Transplant Time!

Ok, all of my research (aka reading of other blogs) says I need to transplant my plants when they get their third or true leaves. My squash plants are growing at a lot quicker rate then my others so I decided to transplant them.

Note to self...I need to build another light system for next year...or just not plant as much...

So...I began by separating out the plants that were ready. I put some more seed starting mix in the bottom to make it about half way  full. I need put the plant and topped it off with more seed starting mix.

I also started up my peppers seeds that I got in the mail. I put it back on the heating pad to help germinate the seeds. 

Doesn't that look like a lot of tomatoes!!! I am going to be in trouble if they manage to survive....

Still waiting, still wishing,

The tomato plants have not sprouted...I can't seem to find anywhere how long it is supposed to take for the tomatoes to germinate....

On a positive note, my other plants look a lot better since I took them off the heating pad. So note to self, take them off as soon as they sprout next year.



*Edited: They sprouted on March 20! Can you see the green through the tray lid? So 5 days to germinate.

Tomatoes!!!

Tomatoes were the first plant that I ever successfully grew on my balcony back in the old apartments. AND THEN THE DAMN SQUIRRELS CAME AND ATE ALL MY HARD WORK!!! Needless to say, I am still a little bitter about it. Now, I have a plastic owl to combat this...and two dogs that run around like crazy animals anytime I let the screen door open. I am hoping that the squirrels do not wise up to the fact that the dogs are only let out in the morning and evening during the weekdays....


This is the first year that I am trying to start them from scratch aka seed...typically I just buy the young plant from the local garden shop and everything works out.  Most of the time. But this can be really expensive for the amount of tomatoes that I want to have/eat/can/stare at with longing. So....here goes nothing.

I tried to start a mixture of different type of tomatoes. I planted 2 determinate tomatoes (good for canning) and several heirloom (indeterminate) tomatoes. I tried to plant sauce tomatoes as well as salad tomatoes, red and yellow, etc. I planted them at 5:30 on the Ides of March. I am little late in planting them since it says 5-6 weeks before the last frost date. In my area the last frost date is April 11th which would mean that I should have planted it at the beginning of this month, but 1. I didn't get the seeds/have time since this week and 2. I want to make sure the plants don't die off when I transplant them because of the cold weather or a sudden late frost.


I then froze the leftover seeds just in case this thing is a success and I want to use them next year.


Fingers crossed.

Germinating Seeds

No clue what anything is...

I remember in elementary school getting a lima bean, putting it in a bag with a wet paper towel and then taping it to the window. In a couple of days, the bean would sprout and the seed would look as if it were decaying. Growing seeds is similar, but for some reason I keep over thinking things and making it harder then it needs to be.

This one I was smart enough to label...in the future I need to look at growing temperatures that each seed requires...

Last year I saved all of my egg cartons, bought really fancy seed starting soil, made a grow light, bought some germination mats, and a timer, and planted a ton of seeds. All of them started out well, half way through the 3rd week, most had died and then they ALL died when I tried transplanting them.


This year, I am going for the proven approach instead of the hippy granola approach. I bought miracle grow peat pods and gardener's supply self watering tray kit (came with soil). In my haste to plant (once again I don't know why other than I am crazy, because I ended up planting them to early) I planted a ton of different stuff from seeds that I had since last year. I planted broccoli, butternut squash, parsnips, leaks, celery, and some other stuff that I can't remember because I did not mark it. *Note to self, mark as I go next time. Don't wait until the end.

So far, it has been two weeks and the squash looks good. The other stuff is getting a little leggy...I am not sure why. it grew really tall, and is now falling over. I am hoping it is the type of plant I planted (I think I planted a pea or bean type...) I still have them under the grow lights for 12 hours a day (7 am-7 pm) and I am now switching to watering the peat pods twice a day instead of the once. I am little late on starting my tomato plants...but part of me is really nervous to begin them. I also think I might want to buy another heat pad just in case...

Although this website sounds like I should take them off of the heat pad, as the light is the most important and they might prefer cold temperatures.....


hmmmmm....

Seeds

I went a little crazy...

I bought some seeds from the local gardening store...



and then because I am a crazy person...bought some more off of Johnny's Selected Seeds.



and then because I couldn't control myself, I bought some off of amazon from plant theatre.

From Plant Theatre I bought the Funky Veg Kit and the Sweet Peppers and Hot Chile's Kit
From the local gardening store I bought corn, sunflowers, and red, yellow, and purple potato seeds.
From Johnny's I bought blackberry bushes (have yet to come in), Hybrid Zuchinni Squash Bush baby f1 (Lot 50056), Hybrid Indeterminate Tomatoes BHN-876 FL (Lot 47247), Golden Rave F1 Hybrid Saladette and Sauce Tomatoes (Lot 42762), Hybrid Determinate Tomatoes Skyway F1 (Lot 49916), Hybrid Saladette and Sauce Tomatoes Mariana F1 (Lot 43629), Hybrid Saladette and Sauce Tomatoes Tiren F1 (Lot 47320), Chefs choice Orange F1 (Lot 49714), Determinate Tomatoes Taxi OG (Lot 32734), Heirloom Tomatoes Amish Paste OG (Lot 48123), and last but not least Garbanzo for sprouting (Lot 48313)


I will admit, the Garbanzo beans were not what I thought. When I bought it, I was dreaming of growing garbanzo bean plants (I don't even know if they grow on stalks) and then picking them to create hummus. But according to the directions on the back of the package. I am supposed to grow them in a mason jar with water...I will need to do more research before messing with it...

Garden Beds

I currently have 2 garden beds that are 4 ft by 12 ft. If I were to do build new ones (fingers crossed) I think I would make them smaller. As in the square foot gardening method. I have been spending a lot of time on this website recently. The philosophy makes sense.
1. I can reach everything a lot easier then my current set up.
2. It allows for easier rotation of crops
3. It is an organized approach (as opposed to the free for all I employ now.)

I wonder...if I can try to adopt this with my current rectangle beds.