STARTING OUR SPRING VEGGIE GARDEN Pt. 2

Steph,

RickCorey_WA posted this on another thread:

Then I read a suggestion from someone: for very early Sugar Anne snap peas, start them indoors on paper towel, and transplant as soon as the root tip emerges. He suggested checking the paper towels twice per day, and transplanting before you had many mm of root.


Or, from England:
- Start peas indoors "in lengths of guttering", then extrude the whole gutter contents into an outdoor trench) : http://www.nwedible.com/2011/05/sowing-peas-in-guttering-whe...

stephanietx
peppers could take up to 12 days to germinate. Don't give up!
If you have a heating mat, set it at 90 F ... they should sprouts in 4-5 days.
I had some problem with a few varieties of peppers and eggplant. I think it was my fault because I removed the humidity dome as soon as 90% of the other varieties did germinate. I did re-seed 2 varieties and the problem was that the seed shell didn't open ... even after soaking the seed before in water.
I did try again and this time I put the little pot inside a plastic bag and secure it with an elastic.
NO PROBLEM - they all germinated in 8 days and the seed shell did fall off.

I keep harvesting lettuce, radishes the last cauliflowers and broccoli shoots.

I did prepare the hoop cover for my tomatoes, using the perforated plastic.
Tomatoes are out in the sun.

Stephanie-thanks, I didn't think they were sowed very long ago. What potting mix did you pot them up in? It's supposed to freeze the next 2 nites, covered the potted plants up, again.

Linda, here's the link to the winter sowing tutorial: http://haphazardgardener.blogspot.com/2009/03/my-winter-sowing-project.html

Lisa, I used Lady Bug brand's Germinator Seed Starting Mix. http://haphazardgardener.blogspot.com/2009/03/my-winter-sowing-project.html

I've been waiting for 2 weeks for my peppers to germinate. Gonna plant more tomorrow.

Thanks Stephanie for the information. I've used Lady Bug products and I really like them. Did you use it to start the seeds as well as pot up?

What kind of peppers have you sowed and what temp do you have them at? I start 30-40 different types and some take forever.

I did use the seedling mix to start as well as to pot up. When I move these to larger cups, I'll use Vortex potting soil and add some compost to the mix.

I started some California Wonder, Red Bullnose, and Jalapeno peppers. Two of the jalapenos have sprouted, but nothing else.

I have to ask where you got the seeds? That's a long time for sweet peppers to germinate. You may try soaking the seeds overnight. What temp are they at?

Happy Valentine's Day, y'all!

I got up and about early, it's finally sunny out, dug out some things I don't like, harvested a mess of collards, and put in three kinds of tomato seedlings: Stupice, Cherokee Purple, and who-knows-what kind from a seed exchange.

Sowed in some zinnia, hollyhock, and poppies around the borders, and now have to figure out where to put all these scarlet runner beans that have suddenly sprouted - I swear, I put them in a paper towel yesterday, and they're going like gangbusters.

Find em somewhere to climb...

Lisa, some seeds were saved, some I purchased from Baker Creek and some from Victory. I don't know the exact temp but it's somewhere around 80º. I'm going to try again. I thought about trying to sprout them on a paper towel in a plastic baggie.

Well, it was 48° this morning when I put the tomato seedlings back out...

This'll be the first day they're out in whatever bright sunlight hits them. They've been under the patio cover for about 3 weeks now, so, I don't think the sunshine will hurt them any.

Been doing this nighttime in, morning out, thing all week now. But, "we do what we gotta do!"

My bell peppers inside are GORGEOUS! Better than the GORGEOUS Emerald Giants I grew a couple seasons ago, cause these aren't growing too big, too fast! Collards and spinach are liking the cool nights. I'm wondering, however, if I didn't make a mistake by sowing the eggplant seedlings outside. Don't know what I was thinking. Shoot!

Guess I'll be sowing more seeds inside, just in case those sitting out in the damp Earthbox are rotting away. Shoot.

Marty,
Your broccoli s looking VERY happy under the lights! Will post some pics on the weekend.

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY, YA'LL! SENDING MUCH LOVE TO YOU GUYS!

Linda

Just watch- you'll be in eggplant heaven come more heat! Happy Valentines to you guys! was down in Linda's neck of the woods-Hobby Airport, but sittin in El Paso this morning. Glorious sunshine. ONE more freeze snap Linda for you- but I doubt you'll get colder than 35* -grits on the other hand isn't to be so lucky, end of Feb before lucky enough to climb as warm as south Houston!!! Enjoy the day guys!

Thanks for the encouragement, Kitt!

Seen in Ark a few weeks ago...

Amazing Grace!!!

Kitt,
When're you coming close to Hobby again? I need one 16 ft. x 52-53" cattle panel. No truck. From that rear view mirror, I see you've got LOTS of truck, LOLOL!

Linda

Turnips and beets are sprouting. They're so cute when they are 1/8" tall.

I'm surprised because the peas and radishes are usually first out the gate.. I did get the radish seeds from a random internet trade, so who knows there, but the peas are from a known good source.

It is warm here again , maybe in a few more weeks it will begin to stay that way. Always waiting and then planting time get here , Wanting that cloudy ,rainy day to plant , and guessing can get kind of tricky , even with Doppler radar forecasts to help..
Annual flowers ,,vegies , the tomatoes , they all like a couple cloudy rainy days , if it can happen
when they get planted . Hope the weather cooperates for you all , (rare these days)

I lose a lot of annual flowers to sun bake , no rain at planting time , and yes, I water them any way but I am not as good as mother nature..
It will begin to warm here next month , likely, I am as excited as a dancing snoopy dog in anticipation ,, some more flower dancing perhaps ?

Just some inspiration from an old thread, for those among us who are space challenged...

#1 Bean Stair Planter Construction http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/p.php?pid=4441891

#2 Bean Stair Planter Planted http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/p.php?pid=4441894

#3 Lettuce waste not, want not... http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/p.php?pid=4441905

#4 Lettuce be rewarded for re-purposing everything we can... http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/p.php?pid=4441906

Genius...

I have some lettuce in a mini greenhouse container ,, Are you reading my mind? scare...eeee...lol
I will read through he links some more....

Nola-don't be surprised if you don't get any poppies or hollyhocks to flower this year. Is this when you usually sow the seeds? Poppies are usually sown in the fall/winter in the south. They don't need the cold to germinate but the plants need time to get established before it gets too hot. What kind did you sow? Hollyhocks are usually biennial meaning they flower the second year but if you sow them In the fall you have a good chance they will flower in the spring.

Stephanie- 80 might be a little too cool, can you get the seeds any warmer?

Success! They're growing up!

They look very nice, Stephanie! I can't wait to plant seeds. Can't plant outside until middle of June, so I watch all of this with great anticipation. I plan to start some seeds inside soon, though. Can't wait to grow the yellow heirloom tomato seeds I got this winter.

Eventually the texture and plant height of ""cottage haphazard"" gives some interesting results, There are some neat looking blooms in the meantime also, that way..
How would I know that? lol

Hollyhocks bring to mind Gladiolas...

How about I start a new thread for the flowers? I have some questions myself about shade gardening, but, I've been following the spring veggie starting discussion here and don't wanna cause a sidetrack?

OK, SPIN-OFF THREAD: "Starting Our Spring FLOWER SEEDS, Pt. 1"

http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/1298403/



This message was edited Feb 15, 2013 1:28 PM

I love that term "cottage haphazard". I think that would fit my yard perfectly!

Veggies and flowers and a puppy and kids and a seed habit = totally cottage haphazard. :)

This message was edited Feb 16, 2013 7:20 AM

This message was edited Feb 26, 2013 9:23 AM

Today I seeded indoor: okra, cucumbers and watermelon.
This year I decided to start those crops earlier than normal because I upgraded to a new growing light and I have more shelf room. The plants will be older and stronger when I will transplant them out ... just an experiment.
Peppers and eggplants growing wonderful. Zucchini already monsters (only 3 weeks old).
Tomorrow I will transplant out the tomatoes.

I just direct sow my okra when it's nice & warm. I enjoy okra all summer long!

I cannot direct sow okra in my garden ... or anything else (apart for lettuce) ... I have PILLBUGS MONSTERS !!!

Have you tried applying beneficial nematodes to help deter those pests?

I have ants and voles ,direct sow 20% survival rate if it goes well'
Needless to say direct sow , not in my garden !!!! ...

Sluggo Plus. No more pillbugs...

I sowed okra too soon last year, and the cool/hot cycle just made 'em go schizo. perfectly good waste of my water.

This year, I'll throw out some seeds when it's consistently 85-95° out.

I didn't get good germination out of the Baker Creek Okra seed either this year. Of the HCR & Stewart's ZB that I sowed the first round, only 2 ZB's germinated. I got 100% germination of the NOID okra we had grown in 2009 or 2010, and saved seed from some pods.

I'm making 1 last attempt with a seed mat this time & just by looking, it's not looking real good at this point. Almost all the other seeds in the flat have at least poked their heads up. If these are duds, I'm going to get rid of all that seed. Also didn't have a lot of success with the Cowhorn 22 Okra seed the first time around, so I'm really watching them, hoping for some better results.

This message was edited Feb 16, 2013 2:57 AM