The Shoe Rack Hack That Makes Sowing Season So Much Easier

With the long winter days receding and the first spring sunshine creeping through, March and April are ideal months for sowing many varieties of seeds. The weather isn't quite warm enough for outdoor sowing, and with the risk of late frost, propagation needs to start indoors. The issue for many home gardeners involves the space that trays take up, and while there are half-sized trays, a handy shoe rack hack has the answer if you don't want to compromise. Simply dispense with the shoes, line your propagation trays along the shelves, and place in a sunny spot.

The hack couldn't be simpler, and there are suitable racks available in stores and online. Choose a product with at least two shelves, enough space to fit the number of seed trays you wish to use, and open sides that allow sunlight in. This will offer the best possible conditions for your seeds to germinate, and when you know how and when to sow directly outdoors, you can transplant them into the garden. There is a large selection among retailers for around $20, including the Kitsure extra-long organizer, which has three shelves and a wide platform, and the Hallway bamboo shoe rack, which comes in several different sizes. 

Placing the shoe rack by a set of windows or glass doors allows it to get lots of sunlight, but there are also other placement options depending on your home setup. You can grow fruits and veggies on a balcony and begin germination there with the shoe rack organizing your propagation trays. Or, if you have a greenhouse, it could also be used if space is tight. 

Eggplant seeds are a good option for starting indoors, but there are many different choices. Tomatoes are relatively easy to grow from seed, and you can even develop ones you buy at the store. Simply slice a tomato and place those slices in compost. Bell peppers and chili peppers are other favorites for the home gardener, and once again, you really can turn your store-bought produce into a flourishing pepper plant. 

It's not necessary to use this hack just for fruits and vegetables. Sunflowers are easy to grow, but if you're struggling to start them outdoors, think about bringing your seeds inside. A shoe rack with enough space for your seed trays will offer the perfect organization system for your early germination.