Spring is a little over 30 days away so I started some spring greens. They include Winter Density Lettuce, Shanghai Bok Choy, Tatsoi and Boston Lettuce. I also started a couple trays of Alisa Craig onions. I am hoping to plant out the greens in the polytunnel during the first week of March, weather permitting of course. The seeds I started late January are also doing well, here are some photos of them:
Bottle Onions - Germination was a bit spotty but that seems to bethe case with this variety. Of the three trays I should have plenty.
Siletz Tomato - The first three seeds I planted did not germinate.I replanted five and now have three seedlings. Some fresh seed will
be needed next year and I'll replace it with a faster producing tom.
Black Brandywine Tomato - This one germinated well so I thinnedto the largest one and potted up. I am really looking forward to trying
this one. The early start should help this late producing variety get going.
On the weather front, this week is bringing a much needed warm up. Friday is forcasted to be 10c (50f). I hope this is a trend that will continue! The sun is feeling warmer, the birds are starting to sing, bring on spring!
I agree that spring will be welcomed with open arms when it gets here! Looking forward to a melt too, the snowbanks are too high!
ReplyDeleteHave you have success in the polytunnel putting the seedlings out this early in the past? How old are your tomato seeds?
This is my first year starting my own transplants inside, I'm holding off a while as I don't have a polytunnel yet, but hopefully next year!
Hi Stacy, the tomato seeds that did not germinate well were 3 years old. Under cover I have had seeds germinated near the end of February but they don't grow much. Mid March things really start growing under cover. Just hardy vegetables though, onions, greens etc.
ReplyDeleteMy seeds seem to be doing well too except for I believe the better boy tomatoes. Have to look when I get home tonight. Been using a heating pad under the trays to start but now have backed off from using it to slow them down some.
ReplyDeleteGood to see you sowing some stuff, Dan! Man, I bet that Black Brandywine is gonna be killer!
ReplyDeleteSeeds look like they're coming along well! We've just started off our first seeds of the year as well...
ReplyDeleteI have to laugh that spring is 30 days away, but maybe. We are also getting a warm spell. We really need one too so the snow can melt out.
ReplyDeleteI just tossed several packs of lettuce seeds from 2008 today. I had sown them a couple of weeks ago and they did very poorly. I just hate to throw out seeds.
ReplyDeleteThat Black Brandywine is looking good. I just started to pre-sprout my early tomatoes today...come on Spring!!
You're way ahead of me for seed starting! I'll likely begin in about 11 days, with some early lettuce.
ReplyDeleteIt's difficult for me to believe that spring will be here soon with 2.5 feet of snow on the ground. The weather is supposed to be warm in the next few days. I am hoping for some significant snow melting.
ReplyDeleteYour seedling look good and your photography is absolutely wonderful as usual.
I have a dreadful suspicion that here in the UK, after the hardest freeze for many years, we are not over it! Weather forecasting rumour has a cold March ahead. Still, it hasn't stopped me sowing a few things. You need to cheer yourself up with the prospect of good eating in summer, don't you?
ReplyDeleteYour seedlings look great! I can't start tomato seedlings for another few weeks so I'm living vicariously through you. Can't wait to see the final fruit in a few months!
ReplyDeleteI went through the seed inventory this past winter and culled out a lot of older seed - the germination rates were just getting too low to be worth messing with. It's amazing how fast the accumulation of partial packets grows though. :D
ReplyDeleteThe seedlings look great and that first planting out day will be here before we know it.
Dan, it's so exciting to see more & more people sowing their seeds. Spring is on it's way! Do you think that the lack of light intensity contributed to the growth issue when putting seedlings into the polytunnel early? I'm hoping to have something set up in the fall to extend my growing season into the winter months.
ReplyDeleteYour seedlings look very good! I am sure they will develop nicely. Hope you get some spring soon
ReplyDeleteHere is the Southern Hemi, we've had a hot and strange summer which has impacted on the garden almost as much as your snow. I've been sowing seeds every two-three weeks and only getting a 40-50% take up. I'm guessing it's been too extreme - wet and or hot - and the seeds have been drying out. I'm taking a leaf out of your book and going to try raising some indoors where I can control the climate. Thanks for the encouragement.
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to seeing your garden this year will be amazing as usual.
ReplyDeleteJust a couple of hours of sunshine this time of year is so helpful! I almost imagine I can feel some warmth. It certainly helps the early seedlings in the greenhouse to get a good dose of strong sunlight. Roll on Spring!
ReplyDeleteBring on the spring. I love to see those adorable green babies growing in their pots!
ReplyDeleteI'd never heard of bottled onions before, this is very interesting!
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