tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8618599153266591841.post9134575716787754793..comments2014-05-05T03:48:35.492-04:00Comments on PotterVilla Academy: Of Tomatoes and ChicksMatthewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05301468731066790829noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8618599153266591841.post-29524117175714063942008-03-29T06:10:00.000-04:002008-03-29T06:10:00.000-04:00Justme,I just posted an new photo essay, the end o...Justme,<BR/><BR/>I just posted an new photo essay, the end of which might answer some of your questions. I'm just starting out in this so am obviously not an expert, but this is what worked for me. :-)<BR/><BR/>I actually used some old plastic sheeting from (store bought) pizza wrappers to hold the potting soil ("flats")(most people really recommend using "seed starting" soil, but I had pretty good luck with potting soil. The big thing that everybody stresses is sterility. So maybe the egg shells shouldn't even work--they definitely weren't sterile.<BR/><BR/>Then I just sprinkled on the seed and covered with wet newspaper and then the top of the pizza plastic. I also have a "hot bed" for germinating (see photo essay) The newspaper holds moisture and the plastic helps keep it in. Mine sprouted really fast--only four days instead of the predicted ten.<BR/><BR/>You must immediately remove both plastic and newspaper once they start sprouting. I've also read that the easiest way to kill seedlings is to over water. I think I've gone to both extremes and killed plants at both ends but I don't know how to tell you how much to water. <BR/><BR/>I basically went by the recommendations of Mrs. Carla Emery, in her book The Encyclopedia of Country Living; an Old Fashioned Recipe Book--that is a wealth of information on practically any subject. <BR/><BR/>Wishing you success,<BR/><BR/>MatthewMatthewhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05301468731066790829noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8618599153266591841.post-64566744889275580892008-03-27T11:04:00.000-04:002008-03-27T11:04:00.000-04:00Now I have to ask: eggshells? How does it work? Li...Now I have to ask: eggshells? How does it work? <BR/><BR/>Like I mentioned before, all my tomato seedlings died. <BR/><BR/>I need a new game plan. :)Mrs. Deeringhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13415436468238082569noreply@blogger.com