The Game Picks Up Speed

Weez- Im in Awe!

Hey Weez - I read on Johnny's S Seeds that basil likes to be clumped! Who knew? HEE HEE!! I will try to remember to take a pic of my babies - and the empty failure trays too!

Imagine how many flats of basil I would have if I'd pricked out each seedling into its own little cell! LOL

I've been planting basil and some other things (alyssum, lobelia, dill, parsley) in clumps for several years now, following the directions Tom DeBaggio sets out in his "little book" (_Growing Herbs from Seed, Cutting & Root: An adventure in small miracles_), and I've had great success. He's a fan of clump transplanting for several reasons. A larger clump of roots in the pot means it's harder to drown the little seedlings (root & stem rot are less likely when the roots take up more water and accelerate the drying of the growing medium), and you get a nice branched appearance before you even start pinching back. He recommends 3 or more plants in a clump (my clumps max out around 7, and some of those basil varieties just got clumped by twos this year). In his words, "I don't count them, but take what comes apart most easily with the least root damage. It would defeat the beneficial effects.... to prick out individual seedlings and gather them in clumps.... the larger the leaves, the fewer seedlings in the clump." The other big thing is to set the seedlings into the pot lower than they were growing in the seedling flat, preferably (depth of pot permitting) with the true leaves level with the growing medium and the nurse leaves (cotyledons) covered.

Critterologist, that's really interesting. I've felt so--I don't know, counterproductive I suppose--trying to separate seedlings/roots that would rather stay together. I'm intrigued also by the idea of things branching out earlier on -- why not? I think I'll try this method with the remainder of my starts this season -- thanks for the info!

Great thread Weez! Thanks for sharing your labors of love with us! We are honored...

Thanks, TamaraFaye, I'm glad you find it interesting. Critter, I'm going to have to give your clumping method a try. Most all my herbs are not perennial here anyway, so what can it hurt. Of course, I clump my chives, but thats about it! I've always choked down on the stems when planting, but not past the cotyledons. Guess I should do more reading before I start planting! LOL!

Weez, you are a lady after my own heart. I have always planted seeds rather than buy plants. And I always hated to kill off the unwanted ones. I do this on a tiny scale, compared to your setup. But I sure enjoy the challange of getting the seeds to sprout and grow.

Wow, very nice green houses you have there Weezin. I can't believe the VOLUME you deal in. I have about 12 trays around and feel like if the weather doesn't warm up soon I'm gonna go crazy before I can get them outside. This is the first year for my "rack with lights" system and I made the mistake of setting it up in the dining room. Next year I will put it in the utility room, where it will be much more out of the way and I can have my stuff closer. Plus.. its a non carpeted area and that will be way better for me.

I noticed you don't always use those 72 cell pack thingys for planting, much more of the "tray" planting. Do you find it hard to transplant these after its time? I may try that next year.

Weez, how about that clumping? I'm gonna try it. I use 6 packs with 2 seeds per cell for peppers because I can't use more than 12 of any variety and never have a cell failure, can't stand an empty cell! Wonder how anal Ty would type me knowing that? LOL LOL Just checked out my greenhouse, 3 roses (fragrant), 9 lavenders, 7 mints, a whole bed of garlic, 5 hyper tufa troughs, 2 pots of bulbs (took the 1/4 inch mesh, that keeps the voles out, off today), various other stuff I kept in there to keep the killing rain off. All coming up fast. Having to cut the old foliage out before the new growth invades it too much in all the pots. Getting excited now! Was raking today, will mow tomorrow! LOL Just diggin' ya a little for being a half mile and 2 zones away. Neeter, neeter, neeter... kitty lost his mitties... (To all the rest, Weez still has 2 feet of snow while my grass is greening up!)

Weez, about the herbs, listing the ones I WON'T be planting will be shorter.

Kathy, I use the trays to start the seeds and the cell packs for transplanting because I can start many more seeds in a smaller space. Many of the seeds I start are quite small. I mix them with a bit of sand to get an even spread. I worry the roots out first, then gently lift them by their little leaves and drop them in a cell that I've already made a hole in.

Good idea for me then Weez. I'm kinda out of room right now, but I still have seeds left. Think its too late to get more going? May try this tray thing of yours.

That is a huge operation you have there, In the snow and all.
This is where I work , no snow on the ground, nothing here is like,where you are.,here is the tunnel house I work in , If it is not to hot.
Edit To say this is were I go to work.... wish it were mine.

This message was edited Mar 31, 2005 8:59 AM

boot, what is your tunnel house covered with?

WOW!! That's a TON of space!!! I am envious! You would laugh if you saw my set up!

Bootandall, I think we all crave the heat now, but I can imagine it is intolerable in a tunnel structure like that. How do you keep they keep the plants from cooking?

8ftbed,,, the tunnel house is covered in plastic with a little bit of frost cloth, for extra protection during winter.. I can't imagine being in a winter like Weezin ?
ncgardenaddict,, It is not my space, except when I am working there... . now don't laugh !! this is my space...sep 04

weezin,, there is not much in it at the moment,It will full up again over winter.there is a smaller misting house where they start the cuttings.

Not laughing! You will though when I finally take a pic of the mess in my bonus room!

Boots, what are your winters like in NZ?

Well I have never needed to shovel snow, We do have frosts,and rain, and snow on the surrounding Mountains . I think we have it easy, although early or late frosts can knock the plants about.

Well, a bit of snow is charming, but a load of snow is just a pain in the neck!

Edited for typo.

This message was edited Mar 31, 2005 8:50 PM

I like how snow makes everything real QUIET. :) I don't shovel snow, I have a theory: Wait until April to shovel it.. .oops its gone!

That's a good theory in MO, but sometimes we've just got to shovel around here. This picture was taken in early February of 2004.

Great thread, I too have been to busy to surf this place.
I suppose you will be passing us up for daylight hours soon. We are at 12½ hours right now.
Have a great day!
Bernie

OK folks. If you laugh I ain't coming back!! I'm afraid by posting this no one will trade seeds with anymore. LOL!!! Once I get my own place though I am going to have my own room for gardening!! Well, if I can get a place big enough I suppose..

Anyway, here you go - the PROfessional set up! HAHAHAHA!

I like your way. Beats the heck out of spending mega-bucks for stuff that won't do any better job.
I am sorry I don't have pictures to share of when I started, on the same wave-lenght as yours.
Have a great day!
Bernie

NC, I know a great house in Charlotte, the neighbors are great, and the price is way down. You could put a fence from the house to next door neighbor's fence and have a good play yard for Brandon, with that big plateglass window to watch him from.
Opps, sorry, weeze

Bernie it looks like your containers are coming along great. Do any of those plants flower?
Sidney

Awesome, Weez! I miss my greenhouse and garden in Anchorage more than I could ever explain! I am homesick again! :-(

Hee hee Sidney! I really do want to live in Ft. Mill though... We shall see!!! :)

Where are you Weez?

Always a flowering plant or two or three----

okey,dokey

Sorry I didn't post yesterday. I've got my nose to the transplanting table these days. I spent all morning washing flats and cell packs, then filling them with potting soil, wetting them down, putting on the domes and stacking them. I did 16 in the morning, then transplanted to about 10 of them, so I'll have to start the whole process again today or Tuesday. We're heading to Anchorage tomorrow to pick up 6 or 8 big bales of potting soil. I can fill about 25 or 30 flats from a bag, and I still have to do lots of hanging baskets.

Well, I've filled the lower shelves of the greenhouse and I have about 6 more spaces on the main level, then I'm out of space out there. The basement has a few spaces left, then I've got to start setting them all over the floor. I'm reaching that anxiety stage when I'm standing with a couple of filled flats in my arms and no where to set them down. This is the time when I start pressuring my DH to DO SOMETHING! I've told him I'll take care of most everything... sowing seeds, washing containers, transplanting... all he has to do is put them somewhere... poor guy!

We did a tentative head count, and it looks like I've got about 280 flats going right now. About 8 of those are seeds that haven't germinated, about 20 are seeds that have, and the rest are transplanted to cell packs. If I keep transplanting about 6-10 flats a day, you can see where this is all going to mushroom soon. Our night temps are still falling into the 20'sF, so using the unheated greenhouse is still not an option and probably won't be for another couple weeks. Hey, NC, got any room under that chair for about 30 or 40 of my flats??

Wanted to let you know that I got more information to tell you all about that portable gargage it will go well behind the house
and snow falls on the sides of the house this will be outback of the home
so it could be a option
I went by a old greenhouse the round types and had DH go up and ask if man was going to use
he said no i could have it for about 800 or find out how many peices i could use and let him know was a hoping he wanted some one to take it down for him and clean up the mess nope was hoping anyways it has a fan it it and also tons of pots there could be a maybe here went to ebay pricing greenhouses they had one for 475 from maine deleveried free
Did some seed germation last couple of days in paper towels wet in baggies got these up and pottied up kewl I got babies lol
agastache-golden jubilee,firebush,celosia -flamingo flame,
scarlet sage-salvia,purple majesty millet,veronica royal blue,
pink gomphere,rudbeckia-maralade,rudbeckia green wizard
hosta august lily,red texas sage,hibiscus may grande
then did the thing with vericulite and finally got sea holly and canna-cherry red
But this summer will have a greenhouse and now i got to find out any information on air what types are good heat etc
where is cheapiest place and watering the easiest way-wand or????thanks all for helping me weezin love your set up doing great do you do this for a living ???

Maineroses, yes, ventilation can really be important, as well as heat if you want a really early start. Two years ago, we bought a large tent from Sam's Club. It is tubular metal frame with plastic tarp sides and top. It has a peaked gable roof. It cost about $250. With the tarp material replaced by a good UV plastic, it would make a great greenhouse, I think. You could disassemble it in the winter to avoid its collapsing with the snow load. Here's a photo of it... please disregard the crazy men doing a pole dance! LOL!

How about those portable greenhouses for the deck area? I think gardeners supply has them and some of the other seed companies. Does anyone have experience with them? They have roll up plastic on the sides and shelves inside.

Maybe I'm crazy but this year I planted one seed per peat pot or cell. I have only one half flat that didn't sprout. That way I don't have to prick out or kill any seedlings. Can I replant the half that didn't sprout do you think? It's a little moldy, but maybe I could use the dirt over?

Ivy I do that too! I hate pricking out the little fellars and killing them!!

I thought I was the only one who didn't like to kill them, but it seems DG is full of tender hearts!

Last year I took every little seedling and moved them to other cells. Whew! Weezingreens has my respect and admiration for taking all those flats and transplanting them. If transplanting sixteen flats doesn't make you want to kill seedlings, I guess nothing would.

I put my seedlings out yesterday and today to harden off. No greenhouse or covering. It was great because we were on vacation last week and turned the heat down to 50 degrees while we were gone. They actually did better while I was away! I hope they can survive now if it gets cold again. I put out pansies, snaps and oriental poppies. Only 8 flats. Oh yeah, and a few sweet peas half of which did not sprout.

Another question for the experts. I have started most my seeds in 200 cell flats using Jiffy Mix with good results. I then transplant into 6 pak type trays when the plants are well rooted.

I have used potting soil and a mix of potting soil / Jiffy Mix. The potting soil doesn't seem to wick moisture well from bottom watering and I wonder if the Jiffy mix will keep the plant well until I can transplant outdoors the end of May.

Any advice for this novice?

If Jiffy mix is a soil-less mix (peat moss, perlite or vermiculite) like the Pro Mix or Miracle Gro potting soil I use, then there's no problem at all about growing your transplants up in it until they're ready to set out. I'm not sure what is in your "potting soil," so I can't guess why it isn't absorbing water well.

When the soil has dried out it is difficult to rewet it. That is one reason I nuke the soil mix. Jessamine