Zones 8-9 Spr/Sum 2011 Veggie Gardening is UNDERWAY- Pt lI

My hat's off to those that can separate seedlings. If I get 12 tomatoe plants I will be happy.

Jumping in here, with my progress report -- or lack thereof!

I started a new job, first time I've worked full-time in 25 years, so I'm a little time-challenged (read "disorganized!"). Anyway, when cold weather hit, I neglected to take care of all of my new little seedlings. I managed to bring in several, but not all --and it just got too cold in my diy "greenhouse" (shelves with shower curtain, lol).

Oh well, I will regroup! I plan to fill up those outdoor shelves again, plus hubby put up a couple of shelves in our sunniest window, which is where the tomatoes that I did bring inside are now basking. I know light through window glass isn't the best, but they're doing pretty well, considering. They're in Solo cups, half-filled with seed-starter mix, and I'll be adding more into the cup.

A question on that, though -- I don't think seed-starter mix has much (or anything) in the way of fertilizer. Should I keep topping up with that, but add liquid fertilizer (fish or seaweed, I can't remember which one I have) at half-strength or maybe quarter-strength dillution?) to the tray water? OR, should I add a little dry fertilizer in with the seed starter instead? (I have that Ospoma or whatever it is called). OR can I top up with MG bedding soil -- it has fertilizer in it, but I would need to lighten it up some -- I have vermiculite/perlite I could add. I also have peat but I think there's already peat in it.

Any thoughts? Also, I'm a little foggy on how much water to keep in the tray. I've got about 3/4" in there, using 16 oz cups.


This message was edited Feb 8, 2011 11:03 AM

LiseP,
I topped my cups with seed starter mix. Once mine got their true leaves, I started adding a level plastic spoon (from a plastic utensil packet) of Epsom Salts to the water, to give them a 'lil something, but not too much, too soon.

After they got their 2nd true leaves and looked like they were either about to stall or take off, in addition to the EP I started adding one spoon (plastic spoon) of MG Liquid Plant food to the water and it barely colors the water -- (I have a 10-cup pitcher that I use to mix up this formula).

I know others have mentioned they've been leaving a thin film of water standing in the trays for their seedlings, but I didn't feel comfortable enough that damping off and root rot wouldn't set in, so I only pour enough water in the trays for them to drink up, and, once the soil at the top of the cups is moist, I either pour the excess from the trays or use a clean towel to wick it out (lots of trays, and balancing isn't too easy).

HoneybeeNC posted that a turkey baster is great for watering wee seedlings without disturbing the soil OR getting the leaves wet (I hear it's not a good thing to have wet leaves under fluorescent lights...), so I've pressed the baster into service, and it's worked great!

I've had my seedlings on a 12-hour rotation under the fluorescents but, as of today, I'm putting them on a 24-hour schedule because I got up this morning and just didn't feel like changing out the trays on four shelves, so they'll get changed out tonight...also, they're growing so fast, I think they probably need the extra light at this point.

I'll start hardening them off on February 14th, and then they'll go off into the real world...

Hope this helps!

Hey Lise, I'll be in San Antonio next week visiting family. I can bring you some seedlings! LOL

How would you package tomato seedlings for mail delivery? This is a real question...thanks!

TOMATO PLANT UPDATE:

Not sure moving to a 24-hour rotation is the best thing. I found that, while the plants got fatter, they had also GROWN significantly. This is not good, because I'm trying to hold them back until I get set up for the Farmer's Market sale in two weeks. They won't let you sell seedlings taller than 12", and mine grew a full 1/2" in that period...

And, I can't say it was "just my 'magination," cause there was space between the tops and the lights when I rotated in, and the tops were IN the lights when I rotated out!

This message was edited Feb 9, 2011 10:29 AM

Stephanie

I'll join you. Same reason plus I use dirt and my nursery is a mesquite tree.

Later

Linda, plant them in deeper containers and bury the stems so they don't appear to be more than 12" tall! LOL

You know what, Steph? I actually thought about doing just that! But, there's no way I'm gonna mess with this batch of tomatoes and more dirt! I've done it twice already for 208 seedlings! (once to pot up halfway after the 2nd true leaves, and once to top off the 18 oz. Solo cups).

Actually, I pulled out my trusty ruler, and I think the great majority my tomato plants are averaging around 7-1/2" to 8" tall right now. That gives me some room to grow, hopefully!

Gymgirl, when is the FM that you will be bringing your plants to? Is it the one off of Kirby on the 26th?

Everyone that can actually start seeds from scratch like you did is aces to me. I have absolutely no room inside, and thus cannot even begin to start plants like you did. Color me jealous.

Jeez it was 14* here this AM I cant imagine taking plants anywhere! Good Luck

Our low was 15º in my neighborhood. That's just COLD!!

My garden is about 32F at the moment. It's hard to think about Zone 8's being that cold!

My seedlings are doing great, though!

We got down to 23*. With the wind chill factor, it was more like 17*.

The tomato seedlings are growing like weeds (1/4"-1/2" per day), and getting fatter every session they spend under the lights. I Don't know if I can hold em back much longer....

I think tonight, I'm gonna carefully take one outta the cup and see what the root system is looking like. I'll post a pic for tomorrow.

It just occurred to me that, out of 208 tomato seedlings started from seeds, I have not had any damping off!!!!

^^_^^

Gymgirl, thanks for your thorough explanations and timely help! (I wrote to you next morning but must have forgotten to push SEND!). But I used your advice right away with respect to Epsom Salt and MG liquid fert in the seedling water -- I happened to have both of those on hand, so that was easy. I also poured off excess water, and will use the seedling starter stuff to top off my cups.

Stephanietx, thanks for the thought on bringing me seedlings, lol. I'm picturing you with suitcase in one hand and shoebox full of seedlings in another, and your family thinking you'd gone barmy. Anyway, I feel bad enough killing off my own seedlings -- I'd feel even worse if I did it to someone else's!

The good news is that I still have seedlings, and there's always the local nursery if my remaining ones don't make it.

Gymgirl, you made an interesting comment -- stall or take off -- care to elaborate? Is there a certain point where that typically happens? And once stalled -- is that pretty much it for that plant? Congrats on the 'no damping off' by the way. Excellent!

Gymgirl-I had that happen with my tomato plants last year. That's why I put off sowing the seeds this year. To get mine to slow down I put them in the garage (still under lights so they don't get laggy) where it was much cooler, don't fertilize them and only water when they are dry. It worked.

Hey, 1Lisac!

Not so much worried about the 12 tomatoes that I am planning on keeping. It's the 96 that need to go to the Farmer's Market for sale that I'm worried about -- they can't be more than 12" tall.

At the rate they're growing, I have approximately 8 more days before they reach a foot. I figured out to stop watering them, except when they dry out. May have to start cutting back on the fert. And every day next week is supposed to be gorgeous for hardening off, so that puts me at the market next weekend!

Wow! Those are some sweet looking tomato seedlings. I bet you don't have even one left at the end of the day at the Farmer's Market. Shoot, you may have to shut down early =~P!

Gymgirl - Congratulations on not having any damping off! So far, I've only lost one seedling, which I'm assuming died of D.O.

Thanks, Guys! It's been a LOT of work, but I have truly enjoyed the challenge of starting seeds! I think I'm going to do it again next time...I'm deciding if I'm enjoying starting them more than I enjoy growing them!

P.S. The stems are currently about the diameter of a chopstick or just a tad more. Not quite pencil-size yet, but still not bad for 33 days from sowing.

This message was edited Feb 10, 2011 3:17 PM

Gymgirl - I might be imagining this === the thicker the stems, the less likely the tomato plant is have blossom end rot.

I only started noticing this last year, and as I said, perhaps it was my imagination!

When I grew tomatoes in South Florida, I never had blossom end rot. I grew tomtoes called "Tropic" - or at least I think that's what they were called. They didn't give many maters, but they tasted delicious! They were short, stocky plants.

When I lived in Tennessee, I grew "Moneymaker" tomatoes and didn't have BER there, either. They were direct-seeded in a field that at one time had grown tobacco. It was a field of weeds! I shared the field with two other families. We pulled more food out of that field of weeds than we could use. We gave a lot away. This was also the first time I had tried to grow beets, but the crop failed. I swapped bush beans, that I had aplenty, for a neighbor's beets.

Gygirl, where are you selling the seedlings at? My dad and I are trying to find farmers markets to go visit..to keep him busy on the weekends..lol..

Thanks for that Encouragement re: BER, Bee!

There're so many camps of thought regarding what causes BER, I just stay prayed up. With my short window for growing long-season indeterminates, I don't have time to recover from a 1st wave of BER, to get to a 2nd wave of good maters. My 1st wave has to be good!

You're welcome, Gymgirl. This summer, I think I'll try to separate the thick stemmed tomatoes from the others and see if there really is a difference.

We're going to be gone next week. I'm not sure what to do with my seedlings. Any suggestions on caring for them while we're gone?

Hire a baby sitter, and I'm not being funny. Type out instructions, and give them a key. I cat-sat 6 cats for 10 days, stopping in only to feed, water, and change litter. It can be done. Get someone responsible and trustworthy.

What stage are the seedlings at right now?

They're just now putting out their first set of real leaves. I don't really know anyone I'd trust in my house to water them and turn the lights on.

Ok. Here goes nothing. Water the soil to create some capillary action. Sit the pots in a shalloW tray of water. Put the lights on a12-hour timer. Go. Pray. Pray some more...

Add one more step to Linda's list: Cover entire seedling area with plastic sheet (keeps overall humidity up and slows drying)

I wish I could start seedlings but I don't have any room!! I have to do it the "old fashioned way" & wait until the last frost!! Hoping that it has already happened!!!

I transplanted broccoli plants today. I had 40 plants from Lowes/Bonnie that I bought just before the deep freeze. Forecast low temps are in the 50's for the next week or so. The rest of the month is forecast to be warmer than average, so hopefully I'll be safe from any more serious cold until the plants have had a chance to establish. I have another 20 or so broccoli that I started from seed. They are still tiny. I'll plant them as a second crop...hopefully they will have time to mature before too much springtime heat hits.

Also planted a double-row of beets. I used my new Earthway seeder. It was hard to tell how well it was actually working. I did have to go back and rake the cover over. The chain that drags the soil back over the seeds didn't cover very well. I may add a second length of chain, or some weights on the current chain. I guess I will see how it worked when the seeds germinate.

Next steps are to get the early tomato beds ready, fill the Season Starter tee-pees with water, and start hardening the tomatoes that will be going in early. I also need to transplant herb seedlings into pots/cups. I have several types of Basil, Thyme, Oregano, Cilantro, and Parsley that all need to be moved from the flats that I sprouted them in.

Hope everyone else is having as much fun as I am getting started on this years garden!

David

Stephanietx, I tried lots of things for the gnats and Black flag fly paper works well. They all end up sticking to the paper and do not live to reproduce. These are actually fly ribbons and I cut them in half and hang at the window where my cuttings and seeds are rooting and over my sink where more cuttings are rooting. Best thing I have tried!! Im going to use them for whiteflies this year... since last year despite my efforts, they won.

My tomato plants are up. my peppers are up. sprouted them on an electric comforter on an ironing board in front of window. Will put them under my one light now that they are up.

TRock, you rock! Is that 43 seedling tomatoes planted out into the garden, or potted up to cups or something else?

I'm planting 6 seedlings OUT in the garden this weekend coming up. Another 6 will go out next weekend. Trying to get a headstart on the DTM which, for me, averages between 105-150 days. I don't have a day to spare with long-season indeterminates!

I know I'm pushing the envelope with our squirrely Texas weather, but it's a calculate risk, and I'm preparing to protect the plants against that dreaded Easter Sunday FREEZE!

I'm going to push the early weather, too. I'm going to try to have tomato plants in the ground by next weekend. If they survive and the days-to-maturity holds reasonably close, I will have tomatoes before the end of April! My first year, that was when I was planting... IF the early crop works, then I will be able to pick tomatoes for 2-3 months! I can usually count on June, but things get iffy after early July.

So am I counting my chickens early, or what? : )

David

David,
I don't think you are. My outside DTM is 130-150 for my Black Krims. The last weekend in June gives me 126 days from plantout, if I put them out by this weekend. I actually have to start ripping my vines by mid-June, 'cause by then the heat has set in, the stinkbugs are taking over, and the plants are looking horrible. I've decided I don't even WANT to try to hold them over to come around again in the fall. I'd rather start with fresh stock for any fall crop I might attempt.