Creating Windowsill Space

[Andraste]

The best place I have for starting seeds is my roughly south-facing kitchen windowsill - but it's got pretty full already & it's too soon for me to start shifting stuff out to the blow-away (still too cold in my neck of the woods).

Does anyone have a handy tip for how I could create more windowsill space?

I'm trying to think of how I could perhaps make some sort of temporary shelf set-up (maybe cut down some old blow-away wire shelf thingies & try to support that with something) but before I attempt a botch job I'd be grateful for any words of wisdom/experience.

[Containergardener]

I use any window that needs a seed tray on it and move things around as and when . They will move to the blow away in gh afterwards.

[Andraste]

Unfortunately, the only other places with enough light at this time of year is the upstairs landing (which is too narrow in depth to put anything on) and the bathroom (which can get a bit too humid & again has a narrow sill so things have to go on top of the loo unit). All my other windows are roughly northfacing so although I can use them later in the year, they'll only give me leggy seedlings just now

[Peanut]

Using those wire shelves or planks with bricks stacked up as the legs would work. Or upturned flower pots, stacked up jars taped together, chunky logs on their ends. You could use anything you have to hand.

[Jungle Jane]

I don’t know if this is helpful but I made a small unit with bits of blowaway it’s 37” wide is this too long? Have you got any spare bits of blowaway poles? Shelf on top & bottom,height is 23”,I’ll find a photo…these photos from Nov 2017- Feb 2018,I haven’t used these for a few years,I will do if the weather turns cloudy for days,we’ve had snow in March before. I remember dull days in spring,all plants once potted up from cell trays is lots of pots but they can go on any windowsill,partial sun/daylight is better than none,as the sun goes round they’d get a couple of hours early sun & if leggy from lack of sun that can’t be helped,a lot of plants like tomatoes & peppers can be planted deeper when repotting

[Andraste]

Thanks both,

I've shared your feedback with OH & got him on the case. That's a really nice little set-up you made there Jungle Jane & I'm sure he could do something similar (if he can find the hacksaw) - the pics are really helpful.

I'm quite tempted by some hanging acrylic shelves I've seen online too, although it's always a nuisance having to put fixings into the wall, the ones I've seen seem to just need an eyelet hook type set-up to dangle from.

[Containergardener]

Andraste I have the same issue with direction, if they are leggy they eventually end up planted deeper if need be.
Never been an issue.

[Peanut]

I use grow lights and still end up with leggy plants . I also just plant them deeper.

[rary]

Andraste, why not try some seed snails, I'm quite sure you could make them about 5ins. tall and doing that would save you space as well as compost, another way to save space is to use tin cans, if you have some ring pull canswith a base suitable to run a tin opener round it you then turn the tin upside down and drop the base onto the ringpull rim then fill it with compost, that will give you something which will take up less room as you have straight sides and will allow you to sit the cans close together, when you are ready to plant on you just make sure your compost is firm and push everything up from the bottom

[Andraste]

I'm definitely thinking about joining your seed snail 🐌 gang rary - I've noticed that's where all the coolest gardeners are hanging out lately

[Nicos]

OK…so here is my stupido’clock.fr thoughts on your window sill space Andraste!….

I suddenly thought about placing a wire shoerack on your window sill .
You can get them in two, three and four tiers ( I just checked online, and it looks like that might well solve your problem)

[Andraste]

Thanks Nicos - great idea