really dumb newbie question

[ladylove]

I know this is really dumb, so hopefully all you experienced mamas will get a good laugh out of this!

I bought some basil, mint and wheatgrass seeds at Whole Foods. I have an egg carton ready.

Do I put only ONE seed in each egg spot? Or do I drop several in there and hope at least one will grow????

[lightheart]

No question is silly!

I've never grown wheatgrass and have only done mint from runners of existing plants, but would assume mabe the same... let's hope someone that has done wheatgrass and mint knows for certain.

can do either, can plant 1 seed per little spot or you can plant a few... 2-3-4-5 seeds, when the plants spout if all 5 or 6 have spouted, wait a little bit until a few leaves have started and pinch the stem to the weakest looking ones or if a couple are right on top of each other so that there is more space between them, or you can gently pluck out the little plants transplanting each into it's own pot, if you do this you are more likely to loose some of them, kinda like 6 of 1, half dozen of another, if you pinch, the ones you pinched are gone, if you transplant them out, might loose some, might not loose any, but most likely won't loose all.

If you do plant multiple seeds, I wouldn't put them in the exact same spot, spread them around a little bit.

[ladylove]

Thank you so much for the help! I planted several in one spot and will hope for the best.

I told my mom I was nervous because I had never grown anything from a seed and she said "well, except for <DS>!"

[Clairesoula]

I find that if I buy the seeds that year so they aren't old, almost all of them sprout, so I only do one per spot. I'm also a freak and HATE thinning and pinching out the little guys. I feel like once they've sprouted they should all get to make it. That's just me though. If I have older seeds, I tend to plant maybe 3 to a container so that I may be able to transplant them when I thin them out. If there are 6 in there, it's really hard to do without hurting them.
Good growing!

[Toolip]

Good luck with the basil and don't be too hard on yourself if it doesn't sprout

I've heard that your supposed to swear at it when you plant it

... I've tried that and still had a terrible time... grrrr

Not to discourage you, just don't be too hard on yourself if it doesn't work out.

Happy sprouting!!!!!

[JRose]

Originally Posted by Clairesoula

I find that if I buy the seeds that year so they aren't old, almost all of them sprout, so I only do one per spot. I'm also a freak and HATE thinning and pinching out the little guys. I feel like once they've sprouted they should all get to make it. That's just me though. If I have older seeds, I tend to plant maybe 3 to a container so that I may be able to transplant them when I thin them out. If there are 6 in there, it's really hard to do without hurting them.
Good growing!

I am the same way about thinning!! I hate to kill off the little buggers so I only plant one seed per space and if they don't germinate with the others oh well.

[root*children]

What is your wheatgrass for? If it's just ornamental or a fun activity for DC, then you'll be fine with the egg carton, but if you are going to be juicing the wheatgrass, it needs to be in something more permanent. The egg cartons are biodegradable, so when your mint and basil is ready to be put out in the garden, you can just plant it, egg carton and all. The egg carton will eventually rot and break up.

Wheatgrass grows in very shallow containers, can easily stay indoors, on a sunny table or window. Shallow like the drip catcher that goes under a terra cotta planter pot. It can be in something deeper, but doesn't need it. You sprinkle the wheat berries directly on top of the soil, no need to cover. We sprinkle on alot - like nearly touching each other. Each berry willjust grow one straight shoot. We just grow them for decoration, and the kids like to give it haircuts and stuff

So, unless you are planning on actually growing wheat, just get those in a sturdy planter and keep them indoors.