glenda's World : It's February.....Time To Start Seedlings for Spring

Sorry, I've given away all of this years seeds

Here I've got my Luffa Gourds up and growing tall.
In January I soaked the seeds overnight in a solution of Miracle Gro, mixed according to the directions.
To start the seeds, I put the seeds in a sandwich bag filled with Miracle Gro potting soil for seedlings.
I filled the bag just over 1/3 full of the soil. I use a spray bottle of water to "dampen" the soil.
Leave the bag open and keep it in a warm dark place. I use a shelf in my pantry.
Check on the seeds every day and mist them if the soil seems to be drying out.
After my seeds have been sprouted for a week, I transplant the sprouted seeds into a peat pot sprout down and covered with about an inch or half inch of soil, depending on how big my seeds are.
They are now placed in a sunny window and misted enough that the soil does not dry out.
I start all my seeds big enough to handle this way.

The Luffa you see beside the seedlings in the picture at top came from last years crop. I give them to friends, family and neighbors for little gifts. They are wonderful for the shower to exfoliate and in the kitchen as a dish and pot scrubber. After each use in the kitchen I stick it in the microwave for 20 seconds, this sanitizes it. My favorite thing about Luffa sponges, they last forever.
Next winter I will post instructions how to get the Luffa out of the pod, but after the harvest put your pods in a garage or somewhere dark and forget about them.