Comments for the doodle house

Comment on The need for seed by Angela

Angela — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 04:37:08 +0000

I’m living in Thailand currently and have been trying to start a garden (from seed) for the past months with my boyfriend (more effort/research, more photo-taking/moral support on mine). Sunlight hasn’t been so much of an issue (although there have been plenty of weeks when it rained on end), but our (late) pet rabbit, (current) pet dog, and pesky birds in the garden have done their fair share of damage! Still, we finally have some gorgeous tomatoes growing, some lettuce, and more basil than we know what to do with. It can be a long, nerve-wracking process but in the end I’m sure it will be worth it. Good luck!

Comment on The need for seed by writeandexplore

writeandexplore — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 03:57:34 +0000

I love gardening! I work at a plant nursery and adore watching the plants grow. Thank you for the post it was so informational! Loved it!

Comment on The need for seed by kelseynrobinson

kelseynrobinson — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 03:32:57 +0000

Right now we are composting horse manure; however, horse manure isn’t ideal for vegetables because it’s so high in nitrogen. Fruiting vegetables require more phosphorous (Heath’s a science teacher and tell’s me what’s what.) We will use that on nitrogen loving plants like lettuce and turf grass.

Ideally you want a fowl manure or cow manure, which has a better balance of NPK. If you can turn it every day and keep moisture correct, you can get it to compost in a month, which allows the temperature to get high enough. If you let it sit, it could take 6 months to a year to properly compost and rot. I think the key is letting the temperature get hot enough to kill all of the harmful microorganisms, leaving the beneficial microbes behind.

Good luck!

Comment on The need for seed by kelseynrobinson

kelseynrobinson — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 03:27:10 +0000

The biggest chicken advice is just to be aware of the fact that everything eats chickens…EVERYTHING. We’ve lost a few to a number of neighborhood critters, which unfortunately is a part of chicken rearing. So make sure they have a secure home and be very watchful of them as chicks. We keep ours inside for the first few weeks while they are especially vulnerable.

Comment on The need for seed by kelseynrobinson

kelseynrobinson — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 03:22:20 +0000

We’ve heard that you aren’t suppose to sprout tuberous plants (like carrots) indoors. They are one of the few that do better outside. So far we have had success with tomatoes, lettuce and broccoli, but a particularly tough time with peppers. Right now we are trying to keep peppers on a heat mat for 7-10 days where plants like lettuce and tomatoes only really need 4-5 days to germinate. We’re still just learning as we go.

Comment on The need for seed by Grumpa Joe

Grumpa Joe — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 02:22:54 +0000

One trick to starting seeds is to keep them moist during germination. Then after germination you have to give them moisture, but not so much that they drown, and air. Then you have to keep them from getting spindly by adjusting light conditions just right. Eventually, you can transplant the seedlings to a larger pot, and keep them warm, sunny, and moist, but not so wet that they drown, and not so sunny that they become spindly. Out of the hundred seeds you started with you are lucky to get 100 or maybe 1.
Good luck, I start my seeds in another month.

Comment on The need for seed by Grumpa Joe

Grumpa Joe — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 02:17:52 +0000

Did-ja get your chicks mail order?

Comment on The need for seed by transplantednorth

transplantednorth — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 01:51:01 +0000

living here up north, I crave my garden and seem to start seedlings earlier and earlier each year. I’ve got three trays going in my basement: basil, lettuce, cilantro. Thank you for sharing your intricate techniques in growing seeds down south. I hope Texas receives just the right amount of rain this year.

Comment on The need for seed by vincitore117

vincitore117 — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 01:27:54 +0000

I made a garden. But plants does not seem to have strength. Looks dull. Do you have any idea how to prepare good organic manure.

Comment on The need for seed by akwoman

akwoman — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 23:39:55 +0000

Best of luck to you and your seeds! My snap peas and flowers are going to be started this weekend, but there’s three feet of white stuff on top of the soil in the yard at the moment, so no hurry!
Cute blog – congrats on being “freshly pressed”