Easy Seed Starters

It's that time of year again. You know, the time you start planning your garden.

Every year we typically plant a variety of fruits and vegetables. Some seeds you can scatter. Some seeds you can plant in rows with a light cover of dirt. Some seeds you need to start in planters, indoors.

For the seeds you plant indoors, you will need a seed starter kit. A seed starter kit usually consists of a tray with individual compartments filled with dirt and sometimes has a clear cover creating a green house effect. You are able to purchase these from almost any grocery or hardware store or you can make your own.

If you decide to make your own, there are a few thing you will need on hand.

• A tray
• Old toilet paper/paper towel rolls
• Scissors
• Tape
• Soil
• Seeds
• Water

First, you will take your old toilet paper roll and with your scissors cut it in half (If you use an old paper towel roll you may want to cut into thirds depending on the size).

Next you will take one of the halves, that you just cut, and make a few 3/4 inch cuts around one end. You can make as few as four cuts or you can make more. I like to make around seven cuts that way the roll maintains it's shape a little better.

Then, you will bend the individual pieces, you just cut, towards the center, one over the other until all pieces are folded over to create the bottom.

 Now that the bottom has been created, you will need to secure it with tape. I prefer to use masking or painters tape because it decomposes a lot better that plastic or electrical tape.

 Voila! You just created an essential piece to your seed starter.

Now all you have to do is put it on the tray (to catch and rogue soil particles and water), fill it with soil, plant your seeds, and lightly water. You can place your seed starter under a grow light, or near a window where there is plenty of sunlight and watch it grow. Once there is no longer a chance of frost you can then transplant the individual plants, toilet paper roll and all, straight into your garden.

Don't forget, if you are looking to save seeds after the growing season, always plant heirloom seeds.