It’s nearly February and for me that means that the time to start seeds is rapidly approaching.

In less than three weeks I will be planting my tomatoes at the end of the month during the full moon.Nearly four years ago I purchased some organic Wheatgrass seed, it was a really good heirloom variety so I saved some.  At first I had them stored in the pantry, then they got moved.  As it happens, I forgot all about them.  

Starting Seed is Easy

Upon re-discovering them last week I had little confidence that they were any good.  But since I am still a few weeks away from starting tomato seedlings I simply could not resist getting something growing!

So I soaked the seeds, rinsed them well, folded them up in a damp towel, and then rinsing them a few times a day.  It wasn’t until the start of day four that they showed any sign of life. I know that it has been a few years but it seems that they sprouted much faster before. Perhaps the hull had toughened up over the years? (Or maybe it’s my memory)

I had almost given up hope to tell you the truth.  But they finally sprouted and are going strong.

When starting seeds it helps to remember that they germinate at different times and under different conditions, depending upon the species. 

You could give up on celery seed and plant something else if you are unaware that they have a very slow germination rate.  (Celery can easily take three weeks to finally sprout and if the soil or growing media is not kept moist they wont budge at all).

Some seeds germinate very quickly under cool temperatures and you are probably familiar with some of them if you have ever grown sprouts in your kitchen. 

Starting tomato seeds requires warmth and humidity to germinate.

Other seeds need to be soaked and some need to have their hulls nicked or abraded to encourage germination.  Some seeds even need heat to break their dormancy

It is simply beyond the scope of this blog post to give you a crash course in DIY germination but I hope that it piques your interest into learning or trying something new this year.

Now someone asked,  “What is Wheatgrass and why do you grow it?” When I say wheatgrass, I am referring to organic wheat seeds that are grown to a height of four to six inches and then harvested for juicing.

Wheatgrass juice is used for increasing red cell count, cleansing the liver and other internal organs as well as the gastrointestinal tract. From my own experience I believe that it is one the most beneficial plants to juice to increase your health.

Growing it fresh on a window sill or a counter-top you know it’s free of GMO’s and chemicals.  And of course, Nothing Beats Fresh! The other reason is the cost.  Just a few ounces of frozen wheatgrass will run you close $20.  Another way to think about it is that is about $180 per gallon!

Suddenly buying some certified organic wheatgrass seed and a tray doesn’t seem like that much trouble! If there is only one thing that you choose to do for your health, try wheatgrass. It is a scientific fact that wheatgrass contains more enzymes, minerals and nutrients per serving than any other vegetable or fruit know to man!

Some of this seed will be placed in a tray of my garden soil and when it grows to four and six inches high I will trim the tops and run them through my juicer.
The rest will be allowed to grow to maturity and left to ‘go to seed.’  That way I will be able to save the seed for even more trays.  It is a very good investment from my perspective.

The other night, I took some sprouted seed and being very careful, made a small slit in rock wool and tucked the roots is.  One of the roots
happened to escape, just look all the hairs on the root. 

It wasn’t until I began chatting with some aeroponic growers that I discovered some of the
tricks that they use to increase germination rates.

One method is that after rinsing, the seed is folded in a damp paper towel and then put in a plastic baggie and hung in a dark place. 
When the seed has germinated, it is carefully placed in rock wool and placed into the aeroponic system.   

These folks have raised the bar on starting seed indoors to an art and have nearly a 100% germination rate. It does take more time than poking holes in the dirt, dropping in seed, covering and then watering. But what if you don’t have many seed to waste?

When roots start coming out the sides and bottom of the rock wool the seedling is ready to be transplanted. 
It can be placed into an aeroponic (or hydroponic) system.  Then they are transplanted into a larger container or are prepped for transplanting outside.

It’s not too late to get seed so what are you waiting for? 
Have you made a list of your favorites yet?
Got a sketch of your plot and know what is going to go where?
If you still need seeds let me encourage you to visit

A beginner’s mistake can be discouraging. There are times that you feel like you don’t want to continue anymore, because it seems like everything’s not going the way you want them to be. What you need to keep in mind is mistakes happen to the best of us. That being said, here is a list of dumb gardening mistakes that gardeners have experienced.

If you see one or two familiar experiences here, welcome to the club!

Growing crops in containers without drainage holes

Plants need soil that has a lot of oxygen. The soil will not get enough oxygen if it is saturated with water. So make sure to check your container or pots if they have drainage holes, before planting.

“I don’t know my zone area!”

Some gardeners don’t know their zone area. Knowing your zone area can be helpful so that you will know which plants will likely grow in your area. There are plants that need cooler or warmer climates. If you don’t know your zone area, you can check it from the USDA’s hardiness map.

Not knowing the plant’s light requirements

Some gardeners plant crops not knowing how much sun or shade their plants need. For example, planting a fruit-bearing vegetable like tomato or cuke in a shaded area when these need full sun. When I grew parsley for the first time, I set it in a particularly sunny spot in the patio and it ended up having scorch marks on its foliage. The good thing about that experience is that I learned to grow parsley in a partly shaded area.

It is important to know how much sun or shade you plants need as well as if they like dry or moist soil.

Not mulching

A lot of beginner gardeners do not mulch. Mulching is one of the most important things when gardening organically. It can reduce evaporation, keeps your garden soil moist, prevent weeds from growing, etc. When the mulch breaks down, it will add organic matter to your garden soil.

Planting the wrong way

You might be planting too deeply. The roots of your plants need air so that they can breathe. The roots can’t breathe in any air when you bury them 6 feet under the soil. When you’re planning to plant a shrub or a tree, you must place the root ball higher than the surrounding soil. Cover the top of the root ball with about one inch of mulch so that the air will not dry out.

Putting in too much fertilizer

Too much fertilizer will make your plants grow faster but they won’t bloom or produce fruits, they will also suffer from fertilizer burn. If your soil contains a lot of organic matter, you don’t have to fertilize your plants too often. As a matter of fact, you don’t have to fertilize your dormant plants or your plants that are suffering from drought.

Not preparing the soil

Preparing your soil before you plant is important. You have to clear your whole garden and make sure that you remove all the weeds and dirt from it. You must also test your soil pH level first before planting, so that you will know the right plants to grow.

Spacing plants incorrectly

Plants need different space requirements for them to be able to grow. Large plants need larger space to grow. Make sure to read the seed packet about the space requirements of your plants to avoid overcrowding.

Spraying the garden without knowing the problem

When you see a pest in the garden you have to identify it first before spraying. Know what you’re dealing with because different sprays affect pests differently. Using the wrong spray could kill your plants or the natural enemies of the pest.

Watering the wrong way

Beginner gardeners tend to water their plants the wrong way, they often drown them or they let their plants dry too much. Although a lot of plants prefer moist soil than soggy and poorly drained soil, overwatering your plants will get them killed. A soggy soil will prevent the roots of your plants from functioning properly.

Your plants may wilt when you overwater them on a sunny day, not because of too little water but because of too much water. For you to be able to avoid overwatering your plants, you have to keep track of the plants that you’ve already watered. Divide your plants; separate your plants that require a lot of water from your plants that requires little amount of water.

To see if the is moist or dry, stick your finger one inch deep into the soil, do this before you water your plants.

You can also use self-watering pots if you are growing in containers. A self-watering container has a water reservoir that you must keep full – and that’s all you have to do. There’s a wicking system in the container which keeps the soil moist but not too water saturated. Most plants will grow well in self-watering pots – tomatoes, cukes, bush beans, pole beans, peas, green leafy veggies, etc. However, herbs might not do well in this kind of container. Basil and rosemary like it better if their soil is allowed to dry a bit between watering. The stress also makes the herbs taste better.

Below, a few experienced green thumbs have shared some of their best tips for ensuring your first venture into gardening is positive and enjoyable.

1. Planning Makes Perfect

Of course, researching what you’d like to grow is essential. Are you growing fruits and veggies? Flowers? Tropical plants? Consider whether you’ve chosen items that will be compatible to grow in the same garden, as well.

Even after that has been decided, there’s still much to decide. Taking into account the needs of each plant, it’s now time to analyze the proposed gardening space to determine if it gets enough sunshine and rainfall. Be sure the area doesn’t get too much of one or the other, as well. This is also the time to discover if the soil is up to the task, or if you’ll have to supplement it with store bought soil with higher nutrient concentrations.

2. Don’t Plant It All At Once

By separating the garden into thirds and planting one third at a time, you can ensure a steady supply of fully grown crops. This is especially beneficial in growing fresh produce.

3. Don’t Overdo It

You may be getting into gardening with the idea of selling off your products at the local farmer’s market. If that’s the case, go wild. Otherwise, it’s recommended that you just plant a few plants for your first year. See how they grow, if it’s enough for your needs, and how the harvesting goes. You can always increase, during the next planting cycle.

4. Keep A Gardening Journal

For this, you can use a regular composition notebook or you can get creative with a scrapbook kit. The first things to put in your gardening journal are the plant tags and sticks from each planting season. You can add notes and comments, as well. As time goes by, you’ll have a collection of advice on how to best grow your favorite fruits, vegetables, and flowers.

5. Make Shoveling A Snap

Shoveling may very well be the most grueling aspect of gardening. While this can never be avoided, there are ways to make it an easier task. For instance, spray the shovel with a silicon based lubricant. This will help soil fall off the shovel with greater ease.

6. Lighten The Weight Of Potted Plants

Fill the bottom half of a pot with packing Styrofoam to lighten the weight and top it with landscape fabric, before filling the rest with soil. A soil mixture that contains vermiculite and peat moss will lighten the weight even more.

7. Enhance Your Rain Gauge With Food Coloring

By adding a few drops of your favorite color, the rain level will be easier to read. Red is the recommended color for its brightness, but most colors will suffice.

8. Keep Pests And Pets Away

While you certainly want to deter unwanted visitations, you may not want to use harmful poisons. Instead, secure netting over your newly planted bulbs. As the plants begin to grow, you can either cut holes in the netting, or remove it altogether.

9. Don’t Dig The Same Hole Twice

This is a particularly useful hack in cases where you’re planting seasonal flowers or plants. Once you dig a hole, fit it with an empty plastic pot. You can then use a slightly smaller plastic pot for the seedling you want to grow. When it’s time to retire that plant, simply replace it with a new potted plant.

10. Save Those Eggshells

This tip will have you walking on eggshells in a very literal sense. By tossing your eggshells into a blender and grinding them into a pile of small flakes, you can add them to the soil in your garden and give your plants a boost of calcium.

11. Gardening In Confined Spaces

This one is for gardening hopefuls who live in apartments or own homes where there just isn’t much land with which to work. It’s still possible to grow a small, productive garden with a couple of Rubbermaid storage containers. The first step is to fill the bottom half or third with those lightweight Styrofoam packing shells. Don’t forget to lay the landscaping cloth on top, before filling the rest with soil. This will make the filled containers easily mobile. Now, plant your seeds and place the containers on the balcony of your small apartment or the porch of your home. Really, they can be put anyplace and can even be moved at midday to take full advantage of the day’s sunlight.

There are plenty more gardening hacks waiting to be discovered. Using your own imagination, you can come up with ingenious ways to make the gardening experience easier, as well as more productive and more enjoyable. Most importantly, don’t lose sight of the reasons you chose to start this gardening adventure and you’ll never regret it. Good luck and happy gardening.

1. Growing Arugula Indoors

Arugula, a flavorful vegetable for salads, is easy to grow indoors with a little attention to selecting the right container for proper drainage. This vegetable plant requires daily sunlight or the use of an indoor plant light in its place.

Arugula can be used for salads, sandwiches, soups or added to pasta and other dishes. It can be mixed with other greens as well.

The most notable health benefit of arugula – its cancer protective qualities. Specifically, it includes “indole-3-carbinol and sulforaphane” which are shown to have “anticarcinogenic” properties.

2. Growing Bell Peppers Indoors

Bell peppers make a smart addition to the indoor garden. A soil mix specifically for sprouting vegetable seeds is the ideal way to get started. To grow bell peppers successfully, from seed to full grown plant, keep the temperature about 70 degrees and the plant in direct sunlight.

Bell Peppers can be grilled, fried, baked, sauteed, steamed, stuffed. These make a great addition to many dishes or they can be served as a side dish with chicken, meat, pasta or vegan meals prepared with tofu.

Bell peppers have a high concentration of vitamin A, which supports the immune system as well as “vision, reproduction, and cellular communication.”

3. Growing Beets Indoors

Beets add color to the indoor garden and make a flavorful choice for dinner plates. The entire plant, including the roots, are edible. Beets grow best in cool temperatures and do well with minimal sunlight.

Popular ways to prepare beets – simply steamed with lemon or baked. Candied beets are also an option. Beets can be served as a side dish or added to other dishes such as salads.

Nutritionally, beets are high in minerals and support the health of many body functions including the heart, eyes and brain.

4. Growing Carrots Indoors

Carrots are another smart choice for an indoor garden. Keeping the soil moist is recommended since they require more water than the other vegetables. Unlike the beet plant that requires minimal sunlight, carrot plants require about 6 hours a day for optimal growth.

Carrots are known for supporting vision. They are high in vitamin A. The “carotene antioxidants” are also known to reduce cancer growth.

5. Growing Green Beans Indoors

Green beans are an easy to grow vegetable. Direct sunlight is required for optimal growth. The ideal temperature is about 70 degrees with well drained soil.

Green beans can be prepared in many ways and added to different dishes. Bean salads with lemon and olive oil and steamed green beans are two options for adding this vegetable to meals.

The most notable health benefit from green beans is it’s high content of vitamin A, C and K.

6. Growing Kale Indoors

Kale does best with direct sunlight or with an indoor plant light for the majority of the day. This vegetable adds a rich green color to the indoor garden.

For preparation, kale can be added to salads, soups or other dishes. It can be sauteed with olive oil as well. For some, kale’s strong flavor is a bit overwhelming, but it’s one that comes with many health benefits. Like the vegetables listed above, it is packed with vitamin A.

Often referred to as a “superfood“, kale not only includes vitamin A but also vitamins K and B6. Different minerals are also a part of kale’s benefits supporting good health.

7. Growing Onions Indoors

Another smart choice for the indoor garden – onions. They require full sunlight and moist soil for the best growing conditions. Interesting fact: this is one vegetable that can even grow in water, without soil.

There are many options for preparing onions – fried, sauteed, stuffed, grilled, boiled or sliced for sandwiches and added to dips.

The health benefits of onions include large amounts of vitamin C. They also contain chromium, which is good for blood sugar levels.

8. Growing Radicchio Indoors

This colorful vegetable makes a perfect addition to the indoor garden, adding color to the array of plants and to the dinner plate.

A popular choice in Italian salads, it can also be added to pastas and other dishes.

The health benefits make this plant a smart choice. According to the Nutrition and You website, “Fresh leaves hold moderate amounts of essential B-complex groups of vitamins such as folic acid, pantothenic acid (vitamin B5), pyridoxine (vitamin B6) and thiamin (vitamin B1), niacin. These vitamins are essential … required for fat, protein and carbohydrate metabolism.”

9. Growing Tomatoes Indoors

Tomatoes make another smart choice for the indoor garden. Opt for the smaller varieties in order to manage the growth of the plant. The larger varieties require support for the vines, which may be challenging with limited indoor space.

Stewed, baked, fried, sauteed, boiled – the options are endless with tomatoes. Add to salads or use for sauces. They can be sliced on sandwiches or prepared as tomato salads for vegan and non-vegan options.

The major health benefit of tomatoes is its amazing antioxidant power. Full of vitamin C, tomatoes also have high amounts of lycopene, a powerful antioxidant that protects the body against sunlight’s damage to the skin and different cancers.

10. Growing Zucchini Indoors

Growing indoor zucchini along with the other selected vegetables, adds a flavorful option to the array of vegetables in this indoor garden.

Zucchini can be sauteed, stuffed, fried, steamed or grilled and can be added to many dishes as well.

Two of the many health benefits of zucchini include its high concentration of magnesium and vitamin C. Vitamin A is another benefit in addition to omega 3 fatty acids.

Starting an indoor garden doesn’t have to be challenging. Even those new to gardening can be successful. Selecting the seeds, containers, premixed soil and location in the home are the first steps to this healthy, rewarding endeavor.