You’re welcome! I hope you find it useful. I’ve been using it a fair bit recently and have found that it’s very good when plants are in bloom, but can struggle to be specific when not. Still better than others I’ve tried
Too many seeds planted to mention, or indeed fit on a windowsill...
I will mention my favourite latest charity shop find though: an old index card box *with* alphabetical dividers. It's now my new (OK, first) seed storage box.
Yes, my feedback to the Victorian gentleman who designed and/or constructed this house: deeper windowsills. One year I put together an elaborate shanty construction for my seedlings, involving old apple crates and bits of ply wood, to extend the windowsill. I have also previously used narrow plastic shoe racks as shelving for seed trays. It all worked, but turning the office into a makeshift greenhouse wasn't a universally popular interior design decision.
Also: JEALOUS of your seed storage box. I'm inspired, and will be on the lookout. My current filing system (tiny envelopes stuffed into slightly larger envelopes) is not especially satisfying.
New subscriber here -- I found you through Boaz @ Rootbound. I'll be interested to see how your seed starting goes. This is the first year we've done things in a mostly correct fashion but I have to admit the half-a**ed way has also worked for us in the past. Fingers crossed for yours!
Hi Laura, welcome to The Earthworm! I’m curious: what inspired the move from the half-a**ed way to the correct one? I mean, results is results is results!
I have the purest intentions when it comes to doing things “right”, but then I step outside, see something that needs doing, and set about doing it there and then, regardless of whether I’m equipped to do a proper job…
This is our first year gardening in a different region of the country than before. The soil composition is much different (worse) than we're used to, with considerably more clay. But don't worry, there are many more cases where we fall into the "having the purest intentions" trap. We have a tendency to buy large quantities of plants with only a vague plan of where they'll end up.
Ooo, a new garden! How exciting. Were you able to bring any favourite plants with you? Or are you starting completely from scratch? What region are you in now? Sorry: questions overload.
I love the questions! We moved from the greater Philadelphia area to northern Virginia. We brought some container plants with us but mostly we are building on what was here before (primarily ornamental beds close to the house), and adding a kitchen garden. Here's a shameless plug for our Substack, which is a mix of gardening/plants, wildlife, and historic property preservation. This is the first post with a bit of background: https://willowgreens.substack.com/p/how-it-all-began?utm_campaign=post&utm_source=copy
I've had a read, and a look at the photos, and simply: wow. What a stunning building. So much more than a mere garden takeover or transformation. Thanks for sharing the link - will follow your progress keenly!
There's been a lot of seed starting going on in Pittsburgh! Over the weekend I planted some ranunculus as well as a wildflower seed mix to try to fill in the area next to my rain barrel (or water butt, in the UK). And thanks for the shout-out!
“Rain barrel” does seem more descriptive than “water butt” which, come to think of it, could refer to all manner of unpleasant things. As for the seeds, I wish your wildflowers well - look forward to seeing how they get on in their glamorous water-front location
Thank you for the app recommendation; most are terrible or tiresome, some both.
You’re welcome! I hope you find it useful. I’ve been using it a fair bit recently and have found that it’s very good when plants are in bloom, but can struggle to be specific when not. Still better than others I’ve tried
I've used it once and it got to Diocot - not the most helpful start! I'll reserve judgement
Haha, that narrows it down!
Too many seeds planted to mention, or indeed fit on a windowsill...
I will mention my favourite latest charity shop find though: an old index card box *with* alphabetical dividers. It's now my new (OK, first) seed storage box.
Yes, my feedback to the Victorian gentleman who designed and/or constructed this house: deeper windowsills. One year I put together an elaborate shanty construction for my seedlings, involving old apple crates and bits of ply wood, to extend the windowsill. I have also previously used narrow plastic shoe racks as shelving for seed trays. It all worked, but turning the office into a makeshift greenhouse wasn't a universally popular interior design decision.
Also: JEALOUS of your seed storage box. I'm inspired, and will be on the lookout. My current filing system (tiny envelopes stuffed into slightly larger envelopes) is not especially satisfying.
New subscriber here -- I found you through Boaz @ Rootbound. I'll be interested to see how your seed starting goes. This is the first year we've done things in a mostly correct fashion but I have to admit the half-a**ed way has also worked for us in the past. Fingers crossed for yours!
Hi Laura, welcome to The Earthworm! I’m curious: what inspired the move from the half-a**ed way to the correct one? I mean, results is results is results!
I have the purest intentions when it comes to doing things “right”, but then I step outside, see something that needs doing, and set about doing it there and then, regardless of whether I’m equipped to do a proper job…
This is our first year gardening in a different region of the country than before. The soil composition is much different (worse) than we're used to, with considerably more clay. But don't worry, there are many more cases where we fall into the "having the purest intentions" trap. We have a tendency to buy large quantities of plants with only a vague plan of where they'll end up.
Ooo, a new garden! How exciting. Were you able to bring any favourite plants with you? Or are you starting completely from scratch? What region are you in now? Sorry: questions overload.
I love the questions! We moved from the greater Philadelphia area to northern Virginia. We brought some container plants with us but mostly we are building on what was here before (primarily ornamental beds close to the house), and adding a kitchen garden. Here's a shameless plug for our Substack, which is a mix of gardening/plants, wildlife, and historic property preservation. This is the first post with a bit of background: https://willowgreens.substack.com/p/how-it-all-began?utm_campaign=post&utm_source=copy
I've had a read, and a look at the photos, and simply: wow. What a stunning building. So much more than a mere garden takeover or transformation. Thanks for sharing the link - will follow your progress keenly!
There's been a lot of seed starting going on in Pittsburgh! Over the weekend I planted some ranunculus as well as a wildflower seed mix to try to fill in the area next to my rain barrel (or water butt, in the UK). And thanks for the shout-out!
“Rain barrel” does seem more descriptive than “water butt” which, come to think of it, could refer to all manner of unpleasant things. As for the seeds, I wish your wildflowers well - look forward to seeing how they get on in their glamorous water-front location