Economy seed tray and gutter.

[Ricard with an H]

I doubt very much this will be news to you-lot but sometimes I just need to share things.

Last year I started to cut the bottoms off suitably sized corrugated cardboard box's giving me a seed tray of whatever depth I require, of-course they fall to bits when moisture gets into the cardboard but if you wrap the whole thing with a couple of rounds of cling-film then just cut through the top when the seedling start to touch you'll find the cling-film holds the soggy box together.

This year i'm onto four inch half round gutter with some foam ends glued into place, I also found that gaffa-tape will close the end up and easily come off if you want to slide the compost out when you put the growing seedlings in the ground. My gutter was old so it was the right price though quite frankly new gutter at around £2 a metre might be a better bet than seed trays.

So what-else are you-lot up to that I need to know ? The price of seed is astronomical for the amount you get so saving money where it's possible feels good. I'm nervous about buying cheap seed after a few years of getting duds with flower seed.

[AdeTheSpade]

Regarding seeds, I have used Moreveg for several years now. The quantities are realistic, rather than giving you millions of seeds you'll never use, their prices reflect this, so a typical packet of seeds may cost only 50p (obviously some are a little more but still not too much). Their range is good I feel, and their service is excellent. I think it's online ordering only, but I've never had a problem with duff seed whatsoever. Highly recommended.

[hilary]

Hi
I have organised a group of keen veg growers in tHe village and through Thompson & Morgan we get 50%discount on all their seeds. It takes a bit of chasing to get the orders in but we easily manage to exceed the minimum order.
Then for all the other seeds I just order as and when I feel like it though the catalogues. I also got some lengths of guttering from our local handyman.

It is worth joining a garden club since most do bulk discount seed orders.

Finally I swap and share surplus plants.

I also remind myself when I go to the supermarket that seeds are cheap relative to the produce in the shops!!

Hilary

[Ricard with an H]

On the subject of gutter and other containers co-opted into seed-growing uses i've had a miserable early season with lot's of failure.

In my case I have to be careful where I lay the blame, over crowding and low outside temperature were the probably cause though I blamed half round gutter and peat pots. Everything I grew in the gutters failed and most seedling that were planted-on to peat pots failed.

Maybe I mixed too much sand into the compost mix and those peat pots do dry out quickly. I'm either over-watering or plants are stuck because i'm scared to water things after being diagnosed as a compulsive-waterer.

Most of my failures were flowering plants and whilst i'm not trying to create a suburban garden here I am keen to have lot's of flowering plants and herbs.

A welcome gift from a gardening neighbour whom I gifted with some produce from my plot has been a clump of 'lemon-balm'. This makes a lovely drink and is known to help a multitude of problems from toothache to flatulence.

It appears that laying comfrey leaves on my forehead is very beneficial though i'm not sure because I can't remember. Maybe it helps memory, or maybe i'll grow hair again. This coming from the lady who is dedicated to moon-phase planting.

Just realised i'm digressing and am writing text into the wrong thread. Hmmmm ???

I've given up on cardboard boxes though I will persist with half-round gutter. Does that square things ?

[FredFromOssett]

I'm not too sure about the comfrey on the forehead as it can be a great irritant. I always wear gloves and long sleeves when handling as I have suffered considerably from skin contact in the past.

[PLUMPUDDING]

If you apply comfrey to the skin - usually for sprains - you should scald it first with boiling water to make it pliable and less of an irritant.