Without fail, I make daily rounds to check the seedlings. It's an important routine and, fortunate for me, I find it relaxing and fun. It helps me determine if any containers need watering and if the seedlings need to be either moved under lights, thinned, or transplanted. It is also beneficial to check daily for insects and disease. Since a goal is to get seedlings off to a good start, this routine will pay dividends throughout the growing season.
Covering Your Bases
Seeds with a long germination time, like parsley, are best planted in small groups over three or four weeks. In this way, you don't wait three weeks only to find out the seeds are not viable or have a low germination rate. I use lots of parsley in the kitchen and I don't want a meager crop. Therefore, I planted a second container today even though some seeds have germinated in the 4-packs sowed eleven days ago.
Triple Moss Curled Parsley (Petroselinum crispum): MIGardener, 2015. Planted one 4"x8" container. See entry on February 13, 2015 for full description.
Postscript #1 - Eight seedlings of Triple Moss Curled Parsley (sowed on February 13, 11 days) have appeared. A few seedlings of Copra Onions (sowed on February 19, 5 days) have also germinated.
Postscript #2 - Update on the lavender experiment. One lavender seedling from the container placed in the refrigerator for two weeks has just germinated. It germinated in seven days after being taken out of the refrigerator. In comparison, the first lavenders from uncovered and covered, non-refrigerated containers took five and six days, respectively. More important than the "time" of germination is the "rate" of germination. The jury is still out!!
Postscript #3 - Two white hibiscus have germinated and were placed under growlights.
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