Ditch the Trays! Seed Snail Growing Method: Seed Starting with Less Waste, Less Space, Less Compost!

[@SharonHollidaySells]

I love that you are using materials that normally go to landfills. This is terrific and i will be trying this method. Thank you for sharing!!

[@KowalskiMountain]

Ahhh thanks! I’ll be able to use mine next year too… appreciate you watching

[@JCC_1975]

I did this method this year and I've had so much success already!!💜!! My cucumbers loved this method. Everything's coming up beautifully 💜

[@KowalskiMountain]

Mine too! I’m hooked! Will be using this method again!

[@JCC_1975]

@@KowalskiMountain Yes ma'am. I think this is the only way for me from now on. Happy growing 💜

[@jennifermilne7151]

Thank you for showing us something different ! We are definitely trying this next year !

[@KowalskiMountain]

Ohhhh nice! I just started my fall seedlings in them too

[@Learningeveryday27]

I’ve been seeing this a lot ! Excited to learn more !

[@KowalskiMountain]

It’s such a cool method. Quickly gaining popularity. Appreciate you watching

[@arubaguy2733]

I got about 10 minutes in and noticed she uses consumables in starting seeds to be thrown out later. Years ago, I bought robust trays and starting cups and after washing and sanitizing, fill them with previously-used screened "soil" mix that's been treated with hydrogen peroxide to kill pathogens. My soil always contains millions of tiny roots from previous plants breaking down and returning their nutrients and energy to be used again. I mark the varieties with permanent re-usable plastic tags. The young plants are set out in re-usable plant bags that have been laundered. (I use bags because our HOA forbids gardens for "aesthetic" reasons) My system generates absolutely ZERO waste as EVERYTHING is re-used year after year. My seed-starting/planting setup has been used for 6 planting cycles with little sign of degradation. All containers used cost

[@arubaguy2733]

Watched to the end, and It seems about equal labor-wise to my method. I like the space-saving aspect, but I have only a 12ft.x12ft. deck to use and a 2ft.x4ft. stand with lights, heaters, and fans for raising seedlings in the basement. I do just fine. Outside, I manage 17-7 gallon bags for tomatoes plus 2-6in. x 4ft. boxes where basil and dill and marigolds live, and 18-1 gallon bags for 36 hot peppers. It all fits into a 12ft.x 4ft. footprint. Plenty of room to grill and eat outside on those rare Michigan warm nights. I have one question: How do you plant out the seedlings into their permanent "homes". Surely the seed snail is not their final destination!?

[@KowalskiMountain]

@arubaguy2733 you're right, the seed snail is not the final destination. You unroll, carefully separate roots. Since they grow long there is less entanglement… though there will be some. Plant as normal. I appreciate your input on a system that works for you. When I live in a house again, not an rv… my options may open up but first now… suave us a huge issue. Mine are outside now.

[@arubaguy2733]

I never uploaded to KZbin, but I may attempt to put up a video of my whole process, start to finish this year, in case anyone wants to see how I micro-garden. It's been quite an adventure, considering until 3 years ago, I was gardening in dirt in a 80ft.x 90ft. area on our farm. Old age decline forced us to move to a city condo, sadly.

[@arubaguy2733]

@@KowalskiMountain Thank you so much for the response. I hope I didn't sound like I was slamming your methods. We all have differing methods that work best for our particular situations. Without the option of a large area like I enjoyed on the farm, I've found what works for me and my micro-garden. I may just try the seed snail roll as an alternative, just for fun. It looks like a doable method especially for my peppers. One very good thing I started this year is pre-soaking my seeds in 50:50 warm water and hydrogen peroxide for 2 days before putting them in soil. My peppers sprouted in 2 days in soil as opposed to 3 weeks as in the past and germination increased to 99%. Happy gardening and all the best to you.

[@KowalskiMountain]

@@arubaguy2733 hmmmm I soak some of my seeds but not all. I’ve never heard about using a mix of peroxide. I need to look more into that. Appreciate your kindness.. always room to grow!

[@rodnawilliams9398]

since you live out closer to nature you can take your extra seedlings and plant them throughout the forest, probably a good walk from your home, and plant them for the wild animals to forage from

[@KowalskiMountain]

Good idea! We do plant plots for deer as well. Thanks for watching

[@sharonb8714]

Please do and update on this!

[@KowalskiMountain]

Will do! !

[@cherylb.9766]

What an interesting idea. Are you putting them under lights to?

[@KowalskiMountain]

I’m not… we don’t have the space, but I would if I could!

[@cherylb.9766]

That's encouraging thank you. I've resisted planting starts indoors because i do not have lights and not really sure that's the direction i want to go. But then you see the posts about plants getting long and leggy without lights and not doing well.

[@KowalskiMountain]

@@cherylb.9766 I've experienced that too. We just don't have room or the power on solar to give them lights. Our's are right outside on the ground. We cover them with visqueen and when it gets cold we cover them with hay. When the weather is nice, I peel the layers back and let them enjoy the sunshine. Some seeds have not germinated well, heat-loving ones, but my tomatoes are doing pretty good. We're making it work. I also made a greenhouse out of a dog kennel one year. Wrapped the metal kennel in visqueen and filled it up.

[@cherylb.9766]

@@KowalskiMountain what a great idea!

[@loydparton1929]

Going to try this😊

[@megaflux7144]

like most things "viral" in nature this should be avoided. first off i can only assume youve never heard of plug trays, because they use a fraction of the soil youve wasted here, you also dont have to waste PLASTIC to hold anything together. plug trays are i believe 50/75/100 cells per tray and dont waste nearly as much vertical space. its not like basil needs a solo cup to sprout, so youre kind of solving for a problem that doesnt exist.

[@KowalskiMountain]

I’m sure there are lots of great methods I haven’t tried. Though plug trays is one I have tried . … appreciate you watching.

[@JCC_1975]

I did the snail roll this year and I've had way more success than with my plug trays. I'll be recycling them and the wrap for the snail rolls can be used year after year as well. I'm absolutely loving this snail roll method more than anything I've ever done before.