Seedlings ready to be transplanted

Tomato seedlings with cucumber in the front and  other seedlings yet to emerge

You don't need to spend a fortune buying seeds you can get a specialized seed tray  or use the no or low cost examples below: 

• Seedling pots here are  from a local op shop
• Make newspaper cylinders and squish the bases to stand up
• Recycle empty toilet roll cylinders 
• Re-use old kitchen containers as seedling planters 
• Labels are cut from recycled yogurt containers
• Seeds were saved from Tomatoes and Cucumbers the previous season

Free Composting Guide here 

I am using an old caravan as a potting shed but you can use a sunny window sill, kitchen table or just plant outside in the garden.  Newly sown seed planted outdoors will benefit from a coverwith strips of damp newspaper to keep moist until they germinate.

For more tips on growing your own healthy food and gardening for beginners 

We are in a winter season here, down under  and have just put an A frame cover over our silverbeet plants - not to help growth but to stop the birds !  A growing rack or frame can be a great investment - summer it can be covered in shade cloth and is great for seedlings and small plants like lettuce but there again you can make your own from bamboo or stakes or tree or grape prunings.



Mulch It by Stu Campbell  is one of the best books I have ever read for Mulching - it has been around for years and years and once you read this you will discover how many things can be used  for good organic mulch and help your plants grow strong and healthy.  Using Mulch will help your plants to survive long, dry, hot summers and will also help the stop the soil washing away in heavy rains and protect the plants in the winter months.