Dwarf Dahlia Seedling Update. 6 Apr 24.

 The dwarf dahlia seedlings are making their true leaves now.  I think germination was about 50%.  These seeds were planted in regular potting soil.  They were at room temperature, not warming mat.  I read they do better without the added warmth.

My plan was 8 cells of "Mignon" and 8 cells of "Dandy".   Full height for Mignon is listed as 20 inches and for Dandy  24 inches (Baker Creek Seeds).   Maybe smaller if container grown?   Since some cells were empty and some had two or three plants, I rearranged today so each cell had one plant.

These are in full sun, outside, during the day and inside at night. They usually get a few hours of LED light to lengthen their day.  Watering with Schultz at recommended houseplant strength.  I think Miracle Grow at 1/4 tsp per 2 quart would do fine as well.

Tomato Seedling Update. 6 Apr 24.

 The tomato seedlings are doing well.  With days this week mostly 50s to 60s, maybe slightly warmer in full sun, I have them out in full sun all day and in sunroom at night.  Nights are high 30s into the 40s.

The pale leggy seedlings look a lot better now.   I thinned them today, one seedling per cell.

Before thinning.

I think they are about to have a growth surge now.

I'm watering as with other seedlings, weak houseplant - strength Schultz with each watering,

Do the Fig Trees Need Fertilizer? 5 Apr 24.

 I looked at a variety of websites regarding fertilizing fig trees.  

From Univ of Georgia extension service,  "a satisfactory amount of shoot growth is about a foot per year."

Clemson Univ talks a lot about fertilizing, but also states that in soils of average fertility, fertilizing might not be needed.  They also state that too much fertilizer can cause loss of yield, as can too little water.

A website called "The Fruit Grove" discusses fertilizing, but notes that if the trees are already growing and producing well, then fertilization might not be needed and, again, too much - especially nitrogen - can reduce fig production and cause rank, non-hardy growth that is more susceptible to winter kill.

I can't find the reference right now, but another said don't fertilize if there is more than six inches of growth.

I checked how long new growth was from last year.

A lot of new stems are six to nine inches.  Some are longer, and Violette de Bordeaux (as noted earlier, probably falsely sold as Petite negri) always has less growth, being dwarf in habit ( I think brachytic dwarfism = short internodes). 

Considerations -

I almost always get more figs than I know what to do with anyway.

I normally don't fertilize my fig trees.  They usually do fine without.

American and worldwide fruits and vegetables have become significantly less nutritions, as well as less flavor, over the past 70 years.  Part of that is fertilizing depleted soils to boost yields and speed growth.

Sometimes I have spread wood ashes in the fig grove.  I don't know if that is fertilizing or just soil building.

The fig grove is also a "rest stop" for Rufus.  It actually gets quite a lot of fertilizing via doggie.  That the grasses there are the lushest and fastest growing in the yard, probably indicates that is enough.

My aim is quality, richness of flavor, and while I might not see or taste it, nutrition.  Raising yields, and growing even bigger figs, just isn't on my wish list.

So after all of that, I decided not to fertilize the fig grove.  After the next grass cutting, I'll cast a dusting of wood ashes.  The added calcium as well as other minerals should be beneficial without causing rank, weak, overgrowth.

Overwintered Four O'Clock (Mirabilis) Roots. 5 Apr 24.

 I was cleaning out one of last year's flowerpots, and found these.  They are Four O'Clock roots.

It's possible I pulled off the growth tops.  I thought there was a weed.  These look nice and firm.  Maybe they have adventitious buds that might grow.

I planted them in potting soil in starter pots. If they grow, I'll plant them in the border or in from of the house.

First Apple Blossoms Of The Season. 4 Apr 24.

 These are the first open apple blossoms of the season.

Redlove Calypso.

Zestar.

Gravenstein.

I need to keep this in mind if I eliminate a variety.  Gravenstein is triploid - I think - so wont pollinate the others, and needs them to develop its fruit.

Still, there will be a lot of overlap with the next ones.  These are just the beginning.

I'm curious about how Zestar will do.  Last year, there were apples but they were not all that good.  Whereas, the Gravensteins were fit for a King!