Starting Seeds and Transferring Seedlings

I've started thirty tomato varieties, twenty something pepper varieties, two tomatillo varieties, and several cole crops. Some of the tomatoes, peppers, and cole crops have grown a second set of true leaves and are ready for transplanting.




Sometimes people get confused by the term "true leaves". When seeds germinate, the two green leaves that unfurl directly from the seed are called cotyledons. The next set of leaves to grow will be more distinctive to that species of plant, and are the first set of "true leaves." This year, I have decided to transplant my seedlings from the tiny cell trays to 4" peat pots once they have developed a second set of true leaves. The second set often indicates a healthily developing root system, and though many people prefer to wait until the plant is root bound, I prefer to not have to harm the roots during transplant.







The brandywine tomato seedling is already becoming rootbound. The orange bell pepper seedling was just starting to grow the second set of true leaves, and already has a good root system.



At this point, Quadrapus is all sorts of curious about what I'm doing. And, she's not crouching in the photo. She's really that high...or low. She's a munchkin breed, which have genetically short legs.




I'm not sure she approves of the peat pots. I fill the 4" peat pot with more sterile seedling mix, but I add a spoonful of compost from the pile in the backyard. I poke a hole in the middle of the dirt for the waiting seedling.




Q is all like, "Mmmmmm, dirt..."

I use a spoon to pop the seedling from the tray, letting the dirt stay with the seedling's roots. At this point, I have thinned out any competing seedlings to ensure the healthy growth of a single plant. (I pinch the less robust seedlings with my nails below the cotyledons.) Some people like to tease out seedlings from each other and pot all the plants. I prefer not to damage any root systems that can be especially sensitive at this time of growth, and I get enough plants. But, it's up to you.




Quadrapus thinks I should plant this pepper next.

With tomato plants (and with tomatillos), you can place them into the soil all the way up to the bottom leaves. Roots will form all along the stem below the surface.
With other plants, place in the soil above the crown of the roots.




Once all the seedlings have been planted, I water using a weak organic fertilizer solution. I place them back beneath the grow lights, and in another week, they'll wow me with size and luster.

The leftover seed cells I will use for more planting. I often don't even sterilize them (I know, blasphemous!). I fill them with a sterile seed mix, plant my seeds according to package directions, and place them beneath the grow light.




I keep the soil moist at all times, and I find that beneath the warm glow of T5 HO bulbs, I don't have a problem with damping off fungus killing the little guys.

Here are some more photos of Quadrapus "helping". Apologies for the blurriness.












Happy Planting!

Hardening Off

It's that time of year!



I have started putting the cole crops and onions into this nifty greenhouse thing I picked up at Home Depot for 25 bucks. It heats up nicely during the day and protects the young plants from the wind and biting cold during the night. I will put these guys into the soil next weekend, but for this week, they will enjoy the safety of the greenhouse while they acclimate to the chilly temperatures. This is a process known as "hardening off", and it's an important to-do step for your seedlings that you've sowed indoors.




Some people use cold frames to harden off their seedlings. Unfortunately, between a full time job and full grad coursework, I haven't had enough time to build frames (you can make some nice ones while upcycling old windows). Or, you can buy already made cold frames.

I am cool with this for now. I will begin loading more cole crops into it this week, and then put them into the ground. When it comes to the tomatoes and peppers, it'll be full up!

How about you? What kind of garden chores are you up to?

Spare Time for Seeds

It's rainy today. The snow has ceased, much to the relief of many New Englanders.

Yesterday's spare time was all about the seedlings. Most of the tomatoes have outgrown the seed cells (it hasn't even been a full four weeks since they were planted!). I transplanted them, a jalapeno pepper plant, and two romanesco broccoli plants into bigger pots and put them on the kitchen counter by the window. The houseplants don't necessarily like to share their sun, but that doesn't matter today. It's the seedlings' first day in big-kid pots, and it's a dreary one!

 In the empty seed cells left behind, I ladled in more Pro-Mix (a sterile, organic dirt), and started new seeds. I put in basil of three kinds: Thai, Genovese, and Cinnamon; two kinds of onion: Golden Princess and Sweet Spanish Yellow; a spearmint; Triple Curled parsley and Giant from Italy parsley; marigolds; stevia; swiss chard of the Five Color Silverbeet variety; borage; and Mustard habanero.

AND, I planted one other thing: green bell pepper sprouts from Trader Joe's. A week ago, I had half a green pepper that had started to mold in the fridge, so I chopped it up and tossed it into the worm bin. This week while turning over the compost to help keep it oxygenated, I discovered a clump of sprouts. I am eager to see if they will take to the soil and continue growing.

They've been placed back under the grow light on top of the heating mat. I think this heat mat is key to the whole process. I've never had seedlings germinate so quickly and grow so well that I had to transplant them into larger pots before I could put them outside.

Planting anything? Even if it's not plants, how about the seeds (or steps) for a good summer, or a new exercise routine or connecting with an old friend? Tell me what you're "planting" in your life.