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Terrariums and Seed Starting

After reading a bit in my trusty Week-by-Week Vegetable Gardner's Handbook:  Make the Most of Your Growing Season by Ron and Jennifer Kujawski book, my husband and I quickly realized we were a bit behind in our seed starting.

First, let me say a couple of things regarding seed starting.

1.  It's apparently complicated
2.  I've failed at it miserably in the past

Luckily enough, I had signed up for a terrarium making class at a local nursery, Tagawa Gardens, and they were having a "Seed Starting Day" that same day.  Yay killing two birds with one stone!

I went to my terrarium class, it was lovely.  Just the right amount of information, terrarium history, and hands on fun.  For $18.23 I was able to buy all the supplies for this little guy, all I had to do was bring the jar, which was left over from my wedding.  Score.

I loved the moss, I guess having grown up in a relatively dry environment has made me fall helplessly in love with all things super green and humidity-needing.  So it's nice to capture at least a little bit of that in my home. 

After terrarium class was over, I got down to business buying seeds.  This place was ginormous, but I resisted the temptation to browse and focused on seed acquisition.


We decided on trying the following vegetables from seed (variety name):
  • Chives (eek, already threw out package)
  • Basil (ditto, package gone)
  • Parsnip (All American) 
  • Carrots (Half Danver)
  • Kale (Nero Toscana)
  • Spinach (Bloomsdale)
  • Lettuce (Buttercrunch)
  • Zucchini (Black Beauty)
  • Cucumber (Straight Eight)
  • Sugar Pumpkin (New England Pie)
  • Watermelon (Sugar Baby, wishful thinking for hubby)
  • Spaghetti Squash (Vegetable Spaghetti)
  • Pea (Oregon Sugar Pod)
  • Fenugreek sprouts (another story entirely) 

We, and by we, I mean my grandpa, told me to start certain veggies from plants.  Our transplant selection includes (varieties TBD):
  • Starter Onion
  • Starter Garlic
  • Asparagus
  • Broccoli
  • Cauliflower
  • Tomatoes
  • Peppers
  • Rhubarb
So last night, we started a few seeds: Basil, Chives, Carrots, and Parsnips.  In coming weeks we will plant Spinach, Kale, and Lettuce.

After agonizing over a seed growing set up, my loving husband jerry-rigged the following for us.

Shelving we had:





Then he hooked up a bad ass light:


Then we got to planting:





Above would be carrots, way too many itty-bitty carrots seeds.

And blow is a close up of our finished product:



My only concern at this point is heat.  You can buy all sorts of fancy heating mats for your seedlings, but I'm hoping having them in our main living area, which we keep at 70 degrees, will keep everyone snug as bugs in rugs. 

Wondering about the cost breakdown?  Well, it was more than I would have liked, but we realize this is a starting investment and hopefully it will pay off in the end ::fingers crossed::

Metal Shelf: Had in the basement
Plastic starter trays x4: $15.88
Seed starting soil: $12.99
Seeds mentioned above (all organic and/or heirloom varieties): $15.47
Florescent light fixture: $19.97
Florescent bulbs (4 pack): $16.00

Total:  $80.31

We hope to add another light fixture in the near future for our upcoming seeds on shelf two.

And now - we wait.














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