Planting things that grow!

[tinabina]

Hmm, I have the funny feeling that this really isn't the time, but I was wandering around a dollar store and found some different vegetable seed packets at five for a dollar and snatched them up on an impulse.

I know nothing about gardening, and everything I've looked up gets into soil acidity and temperature and whatnot...I just kind of want to stick them in the ground and see what happens. It seems there are a lot of chicks here from around Chicago, so is there anyone who knows how to plant in this particular region? I think I'd probably do container gardening, I don't think our soil is very good...

[heartofbrass]

Super easy, I do suggest going for the containers. First, sprout the seeds, I normally do it by putting them in damp paper towels in plastic bags and setting them in a semi sunny area (but not too much so it's going to cook them!).
After they sprout (normally a couple of days), take a decent sized pot filled with planting soil, layer of rocks in the bottom with sand so it drains decently, and plant 4-5 sprouts in a pot. Water and allow them to grow. Then you need to cull out the sprouts that don't grow as fast so they don't choke the other plants out.
Water on a daily basis, store in a sunny area (depends on the plant) and voila!

[tinabina]

Awesome, thank you!

[molly]

tina, if you want to look into it there are community gardens in evanston, and you can rent a plot for like $25 a season?
otherwise, I grow vegetables in my backyard and stuff all the time, our soil probably isn't perfect but it works! look on the back of the seed packages, and you'll find some tips and what the plants need to grow/germinate.
good things for growing:
watering often, spacing them out/burying them deep enough, and if you want spreading some compost makes really fertile soil!
good luck!

[tinabina]

Thanks, Molly!