Sprouts

During the heat wave we had in March, I had a sudden rush that I was behind the game with my garden. I wasn't but thank goodness for the push to get going.

My sprouts have been struggling though, we've been switching back and forth in the weather so that I cannot always get sufficient light on them. Last year was the first year I seriously tried seed trays and I have not yet purchased grow lights. I may have to make an investment next year. For now I'm taking advantage of all the windows in my dining room and just how much light is in that room. Even still, some of my sprouts are leggy, especially the tomatoes. Last year they produced despite being leggy although it was a rough season for tomatoes in general. The tomatoes last year didn't get very big but I'm not sure if that was from the weather or my leggy starter plants.

Some of this years sprouts are looking good though, especially the eggplant, leeks, cilantro, parsley and sweet banana peppers. I can't wait for the weather to consistently warm up so that I can get them outside in the ground so that they can have the better lighting from the sun.

Seed trays

I've decided that I will no longer use the plastic domes that come with the seed trays. I think that is the reason my seedlings get "leggy". I remember (decades ago) when my grandfather started seeds.  He just used egg crates in the sun porch. Just good old fashioned direct sunlight, and he grew the best garden... in his senior years he cut down to just two acres, lol!

I pulled the plastic cover off the seedlings this week and those that are coming up now are looking way better than the first sprouts which are leggy, this includes my tomatoes which are the worst. I've seeded a new bunch of tomatoes, just in case. I'm hoping everything else works out ok.

Garden log and Seed plantings

Up until last summer I kept a separate journal on my computer of my gardening notes, just quick nothing fancy notes. Well that software program crapped out last year and I wasn't able to access my notes. I just figured out how to find and read the notes after digging in the program files and was able to get them out as text. Going forward, I've resolved to keep these notes on my blog where I don't have to worry about this again.

So, that said....

I started my seed trays this week. The weather has been fabulous, in the 80s and because of the warmth I feel so behind on my gardening tasks... which I am, but not too behind. The seeds I started are:
- the last of the Summer Savory seeds from last year (lake valley seeds)
- the last of the American Flag Leek seeds from last year (lake valley seeds)
- sweet banana peppers from Early May
- black beauty eggplant seeds from last year (Ferry Morse heirloom)
- sweet italian basil (lake valley seeds)
- mammoth dill seeds from last year (lake valley seeds)
- triple curled parsley seeds from last year (Burpee organic from Menards)
- cilantro seeds (Earl May)
- catsup roma tomatoes (Earl May)
- dwarf marigold seeds from last year (Earl May)
- and St Johns Fire Salvia seeds (lake valley seeds) that J insisted on planting because he wants to take photos of them

I also need to get the beds turned and get on top of planting these seeds I picked up, I'm always late getting these in (usually mid April) and they are always stunted or slow:
- dwarf dates blue kale - curled scotch sees from last year (Early May)
- little finger carrots (Earl May)
- early wonder beets (Earl May)
- frost peas (Earl may)