Gardening/School gardening thread

[morg176]

We didn't have a gardening thread so I started one.

For anyone who likes to garden
Also for teachers who like (or matbe aren't sure how) to garden with their students or set up a school garden.

I claimed an unloved planter (2 square metres) at one of my schools. I collected a few of the good kids and we got the weeds and grass out of it and sifted and broke up the soil.
The kids loved it. Being outside and no low grade secretarial work to do. Only well behaved, well mannered chilfen are invited to assist. It is their reward.

We now have over a hundred plants crammed into this garden and they are all flowering plants, snapdragons, pansies and the like. It looks good, and yet is hidden behind a classroom so most teachers don't even know its there.

It's small, but its the best garden in school, and the most fun ive had all year.
But we need to expand for next year, and most of my young gardeners are yr 6ers. So, begin again next year. :D

[Thurmus]

My daughter's school has a lunch time garden club on Friday's. It is run by a couple of parents.

Toyota sponsored tree planting day this year and donated free saplings with sticks and plastic circles to put around them.

Also if you put the call out a parent will have a contact for free mulch. They started with a small corner and have grown from there. The kids love being a part of it.

[liegeprime]

Can you post up some pics please, while the garden's in full bloom there morg176? Cheers....

I like to do some gardening every now and then, but I'm more into bromeliads.

[morg176]

Has anyone tried coconut water on sprouting seeds/seedlinds, I've heard and read that it increases growth significantly, but varies species to species

[BigTransformerTrev]

I've almost started a gardening/farming/vege & fruit growing thread a few times, then realized that makes me seem old and I'd be the only one to use it anyway :o:p

Someone made one! Yay! :D

I could go on about the school gardens but I'd like to show off my own first ;)

I'll go into more detail later (I'll be all over this thread like a rash! :D) but I'll start off with a couple of older pics of my vege patches :):


Vege Patch 1 & 2

http://i1294.photobucket.com/albums/b615/BigAngryTrev/garden1_zpsq9bfcaug.jpg (http://s1294.photobucket.com/user/BigAngryTrev/media/garden1_zpsq9bfcaug.jpg.html)


Vege Patch 3

http://i1294.photobucket.com/albums/b615/BigAngryTrev/garden2_zpsuop4wizl.jpg (http://s1294.photobucket.com/user/BigAngryTrev/media/garden2_zpsuop4wizl.jpg.html)

[morg176]

Nice :D

[5FDP]

I'd really love to re-do our backyard and turn it into a garden of zen, but having a staffy makes it a futile task. It will be a future project for when I retire.

[Thurmus]

I misread that and thought you had something that would stop you being able to bend over to garden.

[morg176]

Also for next year, I would like to be able to have more seedlings ready to plant on a week by week basis. Seedlings are the most expensive part of the flower box program. I'm trying a poor mans in vitro as an experiment to see if I can grow them faster from seed, than trying to find affordable bulk seedlings. Seeds take forever to grow and die real easy. Maybe tissue culture/cuttings might be quicker

Ideas, suggestions
:D

[gamblor916]

African violets and begonias are ridiculously easy to propagate from leaf cuttings. Lots of succulents are easy to grow from cuttings as well. Carnivorous plants like the flytrap and some pitchers have easy to break off side shoots. May take a little time though.

[liegeprime]

African violets and begonias are ridiculously easy to propagate from leaf cuttings. Lots of succulents are easy to grow from cuttings as well. Carnivorous plants like the flytrap and some pitchers have easy to break off side shoots. May take a little time though.

oooh I remember seeing you bought one of those venus flytraps before..:)

[mknell]

Thought I'd post the gardening I have done in the past few weeks

This was my mountain of soil
https://scontent-lax3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xat1/l/t31.0-8/12030369_10153789019063939_5336316206881960579_o.j pg?efg=eyJpIjoidCJ9

The beds before and after

https://scontent-lax3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xaf1/t31.0-8/12184171_10153791387098939_890784377901630659_o.jp g?efg=eyJpIjoidCJ9

https://fbcdn-sphotos-d-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xft1/t31.0-8/12022475_10153789600158939_5590424318492756863_o.j pg?efg=eyJpIjoidCJ9


https://scontent-lax3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xat1/t31.0-8/12052566_10153789511858939_2867598330778641111_o.j pg?efg=eyJpIjoidCJ9

https://fbcdn-sphotos-d-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xpf1/t31.0-8/11040610_10153789044338939_5671969445193464077_o.j pg?efg=eyJpIjoidCJ9


Bed 1
Purple Peas & purple beans
Bed 2
Spinach, kale & wasabi lettuce
Bed 3
Tomato, capsicum, chilli & popping corn
Bed 4
Brown onion, leek & garlic

Also we have strawberries hanging, herbs and a lemonade tree & an orange tree

But alas I was defeted by Gregor Clegane, he was still standing when it was all said and done. Anyone need any vegetable garden soil?


https://scontent-lax3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xap1/t31.0-8/887421_10153791390323939_4942772067216445306_o.jpg ?efg=eyJpIjoidCJ9

[morg176]

We found 4 tomoato plants in our flower box. Moved them to a styrofoam holding box till we figure out where to put them

Will have to see if I can have another box put in

[GoktimusPrime]

Did I just see mknell posting dirty pictures on this board? ;) :p

[morg176]

Two or three of my experiments in growing seeds to seedlings have fallen to fungal infections. Two of the agar (yes I found some) containers were growing very tall thinly sprouted seeds but were not thickening at all. With the addition of coconut water to one container, their form improved but the fungus got them.

I have mixed an anti bacterial, antifungal in the agar this time.
I am also experimenting with a larger container. But yeah, not sterile as that is almost impossible in a primary school

I'll keep you informed how the alyssum go this time around.:D

[gamblor916]

I grow my plants sitting in water in closed containers and I've found that live sphagnum moss keeps the water clear and free of mould and algae.

http://i328.photobucket.com/albums/l356/leducly/IMG_3648_zpslfoc5ubq.jpg

http://i328.photobucket.com/albums/l356/leducly/IMG_3906_zpsnu77mqpo.jpg

http://i328.photobucket.com/albums/l356/leducly/IMG_3651_zpsejv8cnl3.jpg

[morg176]

Gamblor, thats a nice flytrap. And are they little sundew around the base of it.
Do you think your process would work for ordinary flowering plants?

[GoktimusPrime]

Hey gamblor,

1. Why can you buy flytraps from? I've been to a few nurseries and none of them sold any.
2. Are they any good at reducing fly numbers?

[gamblor916]

Gamblor, thats a nice flytrap. And are they little sundew around the base of it.
Do you think your process would work for ordinary flowering plants?

The sundews are from seed I bought on ebay in oz. Took a few months before they germinated though.

I think using sphagnum instead of agar might reduce the mould problem. It prefers a lot of moisture so useful for tropical plants.


Hey gamblor,

1. Why can you buy flytraps from? I've been to a few nurseries and none of them sold any.
2. Are they any good at reducing fly numbers?

I bought mine at nurseries and bunnings or seed online. I think it's a seasonal thing, they're out during the warmer months though most I've seen are in bad shape. If you have an insect problem it's not going to help but saying that I've put some bigger pitcher plants (sarracenia) in the open hoping to reduce the number of mosquitos. If you can't source any through spring/summer I can give you a sample pack of my spares.

[BigTransformerTrev]

The next three days of weather at our farm - 40, 43 + high winds, 36 + high winds :mad:

Luckily (though I usually lament it) my kids wake me up well before I have to go to work so I can at least get some drippers going for half an hour in the morning to try and keep my seedlings alive. Right now I have planted:

Watermelons
Rockmelons
Butternut Pumpkins
Jap Pumpkins
Beetroot
Zuchinni
Carrots
Radishes
2 types of tomatoes
3 types of potatoes

The potatoes, watermelons, carrots and zuchinni will survive this heat easy but the rest might suffer. Especially my rockmelons that I've been trying to grow from seed and the beetroot which are still very young.

All my self-seeded stuff should survive it ok. But I'll chat about those another time :)

[BigTransformerTrev]

Well Swan Hill was officially the driest place in the state in 2015, no wonder none of my plants did great :(

The other week we had five days straight of 41 degrees! :eek: Now we have a blue-green algae alert on which means I have to water like mad and then try and get my dam refilled before it reaches our area. If we get it in our dam it makes all the water unuseable except for watering lawns. Any food plants watered with it can no longer be eaten and you cant use it for animal water or even let it touch your skin which would completely stuff us as we use our dam water for everything in the house bar drinking :(

[morg176]

Trying to get another garden started at school. don't have the same one as last year, but have (with another teacher) taken over an abandoned garden from last year.
About 14 raised beds (8 1m squares + 6 1m diameter metal). But soil isnt great and there is alot of debris in it.

Also, some, if not most of the raised garden beds are made of only pallet wood, splinters amany and some need repair.

Was also thinking of making a larger soil sifter/grader to sort the soil, because we do need to get more for the gardens.

Vegetables, strawberries and some flowers to attract the bees.

Ideas and thoughts :o

[BigTransformerTrev]

Trying to get another garden started at school. don't have the same one as last year, but have (with another teacher) taken over an abandoned garden from last year.
About 14 raised beds (8 1m squares + 6 1m diameter metal). But soil isnt great and there is alot of debris in it.

Also, some, if not most of the raised garden beds are made of only pallet wood, splinters amany and some need repair.

Was also thinking of making a larger soil sifter/grader to sort the soil, because we do need to get more for the gardens.

Vegetables, strawberries and some flowers to attract the bees.

Ideas and thoughts :o

You won't get much from Strawberry plants this time of year - wait till spring to plant those.

Decide what veges you wanna plant first then companion plant flowers to match. For instance if you plant cabbages some types of flowers will repel cabbage moths while others will attract them.

Snow peas this time of year will increase the nitrogen in your soil a treat! But you will have to built lattices for them to climb.

Root vegetables are a very safe bet to get a good return such as beetroot and carrots.

If your soil isn't great chuck some bags of fertiliser in to start with and give the veges a fortnightly dose of seaweed juice. But I run a composting program at my school and that can pay off in the long term.

[morg176]

The strawberries were running like crazy, and I got alot of free, albeit small, plants. Not caring about the actual fruits, I just like then cause they send runners out everywhere

As far as the soil goes it isnt anything much. There is alot of small debris and the occasional plastic and small branch. Got most of the large stuff out and most of the grass/abandoned plant attempt. But I think it still needs sifting/sieving. And it gives the kids something to do if too many show up to help.

My biggest expense last year with my gardenbox project was the seedlings, unless you buy the really big mega punnets, but they aren't around much. And seeds do take forever.
Thoughts...

[morg176]

I had an idea about the gardening at school. Having planter boxes on castors would have advantages when a mobile garden is called for, even if just when moving classes at the end of the year. Or being casual and not having your own class, having boxes that could be moved or disassembled if needed, would be an advantage to me.

The problem is the cost

I was thinking of a 1200 x 600 box on casters
Suppose it would have to be 300 deep

I know stuff all about carpentry,
What would you suggest are my options :D

EDIT: it would appear that a 1200 x 600 x 300 planter box is out of the question cost wise.
Hell even a 1200 x 300 x 300 deep may cost too much. And the casters aren't cheap either. Many have said it will cost $60 - $80 to build this. It does my head in. A large sleeper based raised garden bed only costs $80


Spoke to someone at bunnings today and they suggested marine ply, which again is not cheap, but will last a few years at least.

It seemed like a simple idea, but it stalls at every turn...

I just want to garden with the students.

Styrofoam fruitboxes are the backup plan

[morg176]

Well finally after looking for materials and trying to find tools and fixing one or two hiccups along the way...

I got the prototype rolling planter box built.

1200 x 300 x 200 deep.
Cheap cast iron casters
All exposed ply covered with a sealant

Some weed mat, dirt and seedlinds and it's on :D
Thanks for all the advice and support

[5FDP]

Picked up a tree and 3 shrubs from the Hawkesbury Show a couple of weeks ago. They were all free from council. The tree is to replace our large one that came down last January in a storm and the shrubs are going out the back. Just gotta work out how to keep the dog away from them (he's a digger).

[BigTransformerTrev]

Picked up a tree and 3 shrubs from the Hawkesbury Show a couple of weeks ago. They were all free from council. The tree is to replace our large one that came down last January in a storm and the shrubs are going out the back. Just gotta work out how to keep the dog away from them (he's a digger).

3 wooden stakes in a triangle around each new plant and either some green shade cloth or some hessian sacking stapled around them



Thanks for all the advice and support

And thanks for your positive feedback on my website :)

[BigTransformerTrev]

Geex, sometimes I get a stark reminder of what kind of school I work at. We were planting spring onions, I showed some students how to do it then went off to help others. I came back to find they had planted all the plants upside down because 'the roots make the plants look like they have hairy heads' :eek::rolleyes:

On my own farm this week I've planted 5 River Red Gums and 2 Pomegranete tree's :)

[BigTransformerTrev]

On the long weekend I planted two different types of self-pollinating cherry trees, a pear tree to pollinate our existing one and transplanted my bay leaf tree and blueberry bush to new spots to see if they will grow better come the spring.

[morg176]

Finally have some space to garden at one of the schools I casual at.
There are six largish beds, all well framed but otherwise in a bit of a state of disrepair and unloved neglect.

But I have the space.

Be it flowers or vegies, the season is late and seeds take forever (most of them anyway)
So seedlings it must be. Trying to get my hands on the bulk full trays, way cheaper per plant.
Half trays are by comparison, a rip off, but often all one can get.

Got to dig the beds up, probably not all six, and see what I have to work with. Get rid of a few weeds, maybe some compost..

The goal is, flowers: lobelia, primula, pansies/viola, salvia, foxgloves, tall snapdragons.
Maybe others
Vegies: not too at these but see how we go
Tomatoes, radish (small and fast), anything seedling based or fast growing seed.

Was also thinking of putting in a couple of passionfruit if I can, but will need a trellice.
And strawberries.

All before the end of 4th term :D

I call it the Gardenbox Project :D

[tron07]

I am moving to a new place and going to have a south facing garden/yard. I dont think its getting sun as its blocked by the 2 story building. Now still pondering what do with it. At a back corner will plant some herbs and vege that dont require much sun. Maybe will try a stone fruit tree that dont require much sun during the winter months. Will see how much of sun light we going to get in spring/summer.

At a sunny spot outside, I will probably try to plant a curry leave plant there, hope dont get into trouble with the strata. At the north facing entrance, I will plant some tomatoes and all in planter pots. Maybe a small kamquat/calamansi tree in one of the big pots there.

At my current place, south balcony most of my voila/pansies passion fruit, herbs, etc did well during summer as we get morning sun, but come winter all died or half dead. spring onions are doing very well though.


Some of the design I am pondering for the new south yard.

http://i662.photobucket.com/albums/uu345/virlution/NRT/Garden/s1_zpsryjgp9ac.jpg
1


http://i662.photobucket.com/albums/uu345/virlution/NRT/Garden/Plants%20and%20pabble%20walk%20path_zpsuetxaaqi.jp g
2


http://i662.photobucket.com/albums/uu345/virlution/NRT/Garden/plants_zpsbqxzs6ys.jpg
3


http://i662.photobucket.com/albums/uu345/virlution/NRT/Garden/white%20wash%20pabble%20edge_zpskfwwzpty.jpg
4

[morg176]

And then when you go to prepare the garden bed that you think has been allocated to you, someone else has already dug it up, hang on, whats going on.... errg someone else has claimed the garden. Gardening project cancelled until further notice
Grrrr

[tron07]

ALDI got Garden Bed for $29.99 this coming Wednesday. Size: 120(W) x 90(L) x 30(H)cm

Now thinking should I get 1 for my south facing yard or not.

[BigTransformerTrev]

Hmmm... first frost of the year and it’s still March. Given the amount of plants I’ve propagated I should have built a much bigger hothouse (I built a little 3m x 1m x 1m out of old shower screens I bought from the tip).

Most of the plants I’ve propagated are mint, rosemary, succulents and cacti along with a ton of comfrey I plan to plant out in the paddock come spring. All are pretty susceptible to frosts and I learned the hard way last year my huge shadehouse does little to stop them.

[morg176]

I was wondering, have any of the avid gardeners or farmers used the plug trays to grow their seeds -> seedlings? I experimented with some snow pess in a ~4 cubic foot box (made from formply and I put casters on it), but grew the peas from seeds in a 128 plug tray, it worked well, little wastage, everything germinated.

I'm looking for the 200 cell - maybe 288 cell trays especially for small seed plants, including lobelia (impossible from seeds) and others.

But the trays are expensive, where can I buy new ones cheap, willing to buy in sets of ten.
Does any one know a good supplier, maybe in australia?

Thanks
Garden on!

Might grow tomatoes next...

[BigTransformerTrev]

I was wondering, have any of the avid gardeners or farmers used the plug trays to grow their seeds -> seedlings? I experimented with some snow pess in a ~4 cubic foot box (made from formply and I put casters on it), but grew the peas from seeds in a 128 plug tray, it worked well, little wastage, everything germinated.

I'm looking for the 200 cell - maybe 288 cell trays especially for small seed plants, including lobelia (impossible from seeds) and others.

But the trays are expensive, where can I buy new ones cheap, willing to buy in sets of ten.
Does any one know a good supplier, maybe in australia?

Thanks
Garden on!

Might grow tomatoes next...

We use them when we plant dozens of seeds out at once. I think most of ours are around 100 cells.

Not sure where to buy them, ours got passed onto us. Maybe try plant nurseries or a Bunnings -I’ll keep an eye out for ya at any rate.

On a farming note, I’ve just spent two hours collecting cow pats for my Comfrey. Fenced off my orchard and am digging 1m deep holes 1 meter apart in rows of two between the tree rows. Then filling them back up with 70% manure 30% dirt. Hopefully I’ll have 3 dozen holes ready to go by spring when the 36 Russian plants I propogated last season wake back up.

[morg176]

Hey trev, can one grow strawberries from seeds or is it a lost cause. Plants are often $3-4ish and im happy to wait for seeds to grow

Seeds from a packet or seeds from the friut at the supermarket?

Thoughts
Others are welcome to chime in : )

[BigTransformerTrev]

Hey trev, can one grow strawberries from seeds or is it a lost cause. Plants are often $3-4ish and im happy to wait for seeds to grow

Seeds from a packet or seeds from the friut at the supermarket?

Thoughts
Others are welcome to chime in : )

I’ve never tried with seeds from the fruit. I’ve tried with seeds from a packet and failed miserably. So now I just grow a half dozen seedlings from a nursery, but make sure they are the types with runners. Strawberries are super easy to grow from runners and then transplant to somewhere new so you end up turning a half dozen plants into dozens :)

You may have better luck with seeds than I though

[Megatron]

Hey trev, can one grow strawberries from seeds or is it a lost cause. Plants are often $3-4ish and im happy to wait for seeds to grow

Seeds from a packet or seeds from the friut at the supermarket?

Thoughts
Others are welcome to chime in : )

Best way to harvest strawberry seeds is pulp the strawberries in a blender with some water, then pour off the pulp and non viable seeds with the water. Collect the stuff that sinks to the bottom, which will include any viable seeds.

Cold treat the seeds for better results. Place them in an airtight container in the freezer for two to four weeks. Then allow them to gradually adjust to room temperature, and they are ready to sow (in a seed tray is fine).

By the way, strawberries will not grow true from seed from most hybrid cultivars (most store-bought varieties), so you will end up with plants and fruit that are unpredictable and random in their characteristics if you plant these out. You should get a better result from seeds of heirloom (non-hybrid) or alpine varieties (which you can get in packets from a good seed supplier).

Good luck with your endeavour.

[morg176]

Thanks trev and megatron, it is an experiment. One of those see what happens things.
Will keep this thread informed if your interested

[BigTransformerTrev]

Thanks trev and megatron, it is an experiment. One of those see what happens things.
Will keep this thread informed if your interested

Ive found those seed-raising trays you were after, you can find them in quite a lot of places online actually. I even saw some from a place I purchased egg cartons from. :)


Scored big today! The Council has been doing replanting in our area and I was able to purchase the old pots off them. 100+ pots for $10! The 60 big ones which are as-new go for about $5 a pop at Bunnings too so a real bargain! :D

http://i67.tinypic.com/28063js.jpg

[BigTransformerTrev]

Hey guys, I know it is a bit cheeky to ask, but for anyone on Facebook if you could go and 'like' and 'share' our new page it would be great. After years of being on a farm the missus and I are finally about ready to try making a buck out of it


Many thanks :)

Big Farmer Trev's Organic Produce (https://www.facebook.com/BigFarmerTrev)

http://i66.tinypic.com/2znzdog.jpg

[Galvatran]

^ I'm not on Facebook otherwise I'll be giving more thumbs up than that John Hopoate guy.

All the best with the new venture Trev. One thing you have in spades is entrepeneurship. I admire that in people.

[Bladestorm]

Good luck with it Trev. I hope you have loads of success. I'll definitely share it with anyone I think may be interested.

I've been dabbling into a bit of gardening attempting to cultivate some seedlings. So far I have the obligatory herbs, celery, 2 avocado plants and some miniature orange capsicum seedlings but whether they truly grow and fruit (as their sourced from Suparmarket veges/fruit) is another thing.

My biggest challenge right now is privet. Anyone got any tried and tested ways to stop it continually growing back in the garden?
I've pulled root systems, tried various poisons and still can't keep on top of it re-growing in a large chunk of my yard. I feel like I spend every second week and 1/2 of my green bin just on the privet alone! Unfortunately, my yard was neglected for 10 years while I was away and it's become a real struggle to try and clear it, let alone think about how to landscape.

[BigTransformerTrev]

^ I'm not on Facebook otherwise I'll be giving more thumbs up than that John Hopoate guy.

All the best with the new venture Trev. One thing you have in spades is entrepeneurship. I admire that in people.


Good luck with it Trev. I hope you have loads of success. I'll definitely share it with anyone I think may be interested.

.

Cheers guys. Did our first market stall today. Sold a bit early on but nothing for final couple of hours. I swear, most of today the market stalls (about 10) have outnumbered the people looking. Think I need to go somewhere busier for my next one. :rolleyes:

[morg176]

Finally, after five years, I have allocated space at a school to garden.
Ironically, due to corona. I have 4 large metal above ground beds,
And more kids than I need to help but we soldier on.

I was thinking flowers, 2x veggies and a herb/extra garden.

Will try to do alot from seeds this time (may end horribly)
Will put snow peas and radishes in on friday, just so there is something in the ground.
Have plenty of 128 plug trays and plenty of seeds.
Will grow many at home incase it all goes south for whatever reason.

We have airated and dug up the soil in all for beds.
Will plant some radish on friday as they will give us time to grow the seedlings we need.

If the seedling growing goes well, we can sell? them to other teachers (maybe) for their gardens.
Most teachers only put in 6-8 plants in each garden bed.
I intend to try intensive gardening, did that last time with the flowers.

See how it all goes
Hope, clench and pray it goes well...

Thoughts and advice are welcome!

[morg176]

I got to grow some plants all from seed with some students in term 2.
Not the best time to grow, but we had a go. Everything from seed, so it was time consuming. Grew lettuce, radish, snow peas, carrots, strawberries (long shot), shallots, tomato, cal poppies and cosmos.

Most germinated. Radish and snow peas were growing well at end of term.
Lettuce and carrots were small but improving with rain.
Everything else was struggling as it was cold.
Tomato seeds were only just planted.
Students enjoyed it!

Seedlings at home are slow and often very leggy..
Read that maybe struggling for light. Built a daggy diy growlight
From led rgb glowstrip and will test it tomorrow. Just need it to strengthen the seedlings. YouTube says pink light should work 2-4 inches above the plants. Hope it works.

If you have experience with grow lights, feel free to chime in.

[Bladestorm]

I can't help with grow lights but I can recommend the use of a small greenhouse (a frame with a plastic cover over the top - bunnings sell them from around $39 up).
I recently got some tomato seedlings and planted 3 in my front garden and 3 in pots placed in the little greenhouse ... the 3 in the front garden have barely grown, the ones in the little cheap greenhouse are thriving despite how cold it is. Similarly, basil growing outside isn't growing at the moment while the one I put in the little greenhouse is growing a treat. I recently brought a slightly bigger one and have sweet corn, basil, coriander, snow peas, cauliflour and wintermelon seedlings growing in pots inside it. What I like about these greenhouses are that they are portable, protect from animals like possums and the plastic covering can be removed in summer.

I've taken to trying to grow things from seed cultivated from our food recently. Currently, I have 2 young avocado trees (and 2 seeds germinating). They may never grow fruit (will find out in 5 or so years) but I'm excited by the fact I've been able to grow them and I'll be happy even if they are just ornamental. I find 2 in every 8-10 avocado seeds I try seem to germinate at the moment but it's an extremely slow process compared to other plants.
I've also got 2 celery that are almost ready to harvest regrown from the base of store brought celery. I'm not sure how they'll taste but exciting giving it a go. I've just planted some mandarin seeds from mandarins picked fresh from a farm and chilli seeds just to see how successful seed planting can be.

[morg176]

Have had my pink light led rig running for nearly two days.
Lettuce seeds have sprouted which is a surprise, as have one or two radishes.
It will be interesting to see if this works as intended.
I've read that blue light is better for seedlings, but mine are a bit stunted from the cold

Advice and anecdotes welcome : )