Early Beginning to the Gardening Season (Indoor Seed Sowing!)

April 1, 2014

I received this cool indoor seed growing kit for Christmas from my husband's sister and her family.  (Remember 'Chia Pets'?   Same company.)

I asked my good friend, Paula (who grows excellent tomato plants from seed) if today was a good day to start indoor seeds.  She said that April is indeed seed planting month and this wonderful advice 'and, the absolute best time to plant is when you have the time and enthusiasm!'  

The kit came with three little terra cotta pots and a special 'Growing Sponge' made from a mysterious mixture of tree bark, peat moss and sponge material.   They feel very spongy.  It also came with six different kinds of herbs, tags, and instructions.   The idea was to choose the three herbs you most like, but I decided to put my favourites in the special pots and plant the others in regular earth.

The nice selection of herbs included cilantro, sweet basil, chives, marjoram, dill and parsley.

Cilantro is our very favouite so it got the Number One spot in one of the special pots, along with chives and sweet basil.  My husband and I love all things Mexican, and cilantro seems to be a major ingredient in all food with a Mexican flair.

The instructions were quite clear to just lay the seed on top of the little sponges (with the exception of the chives, which were to be buried in a small slit).   It seems weird to me to leave the large cilantro seeds on top like that, but I decided to do what I was told.

I planted the other three herbs in small yogurt containers, in regular soil.

And covered them all up with plastic wrap, which was recommended!  Presto.  

I will be fun to see how this all works out.   My master plan it to plant them all out in containers on the deck this summer.  

To be continued.....