I have been wanting one for quite some time. I could have asked my husband to make me one but he's got so much going on & it isn't a priority right now. To start plants, I usually pull out a garbage can & put a small plywood table top & have a small rolling shelf I put things that I reach for as I go along. The garbage can is just low enough that it strains my back. A full morning or afternoon of potting makes me reach for the Advil.
Anyway, I had to run to the grocery store this morning so I decided to run by the Estate Sale. The company that put this one on usually has everything 1/2 off on the last day. It was still there! So I got it for $20.
She isn't the prettiest thing in the world but it's the PERFECT height and will definitely work until I get a pretty wooden one in the distant future. Sure wish I had had this a few weeks ago when I started my fall sets.
Speaking of which, here's what I use to start my seeds:
Paper towel or toilet paper rolls cut in approximately 2" lengths. I use take out containers from fancy restaurants or Fresh Market to hold them. I put as many will fit without crowding, and then fill 3/4 w/potting soil.
I then put seeds in & cover with more soil. I put the clear lid back, label on & place on the bottom shelf of my grow shelf that husband built me earlier this year. Once sprouted & after the 1st true leaves appear, I transplant to 4" pots that my FIL saves for me. I keep them on the grow shelf until they get a few more leaves & they start to look like they're true plants. I then start conditioning them by placing them outside each afternoon for about an hour.
I left them out for about 3 hours yesterday & about 4 today. Taking in & out is really a pain. So, I think I'm going to leave these on the patio table under the umbrella until ready to plant. They get a bit of morning & afternoon sun but are fairly shaded during the day.
Here's what I've got for my fall garden that I will plant in 2 weeks. Broccoli, Cauliflower, Brussel Sprouts, Romaine, Copenhagen Cabbage & Chinese Cabbage.
I've got waaay to many plants for my little city garden so I'll be giving most of these away. Plus I'm going to plant peas, beans, carrots & other lettuces directly from seed.
This will be my 1st fall garden ever! Wish me luck.
16 comments:
DFW,
Thank you for your kind words about my family.
Great find a potting bench at an estate sale. I'm happy you went the second day and picked it up for 1/2 price. I went to two estate sales today and the items were so over priced. I ended up not finding anything I wanted to purchase.
I am wishing you much luck on planting your fall garden. If you don't have space in your raised beds, you may want to try using some 5 gallon buckets (just drill a couple of holes in the bottom and place a coffee filter over the holes). You can get buckets free in most cases at your local bakeries or sams/costco if you ask for them (there usually food grade too).
I can't wait to hear updates on your fall garden since I'm not doing one this year.
Good looking bench :) Patience pays off - $20 sounds excellent.
I also use empty loo roll holders for my seeds - and empty eggshells :)
Wishing you luck! I too would like a potting bench. But just too many irons in the fire at the moment. Tomorrow is another day!
What a great idea! And I'm doing a big "duh" right now, as I just threw out a take-home container from Cracker Barrel. I'm going to go pull that out of the trash and start saving them, because that's a great way to recycle and put them to use. Wish I had thought of it! :-)
That's a nice little bench. I think I want one.
Good score on the potting bench. I have used the empty rolls for seed starting too but had bad problems with fungus gnats. I don't know if it was the wet paper or the soil I used. Did find out later that a little diluted peroxide while watering would destroy the eggs they lay. I waited to late this year to start my seedlings. I am direct sowing this week and hope they are big enough to survive the first frost.
Sandy,
Glad everyone is on the mend. I'm pushing my luck w/a fall garden because our yard here in the city is absolutely covered w/trees. Love the shade & coolness but not so much for growing vegies. It's exactly the opposite at the country house.
Dani,
I was so happy no one had snagged it. I can't stand seeing things thrown away that can be used for something else. I get tons of paper towel rolls from work.
Izzy,
I'll keep an eye out for you. Yes, you do have a lot going on.
Thanks CP. It may take me a while but sometimes my ideas actually work. Although husband may often think I'm nuts.
Thanks you sir. I have no doubt in my mind that you will find one. Yours will probably be free to boot!
Thanks Mamma Bear,
I find that it I crowd the container I get a fungus. I also had a few gnats in the 2nd set of spring vegies I did. Thanks for the tip w/peroxide.
I'll pray the frost holds off for you a while longer.
A crock pot for cheese waxing. Brilliant! You are so organized to have flats of fall veggies to plant. I'm doing good just to get seeds in the ground. I want to mention too, that the potting bench is a doozy of a find!
Thank you Leigh. Organization is probably my only talent & that falls by the wayside too often lately.
What a great find on that potting bench! Love that it has wheels!
Manuela,
It is a pleasure to move around. I started more lettus seed Friday and it was so much easier than the garbage can & plywood!
Post a Comment