Update on Seedlings - Day 11

Just stopping in to provide a little update on the seedlings, I know you are dying to hear how their first 11 days have been. 

TOMATOES: As I suspected, the tomatoes are coming in strong and are leading in the height category. Tomatoes grow faster at the get-go than anything else I have ever planted. One of the many reasons they are so awesome. I have three types of tomatoes going right now, and none of them seem to be any better off than the others. Sadly a few of the tomato plants were brutally ripped out of the soil by an over sized beast named Luna, she is now suffering a quarantine from the seed babies. 

JALAPENOS:  Since this is my first year with the Jalapeno’s I didn’t know what to expect, but almost all of them have already popped up. And they are adorable. I love them so much and am looking forward to eating many many of their offspring.

RED ONION: Funny/Annoying/Unfortunate thing, in my last post on the subject I remarked that I did not have a great time growing onions last year. In fact, I never even transplanted them. I seeded them again this year, same packet of seeds even, to see if I would have better luck.

Well, I read this week that growing onions from seed is REALLY DIFFICULT.  The best advice seems to be starting onions from sets and not seed, until you get a few strong years in, and then if you are dying to grow them from seeds, try again. I am not sure just yet how I will deal with this. It’s still early enough to consider multiple options. Perhaps I will be back later with a post solely dedicated to ‘The Onion’. Perhaps not.



BELL PEPPERS: I am just starting to see the first bit of life from the bell peppers. I am hopeful that this years addition of a grow light will give them a leg up from last year. Don’t worry, I’ll let you know.

MARIGOLDS: Only two seedlings have sprouted. And they don’t look super happy. I am not too worried about this, as they were free seeds. And growing plants from seeds isn't my passion. Additionally, I think I am having “self-watering” issues on this side of the tray—due to a disintegrating water mat—but have been supplementing with a spray bottle, which is good practice anyway. Time will tell.

LAVENDER: Nada. As in, did I plant those, or was that a dream?? Maybe next week.
I still have three empty rows on the tray open and begging for seeds. Last year, I started my cucumbers indoors, even though the packaging said I could direct sow, and I think I will perhaps do this again.  Why not give a head start, right?

Additionally, I just read last night in John Seymour's The Self-Sufficient Gardener (Shout out to Gackles for the recommendation!) that Brussels sprouts do well from transplanting and have increased flavor when they experience a frost or two. (This frost business is also true for Kale). So I think I will start those now as well.

I could go on, but I think I will leave it there for now and hit you up again later with more seedling chatter.