Peat Pots and potential risks to seedlings

Back from vacation. Nice to be away, but temps were still chilly at the seashore.

Once back home, I checked on the garden, which didn't look much different from when we left:-/ My husband and I pondered the situation, and an idea popped into his head - "Did you plant all of these in peat pots?" I had. He started digging each of them out of the garden with peat pots intact, and removed them from the pots. Lo and behold, these little seedlings were root bound! The roots were unable to make their way through the peat pot walls. As a result, the plants were stagnate while we were away.

As my husband gently removed each plant from their respective peat pot, he replanted them in the bed. I think they'll now be happy and grow. "Inch-by-inch, row-by-row, we're gonna make this garden grow..." (Pete Seeger)

Lesson learned: Peat pots may not always be seedling friendly. Watch for plant stagnation and take alternate action, if needed.

Happy gardening!

Andrea

A home for the seedlings:-)

We constructed (or, I should say my husband constructed) a raised bed for my vegetable garden. So, I transplanted my seedlings of tomatoes, basil, peas, beans, dill, parsley, cilantro, and cherry tomatoes. They all look so tiny now, but the heat of the summer will bring them to life. This is the first raised bed garden I've had, and I'm seeing the benefits of planting and keeping critters away from the young seedlings in a bed that rises above the lawn. Hopefully, we'll be able to enjoy the harvest of vegetables come mid-summer:-)

 Happy gardening!

Andrea

Still waiting...

Will these cooler temps ever leave us?? I was finally able to get my plants outside, and the forsythia is out, but my veggies and herbs are still pending. They haven't yet taken away the 'frost' warnings for us this year:-( So now they're in a transition planter trough. I take them out during the sunnier time slots in the afternoon, and bring them in at night. We've ordered a raised bed planter framework to use once the weather softens temps, so there will be ongoing photos and updates throughout May, and beyond.
Stay warm until the nip is out of the air.


Happy gardening!

Andrea

Let them grow!

Happy Spring!

I was finally able to repot all of my seedlings into larger peat pots. The tomatoes transitioned very well; the herbs were touch-and-go. I'm hoping that they find their new space a welcome upgrade, and that they'll begin to flourish. Time and patience will tell.

I also started a new round of seedlings: oregano, basil, thyme, and peas. So, I will be keeping watch as they begin their slow climb through the soil. I'm also thinking of seeding for larger tomatoes that I'll be able to use for canning in the fall.

Right now, the plants that have sprung to life will need to be conditioned for the outside temperatures so I can move them outdoors. For the time being, they're still under the grow light. I'm so proud;-)

Happy Gardening!!

Andrea

Reaching for the Sun

The seedlings have found their stride - Early Bird tomatoes are leading the pack;-) I started moving the tomato seedlings to a larger moss container 1 week ago, and was going to capture my progress in a snapshot to post it along with this blog post. But since they looked so anemic, I decided to wait for them to spring back to life. And, they have:-) So, I decided to move the herbs to larger moss containers today (which look even more anemic) and will wait for them to fill out. Then, I'll capture the healthy assembly in a snapshot and post. I will be thrilled if all of the herbs pull through - dill, cilantro, and parsley can be fussy when growing from seed. But, all good things come to those who wait (and pamper the seedlings). And, just maybe, this snow will melt before I have to move them outside!

Happy Gardening!

Inch by inch, Row by row...

My seeds are beginning to sprout! I'm reminded of a time many years ago, when I first learned the joy of starting seeds in my living room window, and humming this wonderful song by Pete Seeger (link and lyrics posted below).  His lyrics still roam around in my head - even today - as I check on the seedlings.

Enjoy your gardens wherever they may be. And hum Pete's little garden song. I hope it will put a smile on your face and in your heart:-)

Enjoy!

Andrea

http://youtu.be/u90qRE2F7CM

Inch by inch, row by row,
Gonna make this garden grow,
Gonna mulch it deep and low,
Gonna make it fertile ground.
Inch by inch, row by row,
Please bless these seeds I sow.
Please keep them safe below
'Till the rain comes tumblin' down.

Pullin' weeds and pickin' stones
We're all made of dreams and bones,
Need a place to call my own
Cause the time is close at hand.
Grain for grain, sun and rain
I'll find my way in Nature's chain
Tune my body and my brain
To the music of the land.

Plant your rows straight and long,
Season them with prayer and song
Mother Earth will keep you strong
If you give her love and care.
Old crow watching from a tree
Has his hungry eyes on me
In my garden I'm as free
As that feathered thief up there.

Stepping into Spring In my basement

These 'surprise' snowstorms just won't leave New England! After this last one, I became even more itchy for Spring to get here. So I took matters into my own hands, headed down to the basement workroom, got my Burpee seed growing trays out, got my seed packets, and started my first 'seed'lings of the Spring season.  

My husband set me up with a grow light to help the seedlings along and to make sure I had a basement 'environment' suitable for growing.

So, I began the process by adding the starter dirt disks to the tray compartments. Since this is a self-watering system, I also had to saturate a black cloth-like mat with water and lay it in the bottom of the container tray. I then added plastic risers to the trays and set the tray with the starter disks on top of the risers. Next, I poured warm water (a little over a gallon) evenly over the dirt disks to saturate them, and waited about 5 mins for them to expand. I then popped the expanded disks down into each tray compartment with my finger to fill the spaces.

Once all were filled, I setup the 'seedling map' of the tray to document the type of seedlings in each compartment. Since I was only planting a handful of seeds to start (Dill, Cilantro, Italian Parsley, Early Bird tomatoes, and threw in some Marigold seeds for good measure), I chose to plant in tray zones (9+ compartments per seed type).

Once complete, I put the plastic cover on the tray and setup my map as a guide. The plastic cover, water and grow light will provide the seeds with the warmth and moisture they need to germinate.

I'll be watching over these babies daily to make sure there's enough water and warmth.  In a few weeks, I'll start another new tray with more veggies, and (hopefully) move the seeds that germinated to larger containers for Spring plantings. 

Looking forward to positive results!

Happy growing!
Andrea