Starting Seeds in Containers


Planted seeds in containers

I got lots of planting done today!! All seeds.

Let's see - I planted three kinds of tomatoes, which will stay indoors for 2-3 weeks before I take them outside.  And there were pickling cucumbers, two kinds of squash, two kinds of pumpkins, peppers, basil, dill, cinnamon basil, sage, chives, thyme and zinnias.

I planted all of the herbs into the decorated tin cans I made. I will let them get to 2-3 inches, and then transplant them.

disposable baking pan for planting seeds 
 
Everything else I planted into foil baking pans. I buy several of these pans in the spring to start my seeds in. It works well. If you get them at the dollar store, it's very affordable. The grocery stores will charge you around $3 for the same thing.

used seed packets stored in a bag 
 
Another tip I'd like to share is that I keep dated bags with the seed packets I've already planted for the year. That way if I need to go back and read the instructions again, I can find them easily. This is especially helpful during transplanting time for those seeds.

Seeds to be planted in the year  
 
I keep another bag with the seeds that still need to be planted for the year, so I don't forget any as time goes on. This can even be turned into a series of bags: one for each planned date of planting during the year.


I feel so much better prepared this way. Instead of 50 seed packets in a basket, they are all organized in time-related bags now.

I am so excited about the new gardening season!!

~Dana

seed packets for the year 
 
How to Organize Your Seed Packets

Supplies
seed packets for the year
plastic zip-top bags

Instructions
1. Label a gallon-sized zip-top bag with "To Be Planted" and the year.

2. Divide your seed packets to be planted for the year into smaller plastic bags, each labeled with "Plant on" and the planned planting date. Place them all, in order, into the large To-Be-Planted bag.

3. Label another gallon-sized zip-top bag with "Already Planted" and the year.

4. When you plant the seeds from one of your dated Plant-On bags, keep the used packets in that plastic bag and add to the label: "Planted" with the actual date of planting. Place the plastic bag in your large Already-Planted bag, in chronological order with any others it may contain.

5. Keep your two large zip-top bags with their contents in a handy box or basket.  Refer to your seed packets as needed.

Printable Gardening Page

How to organize seed packets

copyright 2025, Dana Meier, My Olde Country Home


Dana Meier is a caterer, cookbook author, Facebook content creator and purveyor of historic crafts in Washington state. Her first cookbook was published in 2023.

My Olde Country Home: Olde Fashioned Christmas Desserts

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