What Should I Do Today

Today I decided it was best to care for the seedlings already started rather than to move forward with a new wave of seed sowing. So I did the following chores:

• Topped off two more hibiscus plants; the top leaves looked pale and flimsy. 
• Pinched off the long, spindly growth of many lobelia seedlings. 

• Threw away three pots of celery that hadn't yet germinated. Decided I had enough celery to transplant into the garden. 
• Officially declared the Alyssum Basket of Gold (sowed March 10) and Yellow Trumpet Vine (sowed February 25) seeds not viable. 
• Threw away a sweet potato tuber started on February 28. The leaves continue to develop white crystal-like particles. The organic ones which I cut in half and placed in glass bread pan are doing well and have started to develop good-sized sprouts. 
• Transplanted three impatiens flavours hybrid from 4"x8" container. There was very poor germination from that seed packet.

Postscript #1 - The seeds that have yet to germinate are Columbine Tequila Sunrise, petunias and Eggplant Shooting Stars. 

62 Days Before Last Frost

It's March 14!!  Here in Zone 6a that means 62 days before the last frost date of May 15, give or take five days.  Today I want to plant a second round of celery and four different varieties of flower seeds that should be sowed 9 weeks (63 days) before the last frost date.

Ageratum (Dondo Blue): Fedco, 2015.  Seeds sown in a 7" round container, on surface, pressed in. Expected germination time: 5-10 days.  Days to maturity, 40 from transplanting.
See: http://www.fedcoseeds.com/seeds/search?item=4811&listname=Flowers&cookies=no

Columbine (Tequila Sunrise, Aquilegia skinneri): Livingston Seeds, 2014.  Pelletized seeds (50) sown in a 7" round container, 1/8" deep.  Expected germination time, 5-10 days. Characteristics: perennial, sun or shade, spacing 8-10", 2-3' tall, longer flowering and more heat tolerant than other columbines, unique and attractive color combination, tall and stately, flowers first year, deadhead to promote blooming.

Hollyhocks (Nigra, Alcea rosea nigra): Livingston Seeds, 2014.  Primed seeds (75) planted into 7" round container, 1/4" deep. Expected germination time, 7-10 days.  Characteristics: perennial, sun, 4-6', deep maroon, nearly black blooms, backdrop for wall or in front of a wall.

Rock Soapwort: Ferry Morse, 2015.  Seeds sown in a 7" round container, 1/8" deep.  Expected germination time, 14-16 days. Days to bloom, 365+. Characteristics: perennial, spacing 9-12", 4-9" tall, groundcover with pink flowers.

Celery (Tall Utah 52/70 Improved): Botanical Interests, 2013.  Planted an additional six 2" pots.  Original sowing on February 14 has only yielded six seedlings after 28 days.  Hoping to transplant twelve into the garden.  Also sprinkled more seeds on top of the original pots that did not sprout.  See February 14 entry for full description.

Postscript#1 - Lettuce sprouts from Buttercrunch, Simpson Elite, Baby Romaine and Red Romaine with the Simpson Elite being the most robust (sowed March 10, 4 days).  One more sprout from Grecian Rose (sowed February 28, 14 days).
Postscript #2 - Arugula germinated (sowed March 11, 3 days, could have been 2 days).
Postscript #3 - Transplanted Impatiens Dwarf Pink Baby into own containers.
Postscript #3 - Transplanted fifteen pansies from 4"x8" container into 2" containers.  Will leave remaining pansies in original container to grow on.

Gave them a good watering and off they go!

Skinny Seedlings

Seedlings emerge in various shapes and sizes. The ones that appeared overnight stand just over 1/2" tall and are as thin as a rail. They include celery (sowed February 18, 15 days), asparagus (sowed February 15, 18 days) and gypsophilia (sowed February 28, 4 days). They will be placed under growlights even though many other seeds in their containers haven't yet germinated.

The first three asparagus seedlings

I thinned the mixed snapdragons down to 65 seedlings in their 4"x8" container with the goal of transplanting three dozen after they've developed a second set of true leaves.  These seeds were very viable; it's reassuring to know that the seeds I harvested last year germinated at a very high rate. They are 1/4" tall after being sown only eight days ago. My hope is to have loads of snapdragons in the perennial bed as well as in containers on the patio.

Snapdragons are easy to grow and their seeds are easy to harvest!

TIP OF THE DAY!!  It's time to set up an oscillating fan near the young seedlings. I set the fan at a speed to mimic a gentle breeze.  Air circulation that is too forceful may be detrimental to your seedlings.  I run the fan for at least an hour or so a day, at no special time, just whenever I think of it. Supposedly, this helps ward off fungal diseases and develop sturdy stems, particularly for onions, leeks and scallions.  If you don't have a fan, brush the tops of the onions with your hand -- it works, too! 

Snow, Snow and More Snow

Will we ever see spring this year?

It may take until April to look like this again!

To start the day (after shoveling, of course), I prepped additional 4"x8" containers with drainage holes using a soldering iron.  It makes fast work of the project; a mask should be used as protection from the fumes.

The seeds I sowed today include:

Onions (Copra, Allium cepa): Planted one 4"x8" container using remainder of seed packet.  See entry on February 15, 2015 for full description.

Onions (Rossa di Milano, Allium cepa): Planted one 4"x8" container using remainder of seed packet. See entry on February 15, 2015 for full description.

Celery (Tall Utah 52/70 Improved, Apium graveolens var dulce): Botanical Interests, 2014.  Planted 3-6 seeds in ten 2" pots, pressing seeds into the soil and/or barely covering seed. Expected germination time, 10-30 days.  Characteristics: Tall, greener choice, can be harvested at any stage. low calorie, high fiber vegetable.  I may transplant some of the extra seedlings when there are three sets of leaves to produce extra plants.  In 2014 both leaves and chopped celery stalks were frozen as harvested.
See: https://www.botanicalinterests.com/products/view/0076/Celery-Tall-Utah-52-70-Improved-Seed

Sweet Potatoes:  I am now thinking there is a right and wrong end to a sweet potato for sprouting purposes.  I notices two sprouts growing in the submerged end in one of the sweet potatoes, the one without a robust rooting system.  I pinched off those shoots for now and will just observe future growth. I did decide, however, to start two "organic" sweet potatoes purchased last week.  I placed the pointed end of one of them into water and cut the second one in half and placed both cut surfaces into water.  We'll see what happens within a few weeks.