plant seeds

Purchasing my home in October of 2019, I had no idea what to do with the four seasons room off the back of the kitchen. It was staged with a small pullout couch and has been used as a pass through to get to the detached garage. Finally this year I figured out that I could turn it into a greenhouse rather than an extension of my backyard patio area. I am starting seeds in the four seasons room this year with Jiffy seed starting kits.

About twenty years ago, my father and I started seeds in the basement over the winter. We used saw horses and ping pong table boards. We also hung a large number of fluorescent shop lights from the ceiling. We joked about if ATF ever flew over the house and saw a large output of electricity they would think we were growing something else! The Jiffy seed starting kits I am using this year are leftovers from the twenty years ago that they have been stored in my parents’ basement.

There is just something about greenery and new plants germinating. It makes me so happy to be around plants, sunshine, and warmth. A few days ago, I was watching Garden Answer on YouTube and Laura was talking about planting several seeds from Johnny’s Selected Seeds based in Maine. The varieties that she was describing looked interesting to me for my own garden designs. I purchased four seed packets for my garden to start in the four seasons room.

With the information Laura provided in her video, I purchased ‘Sun Ball’ Craspedia and ‘Mahogany Splendor’ Hibiscus. Laura talked about how the Mahogany Splendor can be used as an alternative to Japanese Maples. Seeing as how I have purchased four Japanese maples in the last two years, I figured I would try it. Additionally, I purchased some red flower and stemmed Celosia and some multicolored Yarrow from Johnny’s. Locally I also purchased several varieties of Zinnias, Marigolds, and Alyssum.

I still have to wait for April and the low thirty degree nights so that I do not have to constantly run my heater in the four seasons room. I usually keep it at a standard 65 degrees during the winter since it is used as a pass through and my back door connecting the house from the four season room is an interior door.