With a third of an acre fenced in, and raised beds well on their way to being built. We have started seeds.. I used all the trays I had on hand, but still lots to plant. But we got many done, such things as green beans, brussels sprouts, many kinds of lettuce and some kale and a few kinds of tomato. I will keep them in these trays until the roots are big enough to form "plugs" and then will put them in their growing media I have set up outside.
Once I get the other trays I will plant the rest of my veggie seed pack.
Using some starter trays we had on hand, we planted dozens of seeds. It will take them a few days to emerge, some will happen faster than others.
We also started some wild flower seeds outdoors. Mixing it with sand to help throw it better for my sake.
One of the seed bags we are working with, should be lots of pretty flowers. We plan on using this seed in areas where we are not going to grow any vegetables.
We tried out the seed roller but did not care for it. So instead we threw down the seed and then covered it in a light mulch.
I also bought some comfrey roots, and placing them around my fruit trees outside the enclosure. We use a roto tiller to work the ground so the roots can get a hold.
Really love this machine, but you better have a firm grip on it.. it can really jump around.
A lone comfrey root, they will grow into plants once covered and watered.
I got many of them, some are going in garden beds and others are planted in rings around my fruit trees like blueberries, cherry and apple trees.
Comfrey is very useful as an animal feed, and you can take the leaves and make a nitrogen rich compost with them.. That is my long term plan for the compost.
These plants are known as nitrogen fixers, they have deep tap roots that brings up nutrients into their leaves. This foliage can be cut and used to benefit other plants.
To help my wild flower seedings I bought a 60 gallon water tank. It has a pump that hooks up to a 12v battery.
I guess I could wire it up directly to the UTV or make a cigarette lighter adapter to power it. But I happened to have a spare battery sitting around so I charged it up and put it to use.
The water tank will be quite useful, so I do not need to depend on the rain. And can drive around and give plants a little spray.
This whole corner of the deer fence will be filled with wild flowers if they take. We tilled it up, put down the seed and watered well. Then added mulch on time to help them from not getting washed away.
Starting vegetable seeds indoors
With a few of my raised garden boxes done, we have space to start some plants now. We pick some of our favorite seeds and put them in cells to grow.
These tops will keep the humidity high, and the lights provide heat and should trigger the seeds to grow.
I used some of my smaller trays for plants we want less of.
The seed starting station, we spent a few hours labeling and putting the seeds in the cells there.
And just two days later the lettuce is already sprouting.
We will give these plants enough time to form roots down to the bottom of the cells and then transplant them outdoors into the growing area.. Away from those pesky deer that would love to mulch on these tasty greens. But for now they need to get strong in their little cells under soft light indoors.