My first time growing from seeds.

Some said it wouldn't happen.
Some said it couldn't happen.
Others laughed.

But I did it. I grew tomatoes and bell peppers from seed. First time ever.

I know it isn't much compared to almost everybody in here, but for me, well.....I don't know how to explain it.........
I guess you would have to say I'm happy about it. (big smile)

I had always bought plants.
This is loads of fun. I can't wait to grow more. I've ordered probably 50 or 60 different packages of seeds from various places.

I've turned one of my rooms here in the house into a "Seedhouse" and have been hanging lots of lights above shelves. I'm having a blast!

Here is a pic of my tomatoes. Not a lot, only 40 of them.

Here are my Bell Peppers:

Oooooh, very nice peppers and tomatoes Darrell! I hope mine grow up to be like yours :-) Right now my peppers are a little smaller than yours and my tomatoes just started sprouting a couple of days ago (I was late getting those sown). Congratulations on your success! --Ginny

Congrats, Darrell. You are really progressing. And the "crop" looks great! WTG!

Good for you Darrel-what a great achievement! They look so healthy. I also started seeds for the first time, but am stubborn enough to believe they should be happy with natural light in a mini-greenhouse. They're growing okay, but not lush and happy like yours are. Next year I'll hook up lights in the greenhouse (it has 4 very deep shelves) and save myself some window space-the cats'll be happier too...lol.

I may have to break down too, Christine.

Thanks everybody.

LOL Did you see all those holes in the wall? LOL

I moved the shelves a couple times. well, maybe 3 times. No, I didn't move them 4 times. LOL

My cats wouldn't allow me to use their window ledge. Not that I'd want to take it from them. When they are in the window, I know they aren't into other things they shouldn't be into.

My cats are:
F.E (Effie)
O.N. (Owen)
I.V. (Ivy)
L.N. (Ellen)
K.C. (Kacy)
L.C. (Ellsie)
L.S. (Elless)
and
E.V. (Evie)

I put in a dog door for them to come and go. They were driving me nuts. One wanted out, one wanted in but wouldn't come in untill I sat down. Then he or she, would want in. Then the next one would want out, but would wait till I sat down. Grrrrrrrrrrrr

Anyway...........Thanks for the compliments everybody.

Darrell

Cute and original names you have for your cats Darrell. Mine are my "little flowers" - Lily at 12 lbs., and Lupin at 13.5 lbs. They're not fat they have big bones...lol.

Looking good.

Congratultions Darrel! They look really good.....do you have a fan blowing on them?

Your seedlings look beautiful Darrell. You're definitely doing everything right by the look of it.

Eight cats...wow. I have one. Unfortunately at the moment she is very sick.

Sandy

I know what you mean when you say, "Big Boned", I've got a couple like that. Me included. lol

As a matter of fact, yes, I have a fan blowing on them. I think it has made the stems thicker. At least it looks like that too me. The peppers especially thickened up after a few days. At first, when the fan blew on them, they would wiggle and wave a bit. Now, they stand straight up and don't give an inch to the air blowing on them.

Oh no, Sandy. I hope your cat gets to feeling better. What's wrong?

A friend in North Battleford taught me that.......it does make a huge difference.

The vet isn't exactly sure. She may have eaten a bad bird....one with Salmonella. If so the vet said it's the first case she's had this year. Apparently she sees several cases every spring. I'm hoping that's what it is because then the antibiotics will fix her up. I'm afraid I can't afford a major operation. The first signs were on Sunday. I took her in yesterday. She had a very high fever and her white blood cells were almost off the chart. I think she's feeling a bit better today. She got up and walked to the litter box. She wanted outside but I'm not supposed to let her out. Poor kitty.

Great crop Darrell,

Movement on seedlings strengthen the cambium cells in the outer cover of all stems. Makes them grow stronger. If you dont have a fan, then blow on them daily. Really works. I did an undergrad project about that as a kid and set up the same experiment in BC just last week for a 10 year old gardener.

Blow away, everyone.

Inanda

That sounds awful. I'm sure you are keeping a close eye on your cat.

I was mainly a dog lover untill I was given a gift of two kittens to help curb the mouse population around here. The next thing I know, the two grew up, got married and had kittens. lol

Wishing your furbaby well, and a speedy recovery, Sandy.

I just gotta try the fan idea. I have heard the same from several reliable sources now.

Sandy, I hope our kitty gets better without an operation. I'm crossing my fingers for you, and sending Kitty Get Well Vibes all the way from Ontario.

I have a fan going 24/7, and it doesn't work that way for my seedlings - but they likely need the grow lights too and to be warmer. Next year they'll be perfect....lol.

Thank you for your kind thoughts for Ozzie. She's definitely more chipper than she was yesterday but she still hasn't eaten anything.

I sure hope she is on the mend Sandy. (((Ozzie)))

Darrell, your plants all look just wonderful! Mine are never that sturdy--will have to try the fan idea.

Sandy, sorry about the cat. I'd never thought before about salmonella from the birds they catch...good thing to be aware of. Hope the antibiotics work quickly for you.

Rosemary

She seems to be feeling a bit better. She ate a tiny bit of food and went outside for a few minutes. It's been a struggle the last couple of years to try to get her to put on a few pounds. She was just starting to gain some weight so this is a real setback.

Darrell, great pics of your seedlings. They look really good. Just curious, what type of bulbs do you have in your fixtures? This is my first year growing from seed as well; I read that having 1 "cool" and 1 "warm" fluorescent bulb in each fixture works well, as it gives seedlings a broader spectrum of light than just one or the other. So far mine seem to be enjoying the combo. And at $1.50 each for a 4-foot tube, the price is right. Grow lights are supposed to be ideal, but too pricy for me right now. The cheap ones are fine.

I love your cats' names, BTW! Ours are called Franklin, Sophie and Scruffy. Franklin was named after a cat I met at a B&B in Churchill MB, who himself was named after the explorer. Sophie was named after Col Potter's horse, and Scruffy was named for his looks at the time he adopted me ;-)

Sandy - sorry to hear about Ozzie's bout with illness!! It's been a couple of weeks since the last post on this thread (I just read it today) - how's she doing now?

Shannon


This message was edited Apr 30, 2005 11:53 PM

That's cool. I did things in the opposite order - the first plants I grew were ones I started from seed and only recently have I tried starting with already growing plants :)

Shannon,

I have the cheap lights. Nothing special. I thought I might need what you're talking about, i.e., cool and warm. As it turned out, I didn't need that at all. Just the cheap white lights. :)

I can't believe it either, my Peppers are starting to get blossoms on them already and I have 3 to 4 weeks to go before I can plant them outside. They are sure growing nice for me.

I hope your's do good too, Shannon.

Darrell

Blooms - that's great, Darrell! When did you plant them?

No blooms on mine yet - planted 29 March. I'm going to move them to the portable greenhouse outside, as soon as (or if) it quits raining for a day.

Shannon,

I started my Bell Peppers on March 11th in 7 oz Dixie Cups. On April 18th I transplanted them into 1 Gallon containers.

Although I've heard they don't like to be transplanted, I didn't see any change in them. They stayed green looking, upright and firm. Never drooped at all.

I was quick about it. i.e., I had the 1 Gallon pot ready, tapped the 7 oz Dixie Cup to loosen the root system, craddled the stem between my fingers as I removed the Dixie Cup so the plant was upside down in my hand. Turned the plant right side up as it went into it's new pot. Covered the roots with soil immediately and firmed the peppers into place. I think it's the roots that bother the plant. If you don't get them covered up quickly, it "alarms" the plant and that's when you run into problems.

I made sure that my potting soil was the same temperature as the soil in the pepper plant dixie cup. In that I mean, I the potting soil was room temperature, same as the 7 oz dixie cups.

I'll take new pictures later and post them.

Darrell

Sounds like you're doing all the right stuff, Darrell. Funny to think about something "alarming" the plant...lol...but that's absolutely what it's like, isn't it.

I hope mine have blooms in a couple weeks' time too. I'll look forward to continuing to compare notes...thanks for all the info.

Shannon