Seed Starting

I started with a germination mix (they didn’t have soil less seed mix).

 

I chose 4 different seeds:

• Forget me not
• Echinacea
• Butternut
• Heirloom Tomatoes

 

The packaging on the seed packets are very helpful:

 

 

 

Divisions

Notes for plants in an overcrowded pot:

• Prepare some wet soil on the side
• Take the plant out of the pot
• Wet your hands and find a natural division
• Separate the plant & soil as gently as possible without hurting the roots
• Place the two divisions into separate pots and cover with the wet soil
• Trim the dead looking leaves
• Water the plants until the water is dripping out of the pot

Cuttings

Herbaceous cuttings can be done on any plant, you need:

 

1. Scissors
2. Glass of water
3. Pot with soil
4. Plant

 

To find a cutting:

 

1. Get 10-15cm down the stem
2. Cut a diagonal cut at the leaf node
   
3. Cut off a few more leaves so the plant doesn’t have to focus too much on providing food to all the leaves
4. Plant in the water and wait 2 weeks

Project

1. Find a plant to propagate
2. Make 2 cuttings
3. Put them in water
4. Take a photo on day 1, 7 and 14

Day 1

The malva plant

 

 

I also tried an orchard and a potato plant (which was already sprouting nicely)

 

Day 7

The malva plant is still looking good and healthy

 

The orchid is starting to sprout

 

My first tomato seed also showed itself today :)

 

Activity - USDA Zone

Search the USDA zone where you live to find out what plants grow well in your area, then make a list of the plants you’d be excited to grow.

 

Zone: 10a

 

I have already picked seeds I need to plant, they’ve grown quite nicely:

 

• Butternut
• Echinacea 
• Tomatoes

Week 2 - Progress

The malva plant has started sprouting

The orchid has also been sprouting nicely at the bottom. I am wondering how I am going to plant it

 

Look how my seedlings are coming along:

 

 

My son planted these with me in a little plastic container, it doesn’t have any holes for filtering, these are going to be planted out soon

 

 

Research Companion Plants

I ideally want a companion plant for my naartjie / citrus tree. I currently have a peppermint plant at the base:

 

Notes: I need to space the mint plant out a little more to give the citrus more room to grow.