I HATE PLASTIC! Oh you knew that. I did not need to SHOUT then. But I hate plastic! So I refuse to buy plastic pots for the hundreds of seedlings we grow each year. It kind of defeats the purpose you know.
So I make paper pots. They hold together remarkably well when packed in a tray. 
Yes, well the paper pot maker does have a most unfortunate shape, but it is a very handy wee thing. I bought it off the internet a few years ago. Just google Paperpot maker (while you still can). The seedlings will dry out faster in paper pots though so be vigilant. Recycled plastic pots work too. My first father-in-law collected little stackable yoghurt pots, carefully pared a little plastic off the bottom edge with a sharp knife for drainage holes and used these year after year. They were very durable. We do not eat processed foods, or foods packed in plastic so I ask my consumer friends to collect all their cottage cheese containers and yoghurt containers for me.
Make a plan. 
Of course later on you will chuck the plan out the window, but as far as timing and plant placement, a plan is useful. My plan page is still in its early stages, but you get the idea.
Your first decision for the garden is what you want to eat. No point in growing something in your vege patch that you will not eat. Especially if space is an issue. If it is a small terrace or deck garden you will want to grow plants that you can keep snipping at as the summer goes along. For my spring deck garden I have sown a big pot of onion seeds, chives, parsley and sage. I have my rosemary and mint in huge pots inside, and I will be doing cuttings from both of these for my neighbours gardens when it warms up. The thyme is in the garden already but will grow quite merrily in a pot. In another few weeks I shall sow big pots of cool weather lettuce and spinach. Sow these seeds close together so your leaves stay clean (no splashed soil from watering)and then pick the leaves frequently. Both can take the cold and a few frosts.
The big vegetable garden takes more planning. Every year I am working towards growing enough food to feed my household for the entire year. So, all the plants will go out in succession then everything is resown and planted again, at two week intervals. This gives me lots of time to gather and process the vegetables into jars and the freezer. Plus a constant supply of fresh food. So don’t sow all your seed on one day. We have a short summer out here in Illinois. I call it short anyway. So I do need to plan.
We don’t have a glass house (yet) so by late winter all the sunny patches inside are covered in pots and trays. These are the plants that we want to have ready to set out into the vegetable garden the minute the conditions are good. At this point I am collecting my seeds. As we know John has already sown the first of his tomatoes but in a few weeks he will sow another lot.
Celery has been sown already as it can take up to three weeks to germinate, let alone grow. The lavender seed is in wet media in the fridge for six weeks. The onion seeds for the big garden have been sown as well.
My last frost is mid April, so the majority of my seeds will be sown inside in late February. These will be for the spring garden. Cabbage. Brocolli. Lettuce (straight into the ground).
The summer garden is another list. We will get to that. Most of these will be sown outside in pots or directly into the gardens.
Our list of flowers for bees is another list too. But I have been reminded by Claire at Promenade Plantings to sow my sweet peas early. (Sweet peas are lovely in a terrace garden if you have a good railing for them to climb up). And Joanna has already sown her pansies!
And look at the new character in my kitchen. A lovely kind friend sent me a present. Isn’t it beautiful. 
No, not the old parmesan grater or the basket of fresh eggs or John’s great grandmothers hard working coffee grinder. It is the pasta maker. A beautiful, old, heavy, hand cranked, Italian pasta maker. It is so shiny! I am so spoilt. I spent quite some time in the Bartolini Kitchens blog yesterday, finding the family pasta dough recipe and studying the process. I will begin to teach myself how to make really good fresh pasta today. Because look at this weather. 
Here I am up in my winter loft studio planning the spring garden and it is snowing outside and getting colder. 19F now. I did the rounds of the farmy first today so that I could close all the doors against the snow, so please excuse me for posting late. Not one animal thanked me, they just watched their doors close with resignation. And went back to munching.
Good morning.
c
The Kitchen's Garden 
98 responses to “Spring Garden Planning and making Paper Pots for the Seedlings.”
Oh no – spring’s gone 😦 That’s a nice garden plan you have there and I’m sure you’ll love making pasta 😉
I am looking forward to home made pasta for lunch!! Fingers crossed. You have spring already? Then that geranium of yours needs company! c
So far so good, but you can’t trust English weather 😉
Great photos! You’re crafty in many ways.
Cheeky! c
You are inspiring me to expand my plantings this year to more than simply lettuce and tomatoes. Perhaps raised beds may be in order and more pots on the patio.
BTW, the weather in Minnesota today is frigidly cold, our coldest of the winter thus far with temps dipping below zero. Factor in the windchill and this is a good day to hole up indoors.
Thanks, as always, for your encouragement to garden.
BELOW ZERO! oh we had those last year, do NOT send me that weather! that is too cold! Raised beds are a great idea. And pots are so easy to control as long as you add water every day! c
Celi you are the most inspirational gal! I wish I could do half of what you do and then you still find time to share it all with us – you are AWESOME and then some! I am looking forward to your seeds process from being sown to being eaten.
Oh I also have a hand cranked pasta machine – fantastic and fun “appliance” to have in the kitchen.
🙂 Mandy
It is a fantastic process isn’t it. Taking that one tiny seed, popping it into soil and then feeding yourself with what develops! Magical really.. c
Just reading it has tired me out – I’m filled with admiration for your New World industry. Sounds sarcastic, but I mean it.
My biggest problem is being locked inside by the weather so I am always apparently industrious in the winter!! Then lazily industrious in the summer! c
Celi, it’s cold outside! You’re making pasta & I’m making cheese. Love your garden plans and only with I had the space to do something similar, even if on a smaller scale. As it is, I’ll be happy with my containers with tomato plants. And if I can keep Max, the raccoons, and my nemesis: The Squirrel, away from them, I may actually get to eat a few this year. Hope springs eternal …
Our john wants to know what tomatoes you grow in pots, he has not had much luck with potted ones so far. And he wants to have one that he can bring in when it gets cold at the end of the year, so as to extend its season. c
Love the paper pots! My family uses purchased peat pots instead of plastic, but newspaper is even cheaper–plus it’s recycling. Can’t wait to see what you do with the shiny new pasta maker!
Those peat pots drive me bonkers, when they dry out they are virtually impossible to rewet. Both in and out of the garden. So do keep them damp. c
Hi Celi! You have inspired me once again! The front of our house has full sun now, so I’m thinking of turning it into a min-terrace and starting our seeds out there on it! If we have a freeze, we can just whisk the plants in through the front door. My John has tired of me reading all your blogs to him and is now checking in with you on his own. I’ve been trying to find the blog you wrote on Our John and the tomatoes that he loves best to share with My John. You wrote it several months ago. But I can’t find it in any of the categories. Please help! Di
https://thekitchensgarden.wordpress.com/2011/08/14/heirloom-tomatoes-a-mans-munch/
I shall pop it onto the FB page too. I forgot all about this one. It is a good reference too! Well done. And popping plants out in the day and back in at night is what we do too, when it actually gets above freezing in the day that is. It really does help you get your garden in earlier and your plants hardened off. Hi My JOHN!! c
Parsley can also take a long time to germinate. Do you soak your seeds first? Decent sized individual seeds can be sown in those compressed recycled paper egg boxes – another thing to ask your friends for, as I don’t suppose you buy eggs! Things with long root runs: collect your toilet roll inners, and stand them in a tray of earth – great for sweet peas and runner beans etc. Warning: I had a lovely tray of these with sweet peas growing well when the cat decided it was a litter tray! The ritual scratching of earth afterwards made a dreadful mess of the new cream carpet in the spare bedroom!
I am the depository for egg cartons, because I need them to give eggs away. Now that toilet roll idea is a really good one. I shall do that. I am certainly never short of toilet rolls! And my sweet peas are going in for a soak shortly! thanks viv.. c
Brrrr 19F. The snow looks pretty but I hope you are as warm as toast indoor.
Yup the fire is roaring and I am in for a few hours now!
Such a beautiful pasta maker! A dear friend sent me a dutch oven 2 years ago and it’s one of my favorite things ever.
Your garden plan is so inspiring. I saw seeds at the hardware store the other day and I know it’s time to start getting ready.
I am so glad it is almost time. Winter is tough on us gardeners!!. c
A terriffic garden plan! We bring the plants in at night as well until the threat of frost is gone. This year we’re going to try and make some hot-bed frames for starting the plants.
Hot bed frames are a great idea. Ours is minus the glass at the moment. But it will get underway one way or the other later on in the year! c
I have a little while for ours. Our average last frost is June 11th. So I won’t be starting plants quite yet.
JUNE! Oh dear! c
Hey, C, you know what I love from my childhood–rhubarb pie and rhubarb/strawberry pie. Why not plant some rhubarb this year?
I have rhubarb and it comes up at the same time as my early strawberries.. (in fact they grow in the same bed) maybe I will make that pie!! It sounds like a fantastic combo. c
I would be grateful if you would and then tell me if you enjoyed it! The sweet and the tart makes it a real treat. Thanks for your terrific pictures. I love you writing, as you know, but your pictures lately have been professional quality.
Thank you..c
How amazing all these things… I loved this paperpot maker! I can’t get bored with you dear Cecilia, you are full of amazing crafty works… Thank you, and it is too late to say Good Morning now, BUT Good Afternoon and have a nice day, with my love, nia
Good afternoon Nia! (laughter) c
Do you put the paper pots right into the ground?