

[1DRock37167]

Thanks again for the good info!

[webcajun]

You're very welcome.

[Praxxus55712]

I juuuust got in my seeds from Gurney's seed company two days ago. Cauliflower and cabbage are two plants I'll be growing this year that I didn't grow last year. I'm gonna start them indoors in pots the way you did. I should be planting the seeds around the time yours are being put into your garden. Darn you and your long growing season! LOL

I'd love to see a followup on those seedlings if you can. Thanks Donald! :)

[webcajun]

Well Praxxus look at it this way, my long growing season means I'll have to work in the garden much longer than you will. Come to think about it, that doesn't sound too bad. LOL For supper tonight we had a fresh out the garden lettuce and spinach salad. No Joke. Had I panned the camera over just a bit you'd have seen some broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage and lettuce plants that were already 3-4 inches tall.  Will try to update when those in the vid start coming up...... Donald

[guest2424]

I appreciate this video you made. 5 stars.

This should work very well for the Mint family of plants, they have extremely small seeds.

[webcajun]

Starting my small seeds this way allows me to gauge the planting depth much closer. Also gives them a nice seed bed to germinate in. Takes a little while to sift the fine mix but that's all part of the fun...... Donald

[sthier24]

Donald, Thanks so much, I really enjoy your videos.

[webcajun]

My goal is to show just how easy gardening can be. I like to keep things as simple as they really are. Thanks..... Donald

[dobe762]

Thanks Donald, I've been watching with interest, as sowing seeds is where I fall down most! I'm due to start sowing in a few weeks and I've already got your peat pots ;-)

Here's hoping

Cheers

;-)

[webcajun]

If you don't plant too deep and keep the top half of the soil somewhat moist (everyday) your seedlings will pop up in no time. Once they come up make sure they get plenty sunshine and keep the root zone moist, you'll do just fine...... Donald

[Cashis4life]

Nice tip with the sifter!

[webcajun]

It works really well.

[xWiggEEboarDx]

I appreciate this instructional.

[webcajun]

Thanks