Growing Veggies from Seed Watch those little suckers grow! www.underthechokotree.com Sustainable Living in the Suburbs

Sustainable Living in the Suburbs It’s very satisfying and fun to raise seedlings Raising your own seedlings is economical Wider variety of vegetables available Efficiency – you only put in plants that have germinated Headstart – The plant you put in are up and growing, with a jump on pests Better Germination – you have more control over the germination conditions Why bother? www.underthechokotree.com Sustainable Living in the Suburbs

Open – pollinated - pollination occurs by insect, bird, wind, humans, or other natural mechanisms Hybrid - controlled method of pollination in which the pollen of two different species or varieties is crossed. (often labelled as F1) Heritage/Heirloom - variety is a plant variety that has a history of being passed down within a family or community, GMO (Genetically Modified Organisms)/transgenic - one or more genes from the DNA of another organism, such as a bacterium, virus, animal, or plant and “recombined” into the DNA of the plant they want to alter. Terminology

Sustainable Living in the Suburbs Direct Sow – Large seeds like peas, beans, corn, pumpkin etc Root crops like carrots, turnips and beetroot that don’t transplant well Punnets – Everything else! Direct Sow Vs Punnets www.underthechokotree.com Sustainable Living in the Suburbs

Sustainable Living in the Suburbs Viruses and bacteria can carry over from crop to crop They can be devastating Wash all punnets, implements, trays and tags in disinfectant solution – Dettol Bleach Household disinfectant Or expose to heat and sun Wash your hands! Hygiene www.underthechokotree.com Sustainable Living in the Suburbs

Making your own potting mix Add together 1 part coarse washed river sand 2 parts compost or worm castings 3 parts cocopeat Keep components wet and/or use dust mask (Legionella) Mix with hands and it’s ready for use Versatile for seed raising, potting on or microgreens Making your own potting mix www.underthechokotree.com Sustainable Living in the Suburbs

Sustainable Living in the Suburbs Fill punnet or container with seed raising mix. Press down to compress mix Plant seeds as deep as 2-3 times the diameter of the seed Cover with mix a tamp down, ensure a flat surface on the mix Sowing the seeds www.underthechokotree.com Sustainable Living in the Suburbs

Conditions for germinating Warm and moist! Make a capillary bed by putting coarse sand in a plastic container and install reservoir. Plenty of light Protected from pests Conditions for germinating www.underthechokotree.com Sustainable Living in the Suburbs

Sustainable Living in the Suburbs www.underthechokotree.com Sustainable Living in the Suburbs

Pricking out and Potting On Not until the four leaf stage at least Use the high tech tool to remove the seedlings Break apart retaining as much soil as possible Fill the receiving pot and push a hole in the top Place the seedling and backfill with potting mix Pricking out and Potting On www.underthechokotree.com Sustainable Living in the Suburbs

Seed Pots Newspaper Bio degradable Plastic Toilet Rolls

Hardening Off and Planting out If seedlings have been greenhouse grown, move them outside for a few days before planting out Plant out later in the afternoon Dig a hole and loosen soil Put in seedling, water and mulch Hardening Off and Planting out www.underthechokotree.com Sustainable Living in the Suburbs

Postal: PO Box 1285, Taree, NSW, 2430 Phoenix Seeds Postal: PO Box 207 Snug, Tasmania 7054 Phone(messages) : (03) 62 679 663 email : phnxseed@ozemail.com.au web : www.phoenixseeds.net.au Eden Seeds Postal: M.S. 905,Lower Beechmont 4211 Phone: (07) 5533 1177   Web: www.edenseeds.com.au Green Harvest Postal: Box 92, Maleny QLD 4552 email : inquiries@greenharvest.com.au Phone: 1800 681014 (orders only) web : www.greenharvest.com.au Greenpatch Seeds Postal: PO Box 1285, Taree, NSW, 2430 email : enquiries@greenpatchseeds.com.auPhone: 02 6551 4240 web : www.greenpatchseeds.com

For more details check our website www.underthechokotree.com Sustainable Living in the Suburbs For more details check our website