Starting old onion seeds.

This is the third season I have had this pack of onion seeds in my refrigerator. I keep forgetting to get them started early enough. They should be started in February. Onion seed does not keep much longer than a year I am told, but I hate to just throw it away. I am going to try to germinate the seeds, anyway. It's late in the year and the onion seed is old, but who knows? Some seed might just up and germinate. No harm in trying.





I got an old shoebox out of the closet, poked holes in the bottom, and filled it half way up with cotton gin compost. Then, I dampened the soil, scooped out soil in three rows by running a butter knife along the soil, scattered seeds in the indentations, and covered with soil.

The top of the shoebox was put under the bottom of the shoebox in order to keep drips down.





Next, I put saran wrap over the top, poked holes in the top of the wrap, and sat all on top of the fridge, where I'm told the soil will be kept warm.

The box was free, cotton gin compost was free, and the seeds were getting old, anyway. I haven't got much to lose. We'll see what happens.




Update 04/01/10: The onions seeds did germinate. I've read it takes onion seeds about 3 weeks to sprout. Not true here. These came up in under a week. They are scraggly, but you have to trim them often to keep them strong and maintainable. In this picture, I have them sitting on a table in the sun. I will update as the growing progresses.

Marglobe tomato plants are growing.

Here are two marglobe tomato plants transplanted from the egg carton (below post) into yogurt containers. They are beginning to put on their "real" leaves. The first pair of leaves are considered "baby" leaves.

I managed to save only three of the original batch. My egg carton container got knocked off and all contents spilled all over the floor. I had transplanted these before that happened. No matter. I will start more of these seeds. Stuff happens.

I only filled the cups half full in order to keep adding cotton gin compost around the stems, as they will grow taller, filling in soil around them will produce more roots around the stem, thus making the root system stronger.

I keep the small plants under the grow light 12 to 14 hours a day. When weather permits I will take them outside and let them sun as many hours as possible, bringing them in at night.

Update 04/01/10: The marglobe tomato plants are progressing nicely. Here is a picture of the progress since they first sprouted and put on real leaves. These are sitting in the sun today. Finally, the weather has warmed enough to put them out for sunning. I will continue to put more cotton gin trash/compost around the stems as they grow.

Cotton gin trash compost in the vegetable garden.

I use cotton gin trash/compost to grow vegetables. I get it free from a rural cotton gin. FREE! Just what a poor woman needs.

I've read the pros and cons of using cotton gin trash/compost. I'm satisfied the crumbly, black, rich stuff is fine to garden with. It has been composting for years. Garden stores are selling the same stuff under the name "Back to the Earth" and other brands, claiming they are "organic". They say their compost is safer, etc., but I'd wager there is not a dime's worth of difference.

Above is a picture I took of tomato seeds I started in 100% cotton gin compost. I used what I had available to give my seeds a good start.

I started seeds in this egg carton on March 8. They are now sitting under a cheap fluorescent grow light. I'll post more as these plants proceed.