Starting Lettuce Seeds Indoors, from Saved Seeds. 03.05.2021

Today I planted seeds from "Black Seeded Simpson" lettuce, a variety that I recall my mom growing with I was a little lad.  During that era, gardening was especially challenging because there were Tyrannosaurus rex dinosaurs running around the yard and we had to stay out of their way.   Oh, the memories.

I saved these seeds from some lettuce plants I grew last year.   Saving lettuce seeds was a new thing for me.  The flowers were a little sticky, so it wasn't as easy to separate the seeds from the chaff, but perfection isn't necessary and usually isn't an option for me. They cleaned up well enough.

There is a potential these cross bred with wild lettuce, which might result in bitter, smaller leaves.   We'll know if/when they germinate and grow.

Lettuce germinates at 60F to 70F, so I won't use the warming mat.

The variety "Black Seeded Simpson" was introduced in the late 19th century, so people have been growing it for more than 130 years.

Up-potting Apple and Pepper Seedlings. 03.05.2021

 Yesterday got a bag of potting soil during senior coronavirus hours at Costco, so this morning I up-potted the three apple seedlings and two of the peppers, from their six-pack cells into individual larger pots with actual potting soil.  They had good root systems. My theory, borne out by experience but never tested, is that when the roots reach the sides and bottom of the container and start winding around, the plant growth slows down and it doesn't thrive.  

The apple seedlings look surprisingly healthy, considering I don't know what I'm doing.  I wonder if, on being in real sunshine, the red coloration will darken. 

Background info:  

 The apple seedlings are Redlove™ Calypso™ X Golden Sentinel.  

So far, Calypso™  has red flesh and is sort of cranapple flavored. Quite tart and crisp.  Smaller than my other apples, although first year fruits are usually not as large or good as those from more mature trees.

Golden Sentinel is a Canadian development, a cross of ‘Discovery’ X (cross of Wijcik Spur MacIntosh x Delicious). Discovery is an English cross of . Worcester Pearmain with, possibly, Beauty of Bath, reported to have a bit of a strawberry flavor and red coloration that sometimes bleeds into the flesh. So Golden Sentinel has some good flavor genetics. I like it although it seems to be biennial bearing.

My pipe dream is to create a columnar apple tree with reddish leaves, pink flowers, red flesh apples that are sweeter than Calypso™ but more fragrant than Golden Sentinel, which I think is a good apple as is. Since two of the seedlings have reddish leaves, I might be part way there. They have a 50% chance of columnar trait. According to the Canada Plant Inspection Agency, Golden Sentinel has shorter internodes compared to McIntosh Wicjik, so it’s possible that I might see that in seedlings although I don’t know if I would recognize it. I try to put these on a top shelf where they get more sun, because I don’t know if the wavelength of the LED lights is suitable for red-pigmented leaves.

Training and Trellis for Apple Espalier. 3.5.2021

Yesterday  I  did some training of apple espaliers.  I'm using the espalier form around the perimeter of the fenced garden, for efficient use of premium deer-protected space, and to grow apples without need for ladders or excessive reaching overhead.  It will take a few years for these to reach their potential.  The Redlove™ Odysso™ and Redlove™ Calypso™ are one year old, the Redlove™ Era™ is two years old, and the Zestar™ is one year old.

I like that I can use the home grown timber bamboo for the horizontal aspect of the trellis.  The vertical posts are just fenceposts, and not as stable as I want.  Those will need replacing at some point, but I'm not up to it right now.

The tiers will need more growth at the ends, to fully utilize the horizontal trellises.  I thing I can let the tops grow and bend/tie them as they lengthen.  Also, two trees need another branch for the lower tiers, so I have small branches that I'm leaving in place and hope they lengthen this summer for bending over later.

These may benefit from more nitrogen fertilizer than I gave them last year, which was minimal or none.  I'd like to have the tiers more fully developed by the end of the year. 

These are situated perfectly for the summer pruning that espalier trees require.  I can putter around in the vegetable and fruit garden at the same time.

 Redlove™ Era™

Redlove™ Calypso™

Planting Onion and Shallot Seedlings Outside, Early. 3.5.2021

 It might be too early, but I planted some of the onion and shallot seedlings outside in the raised bed.  Given the gentle weather, overcast sky and predicted rain, I did not try to acclimate them to outdoors first.  This cleared some space on the seedling stand for additional plantings.  

The NY Early onion seedlings look fairly sturdy.  The shallot seedlings appear more delicate.  It might be early, but since winter onions and onion sets are starting to grow, I think these will be OK too.

I overdid the garlic and onions.  I need to decide on space for the other seedlings.  The other raised bed is reserved for peppers and pickle cucumbers.

Crocus. 3.5.2021

 Not much else blooming.  A crocus is a welcome sight.  Most of the little fruit trees are surrounded by various bulbs.  My hypothesis is that these bulbs might be bitter or toxic, so deter tunneling subterranean animals from damaging the young fruit tree roots.  I don't know that it actually helps.  I do like the cheerful flowers.