You’ve started your seeds, and didn’t label them…

…there’s no need to because you know you’ll remember.

Wrong.

We all tell ourselves that and sure enough we always forget what we planted and when we started them.

Label your seedlings. You think you are going to remember what you planted where, but you won’t. — Tweet This

That’s why this is one of my basic seed starting tips for beginners.

On the labels you can write as little or as much information that you’ll like such as the exact type of seed, date started and approximate time to germination.

Now I’ll share five (5) options to allow you to easily label and identify your seeds. These will range from the simple to a bit more fancy.

Options for Labeling Your Seedlings

• Rocks

Rocks are simple and inexpensive ways to label your seedlings and then use in your garden. I’ve used these on my balcony garden as a garden marker.

Collect the rocks from your own yard or “borrow” them from your neighbors. To decorate them, you can simply write on them or decorate them to make them more stylish. The choice is yours.

When writing the name of the seed on the rock, I’d recommend being a bit more generic because you can’t erase what’s on the rock and want to be able to use it again.

• Popsicle Sticks

You can get popsicle sticks from your local craft store in bulk at a cheap rate.

Much like the rocks, you can be as simple or as fancy as you’d like. They can easily be slipped into the soil to label the seedlings.

• Clothes Pins

This is an idea that I got from Becky at EatDrinkBetter. She used clothes pins to label her seedlings.

• Plant Label Sets

If you just want to buy something and have it done for you already, then you can buy plant label sets from an online garden supply company such as The Greenhouse Catalog (a sponsor of mine).

These come in a many designs from the simple plain white to fancier designs with pictures and other information.

Your Turn

With these four options, you have plenty of choices to make sure that your seedlings are labeled this year. I’ll be sharing other creative ways to label your seedlings in the future, so be sure to subscribe to keep up to date.

What are you going to use to label your seedlings?

Image courtesy of Circulating on Flickr

4 Seed Labeling Options, So You Don’t Forget What You Planted from Urban Organic Gardener

Today I am going to share basic indoor seed starting tips…

…along with common mistakes and how to avoid them.

It will be a good starting point if it’s your first time, and reminder for those of you who have done this before.

The main reason that you are going to want to start your seeds indoors is so that you can get a jumpstart on the season and to the harvest quicker.

I’ll say that again –

Start your seeds indoors, so you can get to the harvest quicker. — Tweet This

4 Basic Tips for Starting Your Seeds Indoors

Start Your Seeds on Schedule
Seed packets come with a lot of information on them. Most of which gets ignored. If you look closely, the seed packet will tell how approximately how many days until the seed will sprout and be ready to be planted. It will also let you know when is the recommended time to plant outdoors. Do a little bit of math and figure out when you should get those seeds started.

Know What You Planted
This sounds ridiculously obvious, but often gets overlooked. We think we’ll remember and don’t label them and sure enough as soon as we walk away, we forgot. Happens every time. Don’t take the lazy way out and just label them from the start.

Give the Seeds Even Sunlight
The tendency is often to keep the seeds in one position and just water them. When you do that, you’ll notice your seeds start to develop a lean to them. That’s because they are stretching towards the sun. To prevent that rotate the seed tray every few hours. That should help to straighten them out.

Know Your Seed Source
You are going to want to make sure that you are buying from a seed company that cares as much about your health and environment as you do.

4 Common Seed Starting Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

I asked Michelle Moore, owner of the year round gardening supply company The Greenhouse Catalog (one of my sponsors), about common indoor seed starting mistakes and how to avoid them. Here is what she said:

Over or Under Watering
“Using a media like coconut pith or coir is a wonderful way to control the moisture content-especially if you water from the bottom,” said Moore. “The coir wicks water as needed so seeds don’t get soggy. Don’t forget to add diluted fertilizer within 72 hours after the first leaves appear.”

• Greenhouse Catalog Product: Coir seed starting kit

Growing in Low-Light Conditions
“South facing windows may work well, as long as the spot isn’t drafty and daylight lengths are greater than 12 hours,” suggested Moore. “Supplementing with grow lights (up to 18 hours of light) will speed up growth. Make sure to read the directions for each grow light as it’s a common mistake to place the light source too far away from the plants.”

• How to select grow lights

Temperatures Too Cool for Root Growth
“Cool temperatures on the surface encourage compact growth, but roots need warmth,” said Moore. “Adding bottom heat with a seedling heat mat encourages healthy root growth, which makes for healthy plants. Make sure to use a media that won’t dry out too quickly with bottom heat.”

• Greenhouse Catalog Product: Seedling Heat Mat

Not Starting Enough Seeds
“It’s also a good idea to plant more seeds than you will need,” recommended Moore. “This will allow you to pick the healthiest starts to plant.”

Your turn

Now that you have some basic tips and mistakes to avoid laid out, in the comments below let me know what vegetable seeds you’ll be starting indoors and when.

Image courtesy of normanack on Flickr

Indoor Seed Starting Tips for Beginners from Urban Organic Gardener

You are growing your own food because it’s best for your health and the environment.

When you are first starting out, knowing where to buy your seeds from can be intimidating.

It’s difficult to tell the difference between the companies, types of seeds and who is owned by which company.

My goal is to not only help you maximize your space when growing, but also to help you save time in the process.

In the past I’ve looked up seed companies to see which ones provided non-gmo seeds and had no ties to companies that I didn’t support.

I came across were huge lists with lots of descriptions. They didn’t save me any time. You’ve likely come across the same lists.

Seed Companies You Can Trust

That’s why I wanted to compile a quick list of seed companies that you can buy from. Again this is a quick list because an exhaustive one wouldn’t save you any time.

SeedsNow.com

SeedsNow.com is a small family owned business that provides 100% non-gmo, non-hybrid and open-pollinated seeds. Without getting into the specifics, those are all good qualities that you should be looking for when buying your seeds.

One of the things that I like most about SeedsNow.com is that they have seed kits. For those of you that don’t want to spend hours on end going through 50 different kinds of lettuce on a site or catalog, then these kits are great.

You get a variety of seeds based on the theme of the kit such as:

• Urban grow kit
• Fall and winter harvest kit
• All-In-One tomato pack

I’m working with them to develop other seed kits as well, such as a shade garden kit. If you have a kit idea, let me know in the comments below.

They also have individual seed packs available as well.

Disclaimer: As of this writing, they are one of my sponsors.

Botanical Interests

Botanical Interests is one of the larger seed supply companies that you might’ve seen in your local health food store.

They signed the Safe Seed Pledge and support organic growers.

One of the things that they are most well known for is the art and information on their seed packets. It tells you how much sun the seeds require, time to germination, how far apart to plant and more.

Their seed packet collection is also quite extensive. You can spend hours pouring through their catalog.

Seed Savers Exchange

I have never used Seed Savers Exchange before, but a lot of you have recommended them before, so I added them to the list.

These three companies should give you a good start for buying your seeds online. Yes, there are dozens of other companies that can be added to this list, but that wouldn’t save you much time.

Your turn

Have you purchased from any of these companies before? Who else would you add to this list? Let me know in the comments below.

3 Sources to Buy Your Vegetable Seeds from Urban Organic Gardener

GMOs are feeding the world…

GMOs are destroying our health and environment.

With all of the conflicting information out there about GMOs, it’s hard to understand.

That’s why I am going to break down the basics of GMOs for you and tell you why you should care.

What are GMOs?

GMO stands for Genetically Modified Organism and is most often referred to when it comes to our food.

The DNA from other plants, viruses, animals and bacteria are injected into the cells of existing species. This is supposed to make them more resistant to the rain, drought, pests, etc. Up until this point, these viruses and bacteria have never been a part of the human food supply.

More information on what GMOs are

• The Good Human: What Are GMOs and Why You Should Avoid Them
• NonGMOProject: About GMOs

This sounds great. What’s so bad about them?

At face value this might sound great, but there are risks that are involved in such technology. GMOs have not been proven safe and have significant restrictions or outright banned in over 30 countries across the globe.

They are widely grown and used in the food supply in the United States and there is no way for us to know. GMOs should be labeled, so we can make decisions for ourselves. Whether they are good or bad is a moot point. It’s a right to know issue.

I’ll say it again –

It’s not about if GMOs are good or bad. It’s about our right to know what we are eating. — Tweet This

More information on the effects of GMOs

• RodaleNews: Genetically Engineered Food Gets Doused With Extra Chemicals
• GMO Journal: 6 Reasons to Avoid GMOs
• Organic Consumer Association: Unintended GMO Health Risk

Who produces GMOs?

The company that is responsible for producing most of the GMOs is Monsanto. This is the same company that produced Agent Orange during the Vietnam War. They are a chemical company and now they are producing our food. To me that’s reason enough not to trust their “food.”

Monsanto has been able to patent their GMO seeds, so they own the seed. They also have an exclusive deal with Scotts Miracle-Gro who sells Round-Up.

Now there is a company that owns and sells a seed that is resistant to a spray that they profit off of also. Monsanto makes money off the consumer on both ends.

The fact that a company can own a seed and have that much control over our food supply is a scary thought. Monsanto currently owns about 90% of the seed supply out there. That means they control distribution, costs, etc. Scary.

More information on Monsanto

• OrganicLifestyleMagazine: Monsanto Company Profile
• GreenCartoon: Monsanto Made WMDs I Bet They Make Healthy Food
• Free online documentaries about Monsanto

The World According to Monsanto

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rml_k005tsU

The Future of Food

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EnD-DiDRIJA

If GMOs aren’t considered safe, why would government allow them in our food system?

“The Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act requires the FDA to prevent consumer deception by clarifying that a food label is misleading if it omits significant, “material” information,” said Naomi Starkman founder of Civil Eats and contributor to the Just Label It campaign.

“In 1992 however, the FDA issued a policy statement that defined “material” by the ability to be sensed by taste, smell, or other senses.

The FDA determined that GE Foods were “substantially equivalent” to conventionally produced foods, so there was no material difference – and no labeling was required. After almost 20 years, this policy is still in effect today.”

If you also look closely at who holds federal positions, you will notice that many of them have held positions with Monsanto as well. Click the image below to get the full picture of the connections between Monsanto and Federal Positions.

What are the most common GMOs?

According to the Just Label It campaign:

• 59% of sugar produced in the US is made from sugar beets and 90% of the beets are genetically engineered
• Over 90% of canola oil is genetically engineered
• 90% of the cotton planted in the US is genetically modified
• 94% of all soybeans planted in the US are genetically modified
• 88% of US Corn is genetically modified

Your turn

Now on to the most important part…what you can do.

• “If you are looking to avoid GE foods, your best options are to buy USDA certified organic, as the USDA organic standards prohibit the use of GMOs,” said Starkman. “Look for Non-GMO Project Verified goods, and to buy unprocessed foods such as fruits, vegetables because few whole foods are genetically engineered.”
• Start your own urban garden using non-gmo seeds.
• Sign the petition at JustLabelIt.org to let the FDA know that you want GMO foods labeled as such.
• Use the buttons below to share this post with friends and family to let them know about GMOs.

Image courtesy of WayTru on Flickr

GMO Basics: What You Need to Know from Urban Organic Gardener

How can that title not grab your attention?

Grotesque?

Fowl?

Maybe, but it’s also possible to compost your dog’s poop.

I came across the post on Rainbow Worms’ blog. Here is an excerpt:

I thought I would share some Photos of my Doggie Poo Compost. I have two dogs which have no concept of moderation. LOL. I use recycled wine barrels each barrel is in a different stage of composting. I don’t use this compost on my vegetable Garden, but rather in my flower beds , and Lawn. I mix shredded Paper with the doggie Poo. I’m using a mix of composting worms. Mostly European Night Crawlers, I was using Indian Blue but last winter was so cold they were almost wiped out. They do a great job turning the waste product in to usable compost. I think this is a great way of keeping the pathogens out of our landfills and water supply. Compost Happens.. — Read the full “Doogie Poo Compost” post

To be clear, you shouldn’t use it in your vegetable garden and only use it in your flower beds.

It’s definitely not on the what to compost list.

Not sure this is something that I’d do in a small space. I’d definitely consider if I had a larger space where I can keep it far, far away. Far away.

It’s not actionable for most of us, but I thought it was interesting enough to share and good conversation starter at your next social gathering.

Your Turn

How will you introduce this into a discussion at your next social gathering?

Photo courtesy of Parker Yo! on Flickr.

Composting Dog Poop: Yes, I’m Serious from Urban Organic Gardener

You know what you can compost…

…But you don’t know where to store it before you compost it.

It’s too much of a hassle to bring it to your compost bin each time. I hear you on that.

This is why it’s important to have a kitchen compost pail readily accessible.

6 Features Your Kitchen Compost Pail Should Have

• A lid that fits tightly.

• Enough space to fit your food scraps.

• Style – which is debatable.

• Easily washable.

• Easily transportable. Preferably with a handle.

• Fits on your kitchen counter or close to your cutting board.

If aesthetics is your thing, there are some stylish kitchen compost pails available.

It’s not necessary to buy one though. The next time you go to the supermarket or deli, ask them if they have any 1-gallon containers with a lid that they were throwing away.

These work perfectly.

The pail that I use I picked up for a few dollars at my local health food store.

Every few days you can dump the content of the pail into a larger bucket or into your compost bin.

The main purpose of the kitchen compost pail is to make that it’s as easy as possible for you to store and compile your food scraps.

Your Turn

In the comments below, let me know where you have your kitchen compost pail.

Use a Kitchen Compost Pail to Save Your Scraps from Urban Organic Gardener

Can I add meat to my compost pile?

Is stale bread OK to compost?

Or, more importantly, what can you compost?

The answer to that is in your home…

…and to help you get started with indoor composting, I am going to share things that you have in your home that you can compost.

What You Can Compost at Home

This is by no means an exhaustive list of every single thing that you can compost. It’s a practical list of things that you all have.

Let’s go through some quick composting fundamentals first. Compost is made up of two elements – browns and greens.

Think of browns as your dry items such as leaves and shredded newspaper.

Greens are your wet items like veggie scraps and coffee grinds.

When you start your compost, you will need a balance of the two. For right now, I want to share what you can compost and save the rest for later.

Common greens you have at home that can be composted:

• Fruit and veggie scraps. Avoid onions and citrus. Yes, they can be composted, but for your indoor compost bin it’s best to stay away.
• Coffee grounds and tea bags
• Grass clippings. Only if the grass hasn’t been treated with chemical fertilizers.
• Plain cooked rice or pasta
• Stale crackers, bread, cereal or pretzels
• Old herbs and spices
• Egg shells. Not really a green, but they can be composted

Common browns you have at home that can be composted:

• Cardboard including boxes and toilet paper rolls
• Dryer lint
• Dried leaves
• Shredded black and white newspaper
• Hair from your brush. Make sure there is no gel or hairspray in it
• Shredded bills and documents

Yes, there are other things that can be composted like goat manure, river mud and oat straw, but not many of us have stuff like that available to us.

If you are just getting into indoor composting, then this list should give you a solid start.

Your Turn

Are you starting an indoor compost bin?

Leave a comment and let me know.

Things You Have Around Your Home That You Can Compost from Urban Organic Gardener

By Michelle Moore
Owner of The Greenhouse Catalog

Not all light is the same.

Plants respond differently to different colors of light.

Light on either end of the spectrum, blue light or red light, have the greatest impact on photosynthesis.

Kinds of Light

Blue light, referred to as cool light, encourages compact bushy growth.

Red light, on the opposite end of the spectrum, triggers a hormone response which creates blooms.

Grow lights producing the orange and reddish light typically produce substantial heat, however, some lights are able to produce full spectrum light without the heat.

Grow lights come in all shapes, sizes and price ranges.

As a general rule, inexpensive lights to purchase tend to be the most expensive to operate and the least effective. While price is not necessarily an indicator of performance, many of the efficient grow lights require ballasts as well as specialized fixtures.

Basic Types of Grow Lights

These lights run the gambit of performance and price range.

Incandescent Lights.

The least expensive lights to purchase cost around $30. These incandescent lights work well for specific plants where the light is placed a minimum of 24” from the plant. These lights get extremely hot so they must be used with care. Spot grow bulbs, color corrected incandescent lights, install easily and are good for use with a specific plant or a small grouping of plants. Most spot incandescent bulbs last less than 1,000 hours. Some light fixtures come with a clip handle so you can put them exactly where they’re needed.
Example: Dayspot Growlight 60W

Fluorescent Grow Lights.

They are a common choice for homeowners. Fluorescent lights are reasonably energy efficient and relatively easy to install. A typical fluorescent bulb will last approximately 20,000 hours. Fluorescent light is typically on the blue end of the spectrum. Blue light encourages bushy compact growth which makes them perfect for seed starting. Blue light is also cool to the touch making it possible to place lights within just a few inches of the seedlings.

New Full-Spectrum Fluorescent Lights.

Provide the red spectrum as well to encourage blooming.

Combining the lights in a fixture makes for even, all around growth.

The next generation in fluorescent lighting includes the new T-5 lights.

These new lights have extremely high output but are energy efficient and long lasting.

The T-5 lights triple the light output of normal fluorescent lights without increasing the wattage. Plants absorb a high percentage of T-5 lighting because the fixtures function well very close to plants. High output bulbs require a high output fixture to operate, so the bulbs and normal fluorescent fixtures will not work together.
Example: 2Ft T5 Grow Light System

LED Lights

The newest type of grow lights use LED technology.

One major advantage to the LED lights is the small size.

LED lights are only a few inches in diameter and are easy to mount.

In some greenhouses, LED lights may be the only practical light option.

Hanging most grow lights requires a strong greenhouse structure and a place to hang the lights.

LED lights weigh a fraction of other lights and are easy to configure where needed. According to LED manufacturers, LED grow lights maximize blue and red light to provide and excellent balance for plants.

They do not have much green-yellow light. Since humans see green-yellow light best LED grow lights appear dim to our eyes. This is an exciting new technology that will be interesting to watch as it develops. Example: Grow Panel Pro LED Light.

The Best Grow Light Option

Now that I’ve given you a good rundown on greenhouse lighting options, it’s also important to mention darkness.

Almost all plants benefit from a period of six hours or more of darkness.

It’s a good idea to know how much light your plants need, but unlike commercial growers, hobbyists often have a wide variety of plants so they need to take a broad approach to lighting.

Fluorescent lights offer excellent overall lighting options.

Other Considerations

If you chose to use any type of fluorescent lighting, you will need to account for plant growth.

Fluorescent lights perform best when positioned very close to plants.

As plants grow into the light, it is important to raise the fixture.

Generally only the plants touching the lights will burn, but be prepared because they grow quickly.

Adjustable hangers are a good solution. These hangers move easily allowing you to make quick adjustments.

Be sure to check out the grow lights available at the Greenhouse Catalog.

About Michelle Moore

Michelle Moore is the owner of the Greenhouse Catalog where she has worked with greenhouses for 20 years. Michelle writes and lectures about greenhouse gardening as an Oregon State University Master Gardener and member of Garden Writers Association. Michelle and her husband live in Oregon, but they enjoy hints of summer all year in their greenhouse! Become a Greenhouse Catalog fan on Facebook to get year-round gardening tips and advice.

Your Turn

Are you currently using grow lights to grow indoors? What kind? What are you growing?

Do you plan on growing indoors using grow lights?

Let me know in the comments below.

How to Select the Best Grow Light from Urban Organic Gardener