Start Growing a Project
By the end of January winter is starting to bite, not just from the cold but the inescapable feeling that spring is very far away. In my experience, there is no better therapy for the winter blues, and nothing more grounding, calming and meditative than starting a gardening project in winter.
Although I have planted literally millions of seeds over the years, it still feels like a kind of magic when the first seedings of the season break ground. Watching them grow and thrive is incredibly satisfying and draws your mind forward to the summer months and the rewards of your labour.
I started a planting project with my kids a couple of weeks ago for some easy, low key family time. Planting seeds with kids is a really good weekend activity, both fun and educational, teaching them about science, the environment and where food comes from.
The first stage of any gardening project is, of course, the planning; what to grow and where to put it. I was quite shocked to discover that my kids didn’t want to plant just chillies … I’m not sure whether I’m doing something wrong as a parent, but I suppose tomatoes, herbs and catnip are as good a place to start as any. I did insist on a few chillies obviously; they are the most fun.
We decided on an LED propagator and a heat mat on the kitchen windowsill, the extra light and heat will counter the fact that all have been planted ahead of schedule. This will pay us back with a bounty of produce in the summer and I’m prepared to fill my windowsills with larger plants in early spring before the greenhouse is warm enough. Make sure everyone in your household is happy with that if you’re thinking of an early start.
Two weeks in and we have 36 happy little seedlings doing their thing on the kitchen windowsill. They are growing towards the LEDs a little, so today I am adding some reflective mylar to the trays to maximise the light. The propagator will be their home for the next few weeks until they outgrow the space, by which time the days will be longer and, hopefully, warmer and we’ll pot them on.
I’m not sure how I am going to make space for all these tomatoes and herbs in my greenhouse but the planting has got us all off the sofa and very excited for the new growing season, and that was the aim of the game. I hope you get some enjoyment out of planting or planning too.
By the end of January winter is starting to bite, not just from the cold but the inescapable feeling that spring is very far away. In my experience, there is no better therapy for the winter blues, and nothing more grounding, calming and meditative than starting a gardening project in winter.
Although I have planted literally millions of seeds over the years, it still feels like a kind of magic when the first seedings of the season break ground. Watching them grow and thrive is incredibly satisfying and draws your mind forward to the summer months and the rewards of your labour.
I started a planting project with my kids a couple of weeks ago for some easy, low key family time. Planting seeds with kids is a really good weekend activity, both fun and educational, teaching them about science, the environment and where food comes from.
The first stage of any gardening project is, of course, the planning; what to grow and where to put it. I was quite shocked to discover that my kids didn’t want to plant just chillies … I’m not sure whether I’m doing something wrong as a parent, but I suppose tomatoes, herbs and catnip are as good a place to start as any. I did insist on a few chillies obviously; they are the most fun.
We decided on an LED propagator and a heat mat on the kitchen windowsill, the extra light and heat will counter the fact that all have been planted ahead of schedule. This will pay us back with a bounty of produce in the summer and I’m prepared to fill my windowsills with larger plants in early spring before the greenhouse is warm enough. Make sure everyone in your household is happy with that if you’re thinking of an early start.
Two weeks in and we have 36 happy little seedlings doing their thing on the kitchen windowsill. They are growing towards the LEDs a little, so today I am adding some reflective mylar to the trays to maximise the light. The propagator will be their home for the next few weeks until they outgrow the space, by which time the days will be longer and, hopefully, warmer and we’ll pot them on.
I’m not sure how I am going to make space for all these tomatoes and herbs in my greenhouse but the planting has got us all off the sofa and very excited for the new growing season, and that was the aim of the game. I hope you get some enjoyment out of planting or planning too.
World of Chillies was set up by Sarah Hunt in 2011 to promote chilli growing and the enjoyment of everything hot and spicy.
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