Here in Vermont it doesn’t much look like spring is coming. The ground is still white and the temperatures are quite chilly this week. However in just a few weeks I’ll be starting my seeds for my garden!
I’ve looked through the various catalogs, placed my seed orders and the other day I received an envelope filled with seeds from Solstice Seeds. Sylvia who runs Solstice Seeds is an avid seed collector and I know that her seeds will grown in my garden as she is only a few towns away. Sylvia not only sells heirloom seeds she has saved herself but she encourages you to start saving your own seeds.
One of the things you need to start your own seeds is some sort of potting mix designed for seed starting. Of course I could go out and purchase some seed starting soil but did you know it is very easy to make yourself?
Following the directions in one of my favorite books, America’s Garden Book by James and Louise Bush-Brown, the mixture only requires three ingredients. Top Soil or garden loam, sand or perlite and peat moss. I usually mix up a large container, which will last me the whole season for as many seeds as I need to start.
Just combine equal parts of the three ingredients and mix well.
Perlite is used to increase aeration in a mixture. It is derived from a type of volcanic rock and is processed into light, porous, sterile particles that hold many times their own weight in water.
Sand is used to add body and drainage to a soil medium, and is also excellent when used alone for root cuttings.
Peat moss is used in heavy mixtures to lighten and increaser porosity; it is derived from partly decomposed aquatic plants.
Once I have mixed up my seed starting soil I am ready to start planting seeds.
The first seeds I will start will be my leek and onion seeds. They need time to grow and establish themselves before I can plant them directly into the garden.
I may not be able to get outside and work in my garden yet but starting seeds indoors is a sure sign that spring is coming!
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