I had forgotten what back-breaking work it is to plant seeds-especially the tiny lettuce seeds that haven’t been pelleted (covered in clay). They’re hard to pick up and hold in your fingertips-mine seem to disappear under my nails every time! And God help you if you get the least bit of moisture or damp soil on your fingers; you’ll quickly have a ball of tiny seeds impossible to separate!
I got some great advice from Cathy at West Coast Seeds. She folds a glossy piece of paper in half, puts the seeds into the fold and then uses chopsticks to flick them out one at a time. Brilliant.
So here’s a list of what I’m starting from seed this year:
Gandhi-Butterhead
Esmeralda-Butterhead
Anuenue-French Crisp
Buttercruch-Butterhead
Cimmaron-Romaine
Red Salad Bowl-Oakleaf
Coastal Star-Romaine
I put my favourite Seasoil in the bottom half and topped it up with Seed Starter from Dutch Treat-rumored to also be a favourite of gardening guru Thomas Hobbs.
Here is everything labeled and cozily wrapped up after enduring the enthusiastic water spritzing provided by my youngest.
And I just had to include this beautiful shot of some cherry blossoms in East Vancouver-a local favourite sign of spring.
Photo compliments of Darryl Dyck at the Globe & Mail.
Adventures in Organic Urban Farming with Suzanne Denison 
Know what you mean by those teenie tiny seeds. Hope my post will help a little, here is rhe link.
http://gardentowok.wordpress.com/2012/02/13/harvest-monday-february-13-2012-two-2-must-have-seed-starting-tools/
Love the cherry blossom photo, gorgeous.
Thanks Norma-what a great idea! You’re off to a good start this season-enjoy that New York spring!
Suzanne
I am so impressed by how on it you are! But I have an unrelated question is that’s OK? About using containers other than untreated wood to grow organic produce? Do you worry about plastic leaching or metal rusting and contaminating your produce? Or is this a non-issue?
Thanks Suzanne 🙂
Hi Jess-great to hear from you! I’m not sure I can offer a definitive word on the safety of using plastic and metal (especially rusting metal, as you say). I can certainly see why it would be a concern. I’ll look into it and see what I can find…
That would be great! The reason I ask is that last year I noticed from your photos that you were growing some things in plastic pots. Also you may have seen a photo going around the web with the brilliant idea of growing lettuce in rain gutters … my first thought? Rust! was(http://juneauempire.com/stories/072508/nei_309624417.shtml)
Sorry, after actually READING the article I see that they used plastic gutters …
Hey Jess-finally got a chance to look at that article. I love the idea of turning “unusable” space into an opportunity to grow fresh produce! There’s not a lot of space for the roots in rain gutters or any natural drainage, but if people line the gutters with gravel so the roots don’t rot sitting in the damp soil, poke some holes in the bottom for drainage and fertilize regularly it could turn out really well. Love it!
The greenhouse looks fantastic. I could see making a nice cup of tea or coffee, early in the morning, and looking forward to spending a leisurely moment with the seedlings to watch them grow day by day. This is the true meaning of “comfort food,” isn’t it?
Thanks Granny- that sounds like the perfect morning to me!
Please excuse the brevity and informality of this message; it was sent wirelessly from my iPhone.
SDB
No need to apologize. Hearing back is nice however short it happens to be. It is the thought that counts.