Starting seeds

I am super excited for spring plants already. Of course it is fall but I did not live up here the spring of last year. It is hard to find plants that don't need full sun and can resist a spring frost.  I saw a lot of giant hollyhocks, roses, snapdragons, periwinkle and petunias. Even some marigolds in town where it is sunny. Of course bulb plants and wildflowers grow great here.

I also found out hops grows great up here and all kinds of berries.I have a huge patch of blackberries, but a neighbor up the street has olallieberries, and the Ace in town had raspberries and boysenberries for sale.

But as a beginner in a seed starting I got myself some re-seeding perennials. These were hollyhocks and poppies. I also got some hop seeds but they are not doing anything yet. I have been told many ways to start seeds. Some in the refrigerator, some in potting soil, some in peat moss, some in potatoes.

This worked for me and is what I'm doing from now on. So, find a low container that will fit the seeds and does not absorb moisture. I found this plastic drywall mud holder to do the job perfectly.

Now line it with paper towels. I put a couple small pieces of paper towel so each seed variety can be lifted  completely out easily. Put the some seeds on it. Try to spread the seeds apart from each other. Now find a clean spray bottle and fill it with water.

Spray some water over the seeds, not much,  but enough to get the paper towel damp. Cover your container with saran wrap or a shower cap and leave it in an area that gets some sun. Uncover and spray with water every morning and night then re-cover.

When the seeds start to germinate, pluck them out and put them on some potting soil. Or it's through the paper towel already, just take the whole paper towel with it and put it on some potting soil in a pot or peat pot. I love peat pots since I can just plant the whole thing without transplant shock. 80% of my flower seeds germinated this way.

 Have your pot covered in saran wrap or a shower cap and continue the same process. When it is rooted good, you can remove the saran wrap and continue watering,  three times a day since it dries out faster. Mine are currently in this stage. Or if it is planting time, plant it of course. I will be wrapping my peat pots in chicken wire when it comes time to plant since there is a huge gopher population here.