the making of an urban biointensive garden in Toronto
A few of the seed packets I bought mentioned the seeds required light to sprout properly - specifically, the poppies, valerian, and lavender. So I scattered some of each on wet paper towels, covered them with another layer of paper towel, set them up beside the brightest window I could find in the house, and made sure the towels stayed damp to the touch. So far nothing's sprouted, but it's only been two days. I'll keep you posted of the progress!
posted by FarmerPauly @ 4:08 PM
I'm kind of excited about the next few years. I see skyrocketing oil prices and a climate shift gearing into full force creating a bit of havoc in the world somewhat sooner than most people think. But I think self-sufficiency will be a big part of the solution when the shit hits the fan. My dream is to someday live in a village that produces most of its own food, clothing and shelters, helping to sustain a healthy relationship with the earth.
150 square feet
Initial Costs:
| Shovel | $15 | |
| Hand saw | $20 | |
| Multi-bit screwdriver | $15 | |
| Tarp | $8 | |
| Lee Valley spade & fork | $87 | |
| Hose couplings | $11 | |
| Produce scale | $7 | |
| Total | $163 |
Year 1 Operating Costs:
| Seeds | $50 | |
| Compost | $100 | |
| Ground cayenne pepper | $8 | |
| Total | $158 |
Approximate retail value of organic produce calculated from Pfenning's Organic catalogue.
| 1 kg radishes | $6 | |
| 0.6 kg spinach | $10.50 | |
| 2.5 kg lettuce | $32.50 | |
| 11 kg chard | $78 | |
| 0.35 kg yellow beans | $3.50 | |
| 1.3 kg zucchinis | $3 | |
| 3.5 cobs corn | $2 | |
| 3.4 kg cherry tomatoes | $15 | |
| 0.9 kg ruffled red tomatoes | $6 | |
| 10 bunches basil | $20 | |
| 0.6 kg baby carrots | $2 | |
| 1.1 kg green peppers | $7.50 | |
| 1 bunch parsley | $1.50 | |
| 1.5 kg muskmelon | $4 | |
| 0.55 kg potatoes | $1.50 | |
| 0.05 kg parsnips | $0 | |
| Total | $193 |
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6 Comments:
How about some time lapse once things get going?
Also, have you considered getting a broad spectrum light for your seedlings? We had to do that with the seedlings at our place because they were getting a bit leggy.
Yeah, time lapse, like I don't have enough things on the go.
Broad spectrum light - electrique? What do you take me for? Just kidding. So what do you mean by "leggy", and why is natural sunlight not good enough?
Apparently most seedlings need more light than an average sunny windowsill can provide, and if they do not get this extra light (from a broad spectrum light, as suggested above) they tend to get somewhat skinny and gangly-looking - from reaching up to try to get closer to the sun, perhaps. :) I suppose this could result in plants that are somewhat less strong and hardy. Well, I have started seeds on windowsills for the past couple of years without resorting to artificial light, and they've turned out alright in the end - especially considering that we live in the woods and therefore we don't get huge amounts of sunlight streaming in our windows all the time. My tomato seedlings have looked pretty scraggly every time I've tried to grow them from seed myself, but they don't even get enough light in the garden here, let alone on a windowsill, so maybe I'm just pushing my luck trying to grow them at all. Everything else I've started indoors has been fine. Keep in mind, though, that I'm a very haphazard gardener and I don't pay enough attention to the way things ought to be done. I spend too much time trying to avoid using electricity. ;)
One more note: If you are starting poppies indoors, be sure to get them in some kind of pot that can be stuck directly in the garden when the time comes. They apparently don't like to be transplanted (I would imagine this is because they have a long taproot instead of a fancier root system, and they don't like to be disturbed). Some people do them in individual peat pots, but a more environmentally-friendly option might be homemade newspaper pots filled with potting soil. I've even seen people start seedlings in eggshell halves! Here's an example with lettuce seedlings:
http://flickr.com/photos/vintagechica/431491865/
I started some sweetpea seedlings a couple of weeks ago, and they're looking pretty happy. I can't wait to see them flower later in the summer - they'll be orange and blue. Right now they're just looking tiny and fresh and springlike. It's so nice to make green things grow!
Thank you so much for your tips, Elizabeth! I could totally use your advice for things like this. I really have no experience growing seedlings at home, just in a greenhouse (I'm terribly spoiled).
My window sill is awful, actually. It only gets indirect light. I have to set up my cold frame pronto! For that I need insulated sides... I'll come up with something.
But just so you know, the valerian is beginning to sprout!
Well, I'm still learning (it goes on forever!), but anything I've picked up during my two-years-and-a-bit of gardening experience I'd be happy to share with you. Just ask away! And let me know what you come up with for your cold frame. I don't have one yet.
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