How are your seedlings?
Posted on April 26th, 2007 – 12:08 PMBy Robyn Dochterman
Did you start seedlings this spring? It’s still a few weeks (at least) until it’s safe to plant most things outside, but by now you probably have a sense of inventory of what you’ve got to work with when it’s time to head toward the dirt.
My “to-plant” list seems to be shifting. I started tomatoes, peppers, a bit of broccoli and some flowers a month ago and they are doing well. But last night, I sat bolt upright in bed when I realized I’d completely forgotten to plant cucumbers and melons.
Space under my lights is already claimed by the early starters. I’m out of seed-starter mix, but hey — I still have plastic pots! So I’m going for it. What would you do? Do you think I’ve got enough time to get these guys growing?
Broccoli and cosmos spend quality time together
10 Responses to "How are your seedlings?"
What!? I started my seedlings a week earlier than you and yours are almost twice as big! I planted my trays but forgot to put them close to the light. Instead of growing two inches away, they were two feet away. Now my tomatoes, peppers and parsley are super leggy. I made the same mistake last year. Drat!
I just got my luffa seeds and I was gonna start them this weekend. Don’t worry about starting yur melons and cukes late. There is obviously something very special (and… um.. efficient) about your grow lights.
Oh, those are beautiful Robyn!!! I had lovely tomatoes, but decided to repot them to one size up and all but 3 died. It was really sad. Those that I have left are actually looking pretty good now. I bought some wall-of-waters and I’m going to set them up this weekend to warm the soil and then plant them next weekend. I’m curious to see how well they work (my dad swears by them, and he does get tomatoes about a month before I do, and only part of that can be attributed to living in warmer Iowa).
On a really sad note, I had a whole tray of my next round of seedlings: broccoli, cabbage, three types of peppers, eggplants, basil, celery and radicchio. They were looking good (teeny tiny still, even after three weeks, but healthy and happy) but last weekend when the weather was so nice, I had the window open; I forgot to close it at night, the babies got too cold and all but a couple broccoli, cabbage and peppers all died. I seem to have a black thumb this year.
Is it too late to re-start the peppers and cabbage, or should I just go buy some? I think I can re-do the rest of it…
Robyn, I haven’t even started my cukes or squash yet. Last year I started my seeds about now and they got so big so fast and the weather was okay, so I planted them in early May. Big mistake, the soil was too cold and they all died. I re-started seeds right away, planted them two weeks later (end of May), and that seemed about the perfect time. My advice (although see the black thumb disclosure above and take at your own peril!) is to start them anytime; you aren’t too late at all.
I have never started cucumber or melon inside - always direct-seeded them outdoors in May. They weren’t the earliest on the block, but they did produce eventually.
Gorgeous seedlings, Robyn! I started cosmos and nasturtium too early–it had been years since I’d grown them at home. So, I am hardening them off and then will continue to grow them outside, weather permitting, and bring them in at night.
On re-starting seeds: yes on the melons and cukes, and no on the peppers. In my experience, they germinate and grow very slowly, so you might have to buy starts this year. I have never grown cabbage, so can’t help you there!
Jaime, I keep my plants so close to the lights my biggest problem is burning them, although I’ve gotten better about that!
I have always had trouble in the past years with starting seedlings. They would strech out and get too tall and spindly. This year I went to Midwest Supplies and bought a new flourescent light that has T-5 bulbs. These bulbs were supper bright, and my seedlings stayed nice and compact. I have been growing them inside for about a month now, and I am really happy with the results. I definately recommend the T-5 flourescent bulbs to any one starting seedlings indoors.
Hello fellow garden lovers–question. If I started tomatoes 3 weeks ago, how tall should they be by now? I have between 3-5 leaves on my heirlooms and they are approximately 1 to 1 1/2 inches tall. I’ve never started tomatoes from seeds before, so I’m not sure if they are coming along correctly. The stem isn’t very think, but then again–I don’t really know what to expect. I keep them in a humidity dome and move them into the sunlight each day. Is that enough, or do I need flourescent lights?
Thanks everyone for your helpful support about the melons and cukes. I went ahead and planted the melons because I figure they’ll want the ground to be toasty by planting time. I think I’ll just direct sow the cukes, though.
I got brave and took some of my peppers out in the sun for a bit yesterday to start toughening them up. Boy, real sun is strong! (Duh, me) I think they got about 20 minutes before I moved them to the shade.
Annie, your tomatoes don’t sound unusually short for three weeks to me. I might remove the humity dome, as that helps mostly with germination. Sunlight, if there’s a lot of it, and you turn the seedlings often, is likely ok. I use lights because it’s consistent and convenient. You might also think about fertilizing your ‘maters a little bit soon also.
Robyn, Thank you for the advise. In terms of fertilizer, I purchased a bag of “tomato maker” from my local organic garden center. Would that be adequate?
Annie — That should do the trick. Let me know if the ‘maters respond.
Melons and cucumbers don’t transplant well. You are better off making a cold frame and putting them right into the ground.
Greengirls Connie Nelson, Robyn Dochterman and Jaime Chismar are dishin' the dirt from the backyard garden and beyond. Whether you're a greenthumb or greenhorn, they're eager to learn from your misshaps, mistakes -- and most importantly, your sweet successes -- all growing season long.
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