Gardening Tips – Use Eggshells to plant seeds in your Stellenbosch Garden

April 10, 2012 By

 

Lets use eggshells to plant seeds!

Eggshells have more than just one use and Wikihow explains how we can use eggshells to plant and root seeds…

  1. Remove the lid of an empty, cardboard egg carton.

    Remove the lid of an empty, cardboard egg carton.

    Remove the lid of an empty, cardboard egg carton. Set the lid and the bottom (sectioned) part of the carton aside for later use.

    • Do not use a Styrofoam carton. This won’t break down in the soil.

  2. Gently crack a fresh egg at the “pointy” end, creating an opening in the shell about the size of a dime.

    Gently crack a fresh egg at the “pointy” end, creating an opening in the shell about the size of a dime.

  3. Insert a kitchen skewer through the shell's opening and pierce the yolk of the egg.

    Insert a kitchen skewer through the shell’s opening and pierce the yolk of the egg.

    Insert a kitchen skewer through the shell’s opening and pierce the yolk of the egg. Stir the skewer around a bit to ensure that the yolk is broken.

  4. Empty the egg's contents into a small bowl or other vessel.

    Empty the egg’s contents into a small bowl or other vessel.

    Empty the egg’s contents into a small bowl or other vessel. Immediately refrigerate the egg for cooking use. (See “Warnings” below.)

  5. With your fingers, carefully pinch the opening until you have removed about one third of the shell.

    With your fingers, carefully pinch the opening until you have removed about one third of the shell.

    With your fingers, carefully pinch the opening until you have removed about one third of the shell.

  6. Rinse the shell out with water.

    Rinse the shell out with water.

    Rinse the shell out with water.

  7. Between your thumb and forefinger, add a few pinches of sand into the eggshell to a a depth of about 1/8″.

    Between your thumb and forefinger, add a few pinches of sand into the eggshell to a a depth of about 1/8″. Moisten the sand with a few drops of water, about a 1/2 teaspoon.

    • You may substitute the bits of crumbled egg shell (that you removed in Step #5) for sand when lining the bottom of the shell.

  8. Tear a small section of paper towel, paper napkin, or newspaper just large enough to cover the sand.

    Tear a small section of paper towel, paper napkin, or newspaper just large enough to cover the sand.

    Tear a small section of paper towel, paper napkin, or newspaper just large enough to cover the sand. With the skewer, position the paper over the sandy bottom and add a few more drops of water if needed.

  9. Using a spoon, fill the shell with potting soil to about 1/4

    Using a spoon, fill the shell with potting soil to about 1/4″ to 1/2″ below the shell opening.

    Using a spoon, fill the shell with potting soil to about 1/4″ to 1/2″ below the shell opening.

  10. Add water one teaspoon at a time to moisten the soil.

    Add water one teaspoon at a time to moisten the soil.

    Add water one teaspoon at a time to moisten the soil. Allow the water to saturate the soil before adding more water. Water should not be floating on the soil.

  11. Place the soil-filled shell into the sectioned part of the cardboard egg carton.

    Place the soil-filled shell into the sectioned part of the cardboard egg carton.

    Place the soil-filled shell into the sectioned part of the cardboard egg carton.

  12. Using the skewer, create a small indentation in the center of the soil.

    Using the skewer, create a small indentation in the center of the soil.

    Using the skewer, create a small indentation in the center of the soil. The indentation/hole should be no deeper than 1/4″.

    • Place a seed into the indentation/hole and lightly cover the seed with soil.
    • Moisten the soil again with a few drops of water.

  13. Line the inside of the egg carton lid with aluminum foil.

    Line the inside of the egg carton lid with aluminum foil.

    Line the inside of the egg carton lid with aluminum foil.

  14. Place the “planted” part of the carton atop the aluminum foil.

    Place the “planted” part of the carton atop the aluminum foil.

  15. Find a sunny spot for your starter garden to rest and the seeds will begin to germinate.

    Find a sunny spot for your starter garden to rest and the seeds will begin to germinate.

    Find a sunny spot for your starter garden to rest and the seeds will begin to germinate.

  16. Check your starter garden daily.

    Check your starter garden daily.

    Check your starter garden daily. Add a teaspoon or two of water to keep the soil moist, but not wet.

  17. Depending on the type of seeds you have used, you should begin to see growth sprouts in 10 to 14 days.

    Depending on the type of seeds you have used, you should begin to see growth sprouts in 10 to 14 days.

    Depending on the type of seeds you have used, you should begin to see growth sprouts in 10 to 14 days.

  18. As the seedlings reach a height of about 2 inches (5cm), plant the entire carton (excluding the foil-lined lid) into the outdoor garden spot you've chosen for your new sprouts.

    As the seedlings reach a height of about 2 inches (5cm), plant the entire carton (excluding the foil-lined lid) into the outdoor garden spot you’ve chosen for your new sprouts.

    As the seedlings reach a height of about 2 inches (5cm), plant the entire carton (excluding the foil-lined lid) into the outdoor garden spot you’ve chosen for your new sprouts.

  19. Continue to check your seedlings daily for their growth and their water needs.

    Continue to check your seedlings daily for their growth and their water needs.

    Continue to check your seedlings daily for their growth and their water needs.

…For more on these tips click here

Please share your comments or experiences with us regarding these tips. Have fun!

 

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Filed Under: Gardens

DIY: How To Lay New Lawn Around Your Stellenbosch Property

January 20, 2012 By Leave a Comment

When contemplating laying fresh lawn, one must always remember that South Africa is a country subject to drought and water is really a scarce and costly resource – which is why several local authorities declare water-usage limitations constantly in place, so factor in the rate of extra water you could require while your new turf establishes itself.

A green lawn like this is possible for your Stellenbosch property, read on to discover how…

stellenbosch property garden

Check with the Stellenbosch municipality concerning possible water limitations which may be in force before attempting such a big job on your Stellenbosch property.

The first undertaking would be to dig up the garden where you are going to be placing fresh grass. If the section is covered with plenty of weeds, the weeds and undesired plants should be removed, either by hiring small excavating equipment or hiring casual labour to assist you with the job.

The following step is usually to cut back the sides, by using a shovel or spade. Trim the soil height where the turf will meet solid surfaces such as pathways, to approximately 50mm under the firm-surface level.

It will keep the grass slightly below cobblestone height, enabling water to stream off the solid surfaces into the lawn.
Prior to placing fresh lawn, the soil should be prepared appropriately.

If the soil is sandy, top it with 25mm of loam to aid retention of dampness. Conversely, clay-based, solid soils will need to be broken down with gypsum and topped with 25mm of sandy loam.

You can now screed the section ahead of laying new lawn.

Set the grass in a straight, brick-like pattern as soon as it is delivered, using a spade to cut and trim. Butt the perimeters without overlapping or leaving gaps. Go over the sod using a lawn roller to boost root contact with the soil. A lawn roller could be rented.

Once the turf has been laid, hose immediately. During the initial weeks, don’t allow the grass dry out, watering twice daily if restrictions permit. Don’t place any fertilizer on the soil ahead of laying fresh grass, because it burns off the thin root hairs.

Delay for a period of 4 weeks until fertilizing and make use of a complete lawn food, adding a good handful for every square metre. A product similar to Wonder 232 could be used.

When laying fertilizer, you might not manage to clearly spot where you’ve missed. A great tip is to combine the fertilizer with everyday flour out of your kitchen. The white will stand out against the green lawn, but will wash in when you irrigate. Easy!

Allow the lawn as much as 4 weeks before cutting. Couch leaf lawn ought to be left growing up to 30mm, while buffalo and kikuyu should be left growing as much as 50mm. Cut 25% off the leaf length on the 1st mow, and then slowly cut shorter.

After just a few weeks, you ought to have a lovely lawn to enjoy in the garden.

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