Posted on 02/13/2015 1:01:56 PM PST by greeneyes
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I ran across a link that has great pictures and directions for starting tomato seeds, repotting and transplanting, so if you are new or simply want to refresh your memory:
http://www.gardenbetty.com/2011/03/the-no-brainer-guide-to-starting-seeds-indoors/
I am reminded that Marcella's trials concluded with Espoma Organic Seed Starter being the clear winner.
If mixing your own (could be cheaper) you could try a soiless mix of equal parts sphagnum peat moss (or coir), perlite, and Vermiculite.
My seed packet also reminds me that the Tomato plant needs plenty of P and K and calcium. Bone Meal, Gypsum, Epsom Salts, are often used in addition to compost with banana peels and egg shells, when you get to the transplant outdoors stage.
Have a great weekend. God Bless.
I planted some Cosmos seeds the other day. Those are great flowers that are drought resistant and low maintenance.
It takes a while for them to germinate though. I may add some nitrogen, just a drop or two. (Elenores’ Plant Food).
Pinging the list. Not sure why the link didn’t work. But I’m sure just doing a search using that name will get it, if you are so inclined.
IIRC, Cosmos is one of the wonderful flowers that helps to attract beneficial and pollinating insects.
If I recall properly, Marcella recommended only the :"Miracle Gro Potting mix".
Other brands and mixtures may have been combined with contaminants.
I have read on other forums that other products may not be as 'fine', nor as conducive to plant and root growth.
Marcella is reknowned as the queen of pot growth mediums , seed germenation, and her love for anti-tree rats(squirrel) pesticides.
Beds are prepared and am ready to plant potatoes this weekend. The rule here; Valentine's day. And if you can catch a full moon (the 18th I think) so much the better.
Other than the usual suspects I'm trying Red Malabar Spinach and Frisee (aka Curly Endive) this year. The Red Malabar should do well, apparently it's very heat tolerant but I've never tried to grow Frisee in an oven so it's iffy.
Feels like spring in Central Texas....Oh, just shut up!!! (s) The Canadian Ki-Ki birds were out in flocks here today.
4’ of snow on the ground, near zero outside, so I just ordered 10 fruit trees for a micro-orchard to be planted close quarter mid March:
1 - Jonathan Apple Semi Dwarf
1 - Red Delicious Apple Semi Dwarf
1 - Golden Delicious Apple Semi Dwarf
1 - Montmorency Pie Cherry Semi-Dwarf
1 - Moonglow Pear Dwarf
1 - Delicious™ Pear Dwarf
1 - Redheart Plum Dwarf
1 - Delicious™ Plum Dwarf
1 - Redhaven Peach Dwarf
1 - Delicious™ Peach Dwarf
We’ll see what happens.
I love Cosmos! So graceful and tall, they stand out in the garden despite their delicate appearance.
Have to try those Whippersnapper tomatoes, that sounds like a great use for hanging basket space!
I’m not starting my tomato seedlings until March 1 (Big Beefs), the hydroponics are doing great but the produce is nothing I’d mistake for garden grown in the summer sun and warm dirt. I’ll try flowers next and see how that works out :)
That’s wonderful!
We have had an excellent February with most days hitting 70.
Now if we could manage that in August...it wouldn't be Texas.
Just as a reminder, " perlite, and Vermiculite" are not ferilizers , but will increase the frability of your soil (light , less dense).
"Spahagnum peat moss or (choir)" will retain soil moisture, and allow for soil moisture during dry summer heat, while being an almost sterile soil medium.
Also , it incidently adds to soil friability, and keeps the soil a lighter texture and adds organic matter to soil, especially important to people with heavy clay soil.
9 degrees. Got to put some Christmas lights and sheets over the plants in the garage, because it’s going down to -2.
Was also planning to winter sow some seeds, but they can wait another week.
And I should cut a lot of wintersweet and winter jasmine branches this evening - they’ll be open by tomorrow morning inside, but -2 overnight is going to kill the buds.
Brr.
Link to a nice seed starting article from Eric:
http://www.thelaketoday.com/news/2015/feb/11/how-start-seeds-part-1-starting-seeds-indoors-home/
Nice weather in Central Missouri today but the forecast is for more snow and back in the freezer over the weekend.
Sawmill guy is coming on Sunday to give me a bid on my log pile.
If I get really ambitious I might warm up my workshop and paint the cold frame over the weekend.
I planted Whippersnappers for some other people last year. My mother’s went all summer, but my friend’s died - I think he watered way too much.
The only better scenario would be for you to start "beekeeping" by buying a "nuk", a Langstroth bee hive, , and starting your own pollinating business.
Good dwarf selection,.. now encourage the pollinators !
Monarda (bee balm), cosmos , and other attractants... close to the garden .
But allow plenty of space for the mature "semi-drarfs" as they will grow, but you son't want to crowd out the other varieties..
Planning , planning ... etc., and imagine them (size wise)in 15 years .
I’ve got curly endive on my list of want to try it this year too. I haven’t ever tried it anywhere, but had some in a salad last year, on Mother’s Day and it was great.
I’ll probably do a second planting in the area that is shaded during the hottest part of the day by the house and a tree - I have had some good luck with growing some other greens there.
Our first date for planting potatoes is April 1. I do have a small patch that I planted late last fall. Hubby kept telling me that it would work, so I had to experiment.LOL
Consider going to use "dry cleaners plastic bags" over the plants (for light), or "see thru" platic garbage bags.
Another thought is even a 25 watt light underneath the plants covered in a plastic bag.
Celery and cauliflower growing like weeds Gotta get the white radishes and beets picked as well as thinning out the carrots.
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