It is one of the coldest years I can remember in the UK and light snow is still falling outside but I am hopeful that warmer weather will arrive eventually. We have been getting on with our tomato plants as at least we can plant the seeds and nurture the seedlings indoors, until the icy winds and frosts in the garden relent.
I started off by making paper seedling pots from newspaper. All you need is an old newspaper, scissors and something circular to wrap the paper around (I chose the cardboard tube from a kitchen roll). You can see a video of the wonderful Maggy from Red Ted Art making newspaper seedling pots. I cut strips of newspaper, rolled them around a cardboard tube leaving about an inch over the end of the tube.
Then, I folded the excess paper over the end of the tube and wriggled the paper pot off the cardboard tube. I did this whilst Burt was sleeping as it is a bit fiddly and not something I think he could help with yet - he is much more of a digger at the moment.
Once I had a good number of pots I set them out in a seed tray and filled a plastic tub with compost. We braved the cold to pot the seedlings outside as I don’t trust myself, let alone a two year old, to pot seedlings without making a bit of mess! Burt loves to dig and he was in heaven digging in the plastic tub and filling the paper pots with soil. As usual he didn’t want to use his plastic spade, nothing else but my trowel would do. It is great to watch him digging and turning the compost: learning the smell of the soil that I remember so clearly from the little bit of gardening I did as a child.
Once we had filled the paper pots with soil I brought out the seeds for him to look at. I covered a plate with blue tissue paper so that he could see the tiny seeds clearly. We have planted two different varieties ‘Sweet ‘N Neat Cherry Red’ and ‘Tumbling Junior’. It never ceases to amaze me that a whole plant and fruit can emerge from a humble seed and I don’t think that the magic quite sunk in when I explained it to Burt but he happily picked up each seed and gently popped them into their own paper pots.
We simply followed the instructions on the back of the packets and covered the seeds lightly in soil. Then we watered them in gently.
I put the seeds in the sunniest window in the house and in a few days we had signs of emerging life, which have grown into beautiful little seedlings. The seedlings are the first thing that Burt checks every morning and it will be fascinating to watch him seeing them grow into plants and hopefully get some fruit eventually.
Eventually we will plant the tomatoes into hanging baskets but that all seems as far off at the moment as ever seeing the sun again! If you are growing tomatoes I’d love to hear how you are getting on, do leave a comment or come and say ‘hello’ on Facebook or Google+.
I’m linking up with Coombe Mill #CountryKids linky again this week. If you have been enjoying being outdoors this week in the garden, the park, the countryside or the beach pop over and join in too.
We planted some tomato seeds yesterday too! Looking forward to them growing!
Foz recently posted…Review: Funky Giraffe Bandana Bibs
Glad it isn’t just me. Watching the snow fall today I thought we were being a bit hopeful but I’m confident the weather will warm up soon!
this is something I am yet to try with my wee man. We don’t have a garden so I find it harder but I must think of something we can maybe do indoors even!
Brinabird and Son recently posted…Of hills and daisies
Cress is really easy for indoors and so exciting for children to watch grow.
Kate says
I want to do some gardening with my boys this year and it will be easier since our beautiful rabbit sadly died this week so she won’t be jumping all over the pots nibbling the plants bless her.
Great idea with the seedling pots. I look forward to seeing how your tomatoes grow
Kate recently posted…Hunting for Eggs #Countrykids
Karen Marquick says
I really am hoping that we are able to move to a house that has a garden we can use properly, because I would love to be able to grow a few salad/vegetables. I have grown tomatoes before, years ago, just in a grow bag. Gave me such a sense of satisfaction. I’d love my children to experience that. x #countrykids
Karen Marquick recently posted…Duck Tales
I hope you get lots of lovely tomatoesits always nice to encourage children to grow their own plants and veg
sarahmumof3 recently posted…Country Kids - New Beginnings
The paper pots are impressive, homegrown tomatoes have a lovely flavour. It also a wonderful activity for the children to join in with and get them interested in gardening. Thanks for linking to Country Kids.
These look amazing i have never heard of the making pots with newspaper i will have to try it x
Jaime Oliver recently posted…My Week That Was – Project 365 Week 14
I still plan to my chilli plants. I’m hoping the ultra cold weather means it’ll still all be ok!
Notmyyearoff recently posted…Project 52 – Week 14 / Silent Sunday
Wow, think even I could manage growing tomato plants. Might do this with N.
Emma T recently posted…Television Thomas
I love the smell of tomato plants when they start growing. Our weather has finally improved, so I need to get planting my veggies. We are way behind schedule this year.
Nichola fabfortymum recently posted…It Whaley is Saturday Caption Day!
I think everything is about a month behind this year so at least that means if you haven’t started yet you are still on schedule!!
Those paper pots are such a great idea aren’t they recycling at its best!
becky recently posted…Things to do at Sherwood Pines
allotmentmum says
hope these are big by now. I’m in the process of hardening mine off at the moment, now that the sun has finally arrived.
allotmentmum recently posted…losing the plot in April
We have just planted our tomatoes out today. Am keeping my fingers crossed!
Mum of One recently posted…Discovery Foods Review: Celebrating Cinco De Mayo in Style
I am not brave enough to plant ours out yet but they are starting to get quite large so I might have to take a leap of hope this week!