Need veggie seed advice

Starlight · February 22, 2017

I have a 10th grade special needs young man that I am working with for the season trying to teach him to grow a little veggie garden.

Took 7 hours, but we got him some tomatoes, beans, peppers and corn seeds planted. We'll see here in the next few days what may or may not need replanted. Bless his heart some seed I think may have gotten buried to deep and other not deep enough.

The question I have is carrots are his favorite veggie. His hands are somewhat crippled up, and I know carrot and lettuce seeds are small so no way could he pick them up. The seed has to be started and grown in containers. Any suggestions on the best way to try and help him sow some and what kind of container can I use. I have containers, but they all 1, 2 and 3 gallon round ones. Have no idea if those would work or not.

Any advice for this child appreciated. If if he only gets one or two plants, it will be a start for him.

TIA

KarenO · February 22, 2017

Carrot seed is usually available on paper strips so that planting is easy. Carrots would need about a foot of soil so a deep container is best. The strips can be cut or torn into short pieces to fit. Plant shallowly and Keep them moist
Good luck!
KarenO

NewWestGardener · February 22, 2017

Alternatively, carrots can also grown in a standard seed cell (4x6"?), roughly 8 to a cell. Then transplant to the garden as one unit without separating the seedlings. Thin as necessary depends on the variety once they are established.

heirloomtomaguy · February 22, 2017

My kids just planted pelleted carrot seeds from Ferry Morse. It was super easy to plant for my kids. I also like Karens seed strip idea

brownrexx · February 22, 2017

I think that some people make their own seed tapes for things like carrots using toilet paper and white glue.

Just draw a thin stripe of glue on the paper and add seeds. Allow it to dry and then plant by laying the paper just under a light layer of soil. Toilet paper breaks down easily and white glue is water soluble.

I have not done this myself but I have heard that it works well.

KarenO · February 22, 2017

Quote:

Originally Posted by brownrexx

I think that some people make their own seed tapes for things like carrots using toilet paper and white glue.

Just draw a thin stripe of glue on the paper and add seeds. Allow it to dry and then plant by laying the paper just under a light layer of soil. Toilet paper breaks down easily and white glue is water soluble.

I have not done this myself but I have heard that it works well.

This would work well and It's easy to do. I have used a homemade paste made of flour and water and a roll of white tissue birthday party streamers from the dollar store. you can cut to any length you want and it's a bit easier to work with than TP. because it's has a bit more substance.
KO

AlittleSalt · February 22, 2017

My son planted some in 5 gallon buckets. They need to be thinned out. The buckets look like they have a green afro

Starlight · February 23, 2017

Thanks so much folks for the suggestions. I appreciate it. Will give several of the methods a try as I am not sure which will be easier and register for him. I haven't seen seed here already on a strip so the "make your own" idea will be great.

he called me last night with the help of his mother. He has his first sprout up. A tomato plant. He's so excited. Kept telling me he had a sprout. Gotta love the joy children get with their first seed sprouting. : ) Heck even us adults get excited. LOL

I'll take one of my plant stands down to him today and get him some lights put up. His parents can help with the raising and lowering.

Now I just need to see if I can let him have my new Baker Creek catalog back long enough to get the mail order form from it. Took him down a couple of seed catalogs so he could see what veggies looked like and what he wanted to grow. His mom says he won't turn loose of the catalogs and constantly looking at them. : )

Thanks again!

oakley · February 23, 2017

Nice story about helping a young first gardener.

I like to pass on this passionate gardeners method. I see it linked often.
(she is no longer with us)

http://Annie's seed mat tutorial

She uses a square folded napkin. It could be folded yet again or more using the fold
points for spacing. I've not done this but especially for carrots your student would have
better growing success if the spacing of such tiny seeds is even.
Could be a simple math lesson as well.
Some say why bother but during down time in Winter or evenings it is a good do-ahead
project.

February 22, 2017	#1
Starlight Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: AL Posts: 1,993	Need veggie seed advice I have a 10th grade special needs young man that I am working with for the season trying to teach him to grow a little veggie garden. Took 7 hours, but we got him some tomatoes, beans, peppers and corn seeds planted. We'll see here in the next few days what may or may not need replanted. Bless his heart some seed I think may have gotten buried to deep and other not deep enough. The question I have is carrots are his favorite veggie. His hands are somewhat crippled up, and I know carrot and lettuce seeds are small so no way could he pick them up. The seed has to be started and grown in containers. Any suggestions on the best way to try and help him sow some and what kind of container can I use. I have containers, but they all 1, 2 and 3 gallon round ones. Have no idea if those would work or not. Any advice for this child appreciated. If if he only gets one or two plants, it will be a start for him. TIA

February 22, 2017	#4
heirloomtomaguy Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2013 Location: glendora ca Posts: 2,560	My kids just planted pelleted carrot seeds from Ferry Morse. It was super easy to plant for my kids. I also like Karens seed strip idea __________________ “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it."

February 22, 2017	#2
KarenO Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Vancouver Island Posts: 5,931	Carrot seed is usually available on paper strips so that planting is easy. Carrots would need about a foot of soil so a deep container is best. The strips can be cut or torn into short pieces to fit. Plant shallowly and Keep them moist Good luck! KarenO

February 22, 2017	#3
NewWestGardener Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Vancouver, BC, Canada Posts: 564	Alternatively, carrots can also grown in a standard seed cell (4x6"?), roughly 8 to a cell. Then transplant to the garden as one unit without separating the seedlings. Thin as necessary depends on the variety once they are established.

February 22, 2017	#5
brownrexx Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: Southeastern PA Posts: 1,420	I think that some people make their own seed tapes for things like carrots using toilet paper and white glue. Just draw a thin stripe of glue on the paper and add seeds. Allow it to dry and then plant by laying the paper just under a light layer of soil. Toilet paper breaks down easily and white glue is water soluble. I have not done this myself but I have heard that it works well.

February 22, 2017	#7
AlittleSalt BANNED FOR LIFE Join Date: May 2014 Posts: 13,333	My son planted some in 5 gallon buckets. They need to be thinned out. The buckets look like they have a green afro

February 23, 2017	#8
Starlight Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: AL Posts: 1,993	Thanks so much folks for the suggestions. I appreciate it. Will give several of the methods a try as I am not sure which will be easier and register for him. I haven't seen seed here already on a strip so the "make your own" idea will be great. he called me last night with the help of his mother. He has his first sprout up. A tomato plant. He's so excited. Kept telling me he had a sprout. Gotta love the joy children get with their first seed sprouting. : ) Heck even us adults get excited. LOL I'll take one of my plant stands down to him today and get him some lights put up. His parents can help with the raising and lowering. Now I just need to see if I can let him have my new Baker Creek catalog back long enough to get the mail order form from it. Took him down a couple of seed catalogs so he could see what veggies looked like and what he wanted to grow. His mom says he won't turn loose of the catalogs and constantly looking at them. : ) Thanks again!