LOCKDOWN ACTION – Grow seedlings
While you are in lockdown, what better time to grow seedlings, so that you can plant them out once we are outside again.
Containers
You can use lots of things that go into your rubbish bin! Yogurt pots, egg cartons, milk cartons, toilet roll holders can all be used.
Compost
Use an old container and make small holes in it so that it can breathe. Cut up vegetable peelings and fruit peelings as small as possible and mix them in with some torn up newspapers or cardboard or leaves from outside. Keep it damp. Every day put in your kitchen waste and then cover with newspaper or torn up cardboard. After a couple of weeks you can use it for your seedlings, mixed with some soil.
Seeds
In lockdown supermarkets are supposed to be selling seeds, if they aren’t then speak to the manager. You can also start with seeds from food you have bought. Try out avocado pits, pepper seeds, tomato seeds
Planting, always check the seed packet to see how deep you should plant your seeds. Some need to be sprinkled on top of soil while others need to be buried in the soil.
Watering: Try to water seeds/plants from the bottom, ensure that they are moist and never soaking or dry.
Thinning: Once seedlings take root, make sure they have enough space to grow, this can be done by thinning them out and just leave one in the container to grow further. You can replant the extras instead of throwing them away.
Less dependence: Once you have learnt to grow your own seeds, you will no longer depend on someone else to start your garden.
Here are a few videos to give you ideas
Growing an avocado https://www.apartmenttherapy.com/how-to-grow-avocado-plants-258836
Seed pots out of toilet rolls, egg trays and newspaper https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lP5Fa6A5lFM