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Tag Archives: Goly Ostovar
Today in the Garden
Today in the Garden
Indoor Gardening
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by member Goly Ostovar
This year I saved a few potted plants in my basement under grow lights, and they are doing well.
I continue to grow micro greens: sunflowers, peas, radishes, spinach and mixed lettuce varieties. It has been fun and easy to go downstairs and clip fresh greens daily to enjoy with meals. The geraniums and fuchsia did very well. Also lemongrass was great to have handy for Thai cooking and the turmeric bulbs kept well, too. The Lantana had a set back with aphids and would have liked it a bit warmer, but it’s starting to come around.
Signs of Spring
Growing Microgreens in Winter
I start seeds in the clamshells you purchase spinach or salad in from the grocery store.
I drill holes in these containers top and bottom, add growing medium, sow the seeds, set up a “self watering” tray system [self-watering trays are double trays: bottom tray has no holes, and the top container or tray has holes], cover the seeds, then place trays on a heated mat [mat for plants].
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Here I am starting speckled peas in a seed growing medium. [It’s important to use a good soil less growing medium. Some people use hemp fiber or coconut fiber growing mats]
I put weight on the seeds and keep them in the dark for a few days until they sprout, then I expose them to light.
It’s important to maintain even moisture; do not allow growing medium to dry out.
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I do the same with sunflower seeds. I start in seeds in growing medium in the dark and put weight on them, this way they make stronger roots and don’t dislodge each other. Then I expose them to light.
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Below are Pea Shoots ready for harvest
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Mung beans sprouts: I keep them in the dark so they get longer
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Radish sprouts: Next time I will let them grow longer.
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Sunflowers growing on a heat mat under lights, ready to harvest.
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Instructions & Pictures by Goly Ostovar, AGC Member