This is such a crazy time for seed starting indoors. You're crossing your fingers as you watch your cole crop seedlings, hoping they'll start to get some girth to their stems and that their leaves will really start to look big enough to support anything worth harvesting. Meanwhile, one day the weather seems to be a balmy 50 and the next it seems to be hovering around 35 degrees. You can't imagine ever being able to set these fragile little seedlings out in the garden. But everyone knows a gardener, while realistic, is always full of hope.
I don't know if it is the gardener in me, the artist in me, or both. I love watching the stages of growth as the seedlings become plants, ready for the garden. With Nikon camera ready, I start taking shots of the seedlings! I love the play of light and shadow on their leaves and the occasional water drop on a seedling. So, I have a few close-ups of my seedlings to share. I hope you find them as interesting as I do!
Seed Starting for 3-5-2011
So I finally took the leap and started my seeds for my tomato neighborhood. (Seeds for peppers, herbs, and beneficial flowers such as marigolds were started on Sunday, February 20th.) I decided to just start my favorites this year and I will probably try a few new varieties this weekend.
The favorites that I started were as follows;
Coldset, yellow pear, Cherokee purple, San Marzano, and the Riesentraube Grape.
The coldset is great because it can be harvested in about 55-60 days and it makes a nice, medium size, meaty tomato. This is a great tomato for canning whole. The Cherokee purple is great sliced and I found I like to dice it and cook it with basil and garlic and can it for making a quick pasta sauce. The San Marzano is a very good tomato for making salsa, tomato sauce, and canning.
In terms of eggplant, I planted the long purple variety and I am still looking for the Ichabon variety. I like the smaller eggplants. Oh, I almost forgot. I also started seeds for the Mexican Two Color Fiesta Tomatillos. These are great for salsa and for making a tomatillo and garlic sauce that can be frozen and used in chicken dishes.
I don't know if it is the gardener in me, the artist in me, or both. I love watching the stages of growth as the seedlings become plants, ready for the garden. With Nikon camera ready, I start taking shots of the seedlings! I love the play of light and shadow on their leaves and the occasional water drop on a seedling. So, I have a few close-ups of my seedlings to share. I hope you find them as interesting as I do!
Seed Starting for 3-5-2011
So I finally took the leap and started my seeds for my tomato neighborhood. (Seeds for peppers, herbs, and beneficial flowers such as marigolds were started on Sunday, February 20th.) I decided to just start my favorites this year and I will probably try a few new varieties this weekend.
The favorites that I started were as follows;
Coldset, yellow pear, Cherokee purple, San Marzano, and the Riesentraube Grape.
The coldset is great because it can be harvested in about 55-60 days and it makes a nice, medium size, meaty tomato. This is a great tomato for canning whole. The Cherokee purple is great sliced and I found I like to dice it and cook it with basil and garlic and can it for making a quick pasta sauce. The San Marzano is a very good tomato for making salsa, tomato sauce, and canning.
In terms of eggplant, I planted the long purple variety and I am still looking for the Ichabon variety. I like the smaller eggplants. Oh, I almost forgot. I also started seeds for the Mexican Two Color Fiesta Tomatillos. These are great for salsa and for making a tomatillo and garlic sauce that can be frozen and used in chicken dishes.
Hm... you are starting your seeds earlier than me, all I have really done are leek seeds and a few basic tomato varieties. I am impressed at the variety of different seeds you have planted as well. Do you have a greenhouse? Is it heated?
ReplyDeleteTom, I do love having a variety and I do a lot of interplanting. As it gets warmer I will also plant things such as lettuce and swiss chard in the shade of plants.
ReplyDeleteI do not have a greenhouse. I have a plant rack set up with 4 aquarium hoods with grow lights. I can have 8 trays going at one time. Thank goodness my husband doesn't mind my 'plants'. I have them in the kitchen so I can keep a close eye on everything. Keeping the right amount of moisture is key, which means I need to be able to keep a close eye on them.
Since I start my seeds in the kitchen, they have the heat of the lights and then my house is kept at about 68 degrees. This is my second year of using the plant rack and it is a worthwhile investment.
Good Luck with your seed starting!
Beautiful pictures! I'm really hoping my seedlings look like yours. I love the gardener AND thee artist! I love the Hope comment. You've got a follower on 38th Street.
ReplyDelete38th Street Gardener,
ReplyDeleteThank you for the kind words! I hope you enjoy the postings to come. Although I'm a busy art teacher by day, it's my garden and art that keep me centered.
In terms of seedlings, don't forget to fertilize! I use seaweed/fish emulsion when they are about 4 or 5 weeks old. It really helps with the 'healthy' green and they seem to really get a burst of growth. Also, it is amazing how much better the seedlings look once you harden them off outside. Just remember to make it a gradual transition.
Good luck with your seedlings!