Wednesday, April 22, 2015

Starting Seeds. 4.22.15


 I've been starting seeds for s few weeks.  Currently using 6-packs in a plastic tray with clear cover.  For germination, they are on a seed starting warming mat.  Once they germinate, I move them under the CFL grow-light system that I made in March 2014.  I have the seedlings as close to the lights as I can place them.  The two boxes of larger seedlings were just under the lights, the others are next to get the CFL light spa treatment.  The larger seedlings will go into the sunroom to grow them a bit larger before placing outside.  The sunroom is acting now as a greenhouse.

Seedlings already in the sunroom:  tomatoes, morning glories, nasturtiums, marigolds.

Seedlings heading to the sun room:  Four o'clocks, nasturtiums, many varieties of peppers.

Seedlings under the CFL system:  milkweed, joe pye weed, morning glories, French marigolds, swiss chard.  The swiss chard germinated in 2 days.

On the heating mat:  more of the flowers.

Too early for beans, zucchinis, and squashes.

I didn't have it in me to start early vegetables outside this year.  Other than snowpeas, which are germinating.

I had stratified the Joe Pye Weed and Milkweed seeds in zipper plastic bags, on moist paper towels, for 6 weeks.  Then placed on warming mat.  As the seeds germinated, I moved them into 6-packs with seed starting medium.  The milkweeds did very well with this method.  The Joe Pye weed seems too delicate.  However, there are 2 plants.  Considering this is an experiment and they grow very large, 2 plants is enough. 

The milkweed is Asclepias syriaca,  which I started for bee forage and nostalgia and novelty.  Does not grow here like it did in the midwest.  The balls of flowers are unusual. 

"Asclepiascommon" by Original uploader was Hardyplants at en.wikipedia - Transferred from en.wikipedia; transferred to Commons using CommonsHelper.. Licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Asclepiascommon.JPG#/media/File:Asclepiascommon.JPG

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2 comments:

  1. lance2:24 PM

    The seed starting is major part of spring chore. It can be the most fun or aggravating. I usually don't start anything indoors. I prefer direct seeding but starting them early and have them at a good size help them not to be eaten by birds or slugs. Because those critters are interested in new emerging seedlings. I've to re-seed my carrot beds for the third time. The plastic mesh tray covering didn't help. Even the transplanted lettuce was mowed over. I've not seen any carrot seeds come out. Peppers are always started inside because its too cold here. My squash/tomato seeds was started a month ago and its still pretty cold at night all the ones that's in the ground have not ground much except the peas gown very fast everyday. Iris and roses are blooming.

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  2. Daniel Wachenheim8:25 AM

    Lance, like you I prefer direct seedling. Here the ground is so cool, and the spring so wet, a lot of types don't do well until late May. So this gives me an early start.

    Nice your irises and roses are blooming. Sounds very nice.

    We get slugs the size of big cigars. "Banana slug". I use organic slug bait which helps a lot.

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