Seedlings

I wish I would have documented exactly when I started these seedlings. I say that every year! However, they are doing nicely for the most part. I started tomatoes, peppers and eggplant seeds in 6-packs and used the heating mat to help germinate. The tomatoes came up first, followed by the peppers and then finally the eggplant. As the seedlings get their second set of leaves, I've been transplanting them into 4inch pots. I am hoping I will not need to do an additional transplant to a bigger pot before putting them into the ground. However, if I have to do it for the tomatoes I won't mind since each time you transplant them lower in the soil than they were the time before, it makes them stronger and develop a better rooting system. I'm just somewhat lazy bringing the plants outside everyday and then back in at night. I don't want to be doing that for gallon pots if I can help it.  Cynthia Sandberg of Love Apple Farms said in a class one time " they don't call it a plant nursery for nothing" that has always stuck with me. These little seedlings are really like babies, you have to nurture them quite a lot before you actually plant them. I would never think of leaving them outside over night. Don't get fooled by the beautiful day time temperatures we've been having.

The other thing I'm doing this year, is  simplifying my plant choices. Last year I had more than 10 types of pepper plants, the identification tags got lost for some of them, I didn't like all of them etc. This year, I've got two types: Fresno Chili and a hybrid Jalapeno. I have one type of eggplant and two types of tomatoes. However I do plan to buy some grafted tomato seedlings this year. I'm fascinated by them. 

I've got a little herb seedling garden started with : parsley, basil, oregano, cilantro etc. these annuals will supplement my other herbs that made it through the winter like sage and lemon grass.  There is also some cucumber and zucchini seedlings getting ready to germinate any day now.  Dave loves the huge sunflowers, so this year, I'm trying to start a lot of seedlings, usually we lose some to our chickens and other critters. I've got 16 hopeful sunflowers currently waiting to germinate in peat pots. 

The other pleasant surprise is that the kale, collards and chard seedlings that were planted in early winter are finally beginning to grow and the fava plants are over two feet tall now. I'm beginning to start thinking about making fava pesto. It's delicious!