Always Something To Do

What I love about seed starting is that there is always something to fuss over and tinker with. And what is even better is that there is no urgency with any of these tasks.  There is always some flexibility as to when they need to be done, give or take a few days and sometimes a few weeks. The tasks can be squeezed in here or there, dedicating 15 minutes or up to a couple of hours depending on whatever else is on the day's agend. Today I woke up at 6:00 am eager to fit in two hours of transplanting seedlings and sowing more flower seeds.

Today's projects:

• Transplanted geraniums from 4-packs to their own 3" pots. I will give them a day's reprieve from growlights to adjust to the transplant. 

• Transplanted Sweet Williams to twenty-five 2" pots; will not put under lights today to allow recovery from the transplant.  The remaining Sweet William seedlings (7) have been potted in two 3" pots to grow on as extras. 

• It was also time to give the rosemary seedlings more "leg room", splitting up the seedlings into their own cells. 

• Eight seedlings from the pansy container sown on February 3 were ready to be transplanted into two 4-packs.  I thought I would l leave the remaining seedlings in the 4"x8" container for a few more weeks but instead transplanted them into a 6-pack.  Similarly, I won't put the pansies back under growlights until tomorrow.

• I have had difficulty in past years germinating lavender seeds.  This year I ran an experiment to see which of three methods (traditional, pre-chilling, pressing seeds into mix) would yield the greatest number of seedlings. As of this date, the most effective was the traditional planting of seeds sown 1/4" deep.  I transplanted those eight seedlings from container #1 and one seedling from container #2 into a 3" pot, leaving the remaining seedlings to grow on.  The winner will be declared in a few weeks. 

• The delphiniums looks a bit ill with blotchy leaves that are slightly yellowing.  I hesitate to transplant them in this condition but decided a bit of "tough love" was in order.  I moved the six largest seedlings to their own 3" pots and the remaining seedlings will carry on in the original container for a few more weeks. 

The following seeds were sowed today:

Coleus (Rainbow Mix): Livingston Seeds, 2014.  Planted seeds 1/4" deep in one 4"x8" container. Expected germination time, 7-14 days.  Characteristics: annual, shade, 12-18" tall, blooms in summer. Used as a backdrop or centerpiece in pots or in a mass.  Shades of kelly green, royal burgundy and lemon yellow.  For bushier growth, pinch center stem when plants are 4" to 6" tall.
See: http://www.outsidepride.com/seed/flower-seed/coleus/coleus-rainbow-mix.html

Impatiens (Flavours Hybrid Mix): Burpee, 2015. Sowed seeds in 4"x8" container shallowly. Expected germination date: 18-28 days. Days to maturity, 55-60.  Characteristics: annual, large 2" flowers, white, red, pink, lavender, 8" tall. Space 10" apart.
See: http://www.almanac.com/plant/impatiens

Lupines (Russell's Prize Mix, Lupinus polyphyllus): Livingston Seeds, 2014. Expected germination time, 25-30 days. I did not soak the seeds overnight as recommended on the packet. Planted seeds 1/4" deep in one 4"x8" container. Characteristics: Perennial, sun, 2' to 4' tall, tall stalks bearing large flowers in shades of pink, yellow, rose, red and blue, use as cut flowers or in garden bed, low maintenance, mulch summer and winter.
See: http://www.burpee.com/perennials/lupine/lupine-russell-hybrid-mixed-colors-prod000077.html

Potentilla (Trailing Cinquefoil, tonguei): Harvested, 2014. The seeds were originally received through a seed swap, 2009.  Planted seeds 1/8" deep in one 4"x8" container. Not 100% sure of variety, but most resembles a tonguei by Internet search.  One of my favorite perennial flowers. Over the past five years there has been a decline in the number of plants in the perennial bed.  I hope to add dozen or so more plants to the garden. Characteristics:  perennial, full sun, hybrid, low clump-forming for edging or massing as ground cover. trailing stems, 4-6" tall, small, single apricot-yellow buttercup flowers, bright-red eye, blooms all summer, pinch back spent blooms.
See: http://www.perennials.com/plants/potentilla-tonguei.html

Postscript #1 - Salvia, Scarlett has germinated (seeds sowed February 25, 7 days).
Postscript #2 - I am stratifying Bouncing Bet/Saponaria officinalis seeds for one week in the refrigerator. They will be ready to sow on or after March 11.

Time to Do Some Thinning

The Sweet William container received a second thinning this morning; the seedling count is now down to thirty-five.  Again, the goal is to transplant twenty-five seedlings into the perennial bed.  You may not notice the difference between the "before" and "after" photos, but I did remove about twenty seedlings.

The BEFORE

The AFTER

I've also thinned rosemary seedlings.  It's easier to see the difference between these "before" and "after" shots. I want to add four more rosemary plants to the herb garden.  I might need six if last year's plants don't survive this winter.  Even if this is the case, I will still have plenty to share!

The BEFORE

The AFTER

To Miracle Grow or Not Miracle Grow

The Sweet William seedlings are now two weeks old, 1/2"-3/4" tall, and although they do not have their second set of true leaves, I decided to give them a very dilute feed of Miracle Grow fertilizer. (This is the second time I've used Miracle Grow this growing season; five days ago I fed the geraniums.) Even though I won't use Miracle Grow in the hoop house and other outdoor garden beds, I've conceded to its indoor use. My seed starting mix contains a very small nutrient component and it is the easiest way for me to feed the large number of seedlings I grow under lights.

Long-term use of synthetic fertilizers, such as Miracle Grow, in the garden is detrimental to the health of soil. The accumulation of ammonium phosphates over time destroys the organisms in the soil which are vital to a healthy garden. Instead, I fertilize with loads of compost and use other natural sources of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. In addition, I don't apply insecticides; rather I cover crops with fleece and netting, pick off insects by hand, and spray off insects with soap and water. In regards to herbicides, I hand pull weeds, smother weeds with thick layers of mulch and, on rare occasion, use a white vinegar solution.

We should "feed the soil, not the plants" and "work with nature."

Postscript #1 - Today the following seeds have germinated:

• Pansy, Swiss Giants (sowed February 16, ten days)
• Rossa di Milano onions (sowed February 19, seven days).
• Lobelia, Crystal Palace (sowed February 17, nine days)
• Delphinium (pulled out of refrigerator February 17, nine days)
• Verbena (7 more)
• White Hibiscus (1 more)

Saturday's Play Time!

It's early Saturday morning and there is "no better way to start the day" than to play with seedlings! 

Today I need to give the geraniums some attention. The seedlings that did germinate are now at a good size to transplant, having two sets of true leaves. I plan to separate the two seedlings that occupy some cells and move them into open cells in the 4-packs as well as into three 3" pots. I probably should give the remaining non-germinated seeds extra time to germinate but, as is often the case, I am impatient and want to do the job now.

First time growing geraniums!

To transplant, I give the seedlings a good watering an hour or so beforehand to reduce the risk of shock. Using a small butter knife or craft stick, I gently dig below the seedling to prick it out, working carefully to not disturb the roots. It's important to hold the seedling by its leaves, never its delicate stem, for fear of crushing it or perhaps injuring the growing tip. Poking a hole with a pencil into the new growing medium, I plant the seedling at the same depth, gently firming the soil with my finger tips and watering well.

I use a very crumbly and multi-textured mix, Metromix 830, and it makes easy work of transplanting. I don't expect these small seedlings to skip a beat.

Nice and orderly now!

It was also time for the Sweet William container to be thinned. As you can see, the seedlings are very crowded and many should be removed.

Before the thinning

Drum roll, please! This is what the container looks like now.  I always feel badly when I thin my seedlings; it's like being forced to choose a favorite child.  Unfortunately, I don't need all those seedlings and they would compete for space and nutrients needed by the seedlings earmarked for the garden. 

After the thinning

In a few weeks time, I'll thin the container again and let the remaining seedlings grow on for a while until they get transplanted to their own pots. I would like to end up with twenty-five new plants to move into the perennial garden bed. 

TIP OF THE DAY!!  I use an old pair of cuticle scissors to thin out small, densely-packed seedlings. After making a clean cut at the base of the stem, I throw those seedlings into a compost pile. 

Postscript #1 - I'm now certain I placed the sweet potato upside down into the water.  More shoots are growing into the water and the roots are stunted. Count this as the first failure of the season.  I'm confident the four remaining sweet potatoes will provide all the sweet potato slips I need. 

Two-Week Checkup

Time for a two-week checkup!

I'm happy to report that many more geraniums, delphiniums, pansies, lavender, rosemary and Sweet William seedlings have emerged! Also four varieties of onions show signs of germination: Walla Walla, Copra, Ringmaster and Toyko Long White Bunching. These seedlings germinated early, in six days (maybe 5 since I didn't look closely yesterday), and now they join other containers on the kitchen table under growlights.

Nineteen geraniums - almost ready to separate the seedlings into their own cells.

Nine delphiniums slowing making their way into this world.

Eight pansies looking pretty!

Surprised myself by how many rosemary seedlings emerged - 27!

Sweet William seedlings need to be thinned soon, over 100 and counting!

Wet wipe containers come in handy!  Recycle and reuse, I say!

Wintersowing Flowers

Here's a photo of our 12x60 foot flower bed that runs parallel to the driveway.  All of the plants were grown from seed.  The perennials, in particular, were started in 2009 using a method called wintersowing.  I grew hundreds of seedlings that year and it was a great way to inexpensively get a large garden up and running.  It literally cost pennies to throw seeds into recycled containers prepped with drainage and venting holes, moistened potting soil and a hinged opening.  An online seed swap club provided me with free flower seeds as a wintersowing "newbie."  I had never grown flowers before and, needless to say, the learning curve was steep.  But over the past five years, I have rearranged the plants in the bed to better balance height and color, replaced the ones I didn't particularly like and added new plants in the bare spots. The photos below show the setup on our back deck in January and the results in April:

Bring on the snow and freezing weather!  It doesn't bother them a bit!

Mother nature at her best!

The last few years I've also enjoyed starting flower seeds indoors under growlights and then moving them into the hoophouse in the spring. The seedlings not needed in the perennial bed are planted in window boxes, large containers and in and amongst my vegetable garden.

Impatiens and lobelia enjoying the warmth of the hoophouse.

Today I organized my seeds and filled pots and trays with seed starting mix.  I did, however, sow one container with flower seeds:

Pansy (Swiss Giant Mix, Viola wittrocklana): Planted approximately 60 pelletized seeds in one 4"x8" container 1/4" deep. This is the second sowing. See February 3rd post for full description.

Postscript #1 - More than twenty-five Sweet William seedlings (Dianthus barbatus) have germinated in only five days.  I am particularly pleased for two reasons: first, I harvested these seeds myself from last year's flowers and also because the earliest expected germination time is usually 14 days.

I'm tickled these seeds were viable!  I hope to expand my Sweet William bed!

Conquering the "In-Basket"

Today I made progress sowing seeds, albeit a small dent in my so-called "in-basket."  I keep two baskets on the seed table: one to hold seed packets already sown and the other for seeds to be sowed within a week or so.

The "in-basket" on the front, left corner is filling up fast.

Today I sowed the following seeds:

Dusty Miller (Senecio cineraria):  Seeds received from an online seed swap, 2009. Sowed seeds densely (not sure of viability) into one 4"x8" container. Did not cover, pressed into soil (needs light to germinate). Expected germination time: 10-21 days. Characteristics: Annual in Zone 6a, full sun, easy to grow, silvery-gray, fern-like foliage, enjoys close spacing, use as border (10-18" tall) and edging plant to contrast with colorful flowers and green leaves, pinch off flower buds to promote leaf growth. Variety, N/A.
See: http://www.gardenersnet.com/flower/dusty.htm

Johnny Jump Up (Viola tricolor): Seeds purchased from Livingston Seeds, 2014. Planted pelletized seeds at Week 13 (before last frost).  Again, I am very early; the packet recommends 8 weeks.  I'll deal with the consequences later, probably having to up-pot them in late-March.  I sowed two 4"x8" containers, approximately 50 seeds per container 1/16" deep (barely cover the pelletized seeds).  Expected germination time: 3-8 days.  Characteristics: perennial, partial shade/sun, 7-10" in height (front border or containers), blooms are deep purple and yellow.
See: http://www.colostate.edu/Dept/CoopExt/4DMG/Flowers/violas.htm

Do you know the difference between violas and pansies?  They are mistakenly used interchangeably. The viola, originally a small wildflower, is the ancestor of the modern pansy. Pansies have been bred (first in the 1800's in England) to be more compact and colorful. Their flowers are usually larger with distinct markings that look like a face.  Another difference is that pansies have four petals that point upward and one that points downward. Violas, on the other hand, have three petals that point upward and two that point downward.  Their flowers are usually white and blue-violet to yellow color.

In our Zone 6a, the pansy is treated as an annual whereas the viola is considered a perennial.  Last year I only grew Johnny Jump Ups; although a perennial, I don't expect them to return having disturbed them in the perennial garden. This year I hope to have plenty of violas and pansies to fill our beds and containers.  They are such a welcome sight after a long winter!

Sweet William (Dianthus barbatus): Seed swap, 2009. Planted seeds harvested in 2014 from our perennial bed. Original seeds were from an exchange made in 2010.  One 4"x8" container, approximately 50 seeds, barely covered. Sowed seeds more heavily than recommended, not sure of viability (self-harvested). Expected germination time: 14-21 days. Characteristics: Short-lived perennial/biennial, 12" (front border), mix of pinks, etc. flowers in spring and in July/August, prefers sun, old-fashioned cottage garden flower, dead head to keep plants blooming, prune severely to encourage return in following years, also called Pinks. Variety, N/A.
See: http://www.perennials.com/plants/dianthus-barbatus-barbarini-f1-mix.html

TIP OF THE DAY!!  Don't be shy! Ask the bakery manager in your grocery store to share their frosting containers which are disposed of when empty.  There come in various sizes and are very versatile to the home gardener.  I am using one now in the kitchen to wet my seed starting mix. They can be used as planting containers, particularly for tomatoes and peppers in the greenhouse, to grow potatoes, as a trash and compost receptacle as you weed, etc.

The bakery crew at Stop 'n Shop saves their buckets for me. 

Postscript #1 - The geranium seeds are in the front of the pack with thirteen germinated, then rosemary with twelve, still only one pansy and no delphiniums.
Postscript #2 -  I accidentally knocked off one sprout on the sweet potatoes.
Postscript #3 - I am disappointed that my soil mix contains fairly large pieces of bark, perlite, etc. The mix works perfectly for transplants but doesn't earn high grades as a seed starting mix, especially for small seeds. I have been picking out the large pieces by hand or sifting the mix before covering the seeds.