I think I jumped the gun on planting these seedlings. They are up, up and away and it's not nearly time to put them out yet. I planted them before I got my new Ky gardening book and found out when to do which veggies. I don't have my light set up yet but I have them growing under a regular desk lamp. These are garden peas, brocolli and eggplants. Any idea what I can do to make the best of my mistake?
Wow! eat the sprouts LOL
Those are awfully lanky, more so than I would personally bother to try and salvage. I would just start over at the correct times for your area for those various vegetables and consider this a practice run. :-) That is, if you have more seed. As you found, a desk lamp will not provide the proper spectrum and so your seedlings "reached".
Also, peas are not something I generally bother to start under lights. I just direct sow when it is time.
If you don't want to try over, get a big fluorescent bulb to replace the incandescent in the desk lamp. Lowes has them in sizes that work all the way up to 200W replacement sizes. [I hate how these bulbs are advertised - a "200 watt replacement" actually uses around 45 watts of electricity. Anyway, the fluorescent bulbs are more efficient and put out more light. - I use them a lot in my house, in part because I am light sensitive and winter can be a drag without them]
Cajuninky, I found this website that shows frost dates in your area. Thought you might find it interesting.
http://www.crh.noaa.gov/lmk/?n=frostfreeze
Don't feel bad about starting them abit early. I'm really having to sit on my hands and stop myself from doing the same thing!
Sue :-)
Th bulb that's in the lamp is one of those "new" ones that curls around. Is that the kind you mean?
Thanks for the link. My book says can plant my carrots in a week!!!!
Whew! I won't be starting my carrots until May 30. Unless we have an unusually nice spring and I'll tempt starting them sooner.
