I wish I had really researched seed starting last year. Last year I just tried to wing it, didn't have good lighting, good heat, etc and I had a few flowers make it.
This year one of my 72 pellet trays is completely covered in little flower seedlings.
My other tray has a few flowers, broccoli, cauliflower, and eggplant and most of those are now breaking the soil or are actually up. (they were started later).
Just put in my pepper seeds this past Friday in another flat, so hopefully by the weekend I'll see them making it.
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rainbowgardener
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Sounds like you are doing great! Congratulations!
For next year, you might want to start a little earlier. Broccoli transplants can go out in the garden a month ahead of average last frost date; they are extremely hardy and frost tolerant. And it helps to give them the head start, because they don't like hot weather and tend to fizzle once it gets hot.
The peppers don't go out until danger of frost and near freezing nights is past, but they are very slow growing. So they benefit from an early start too. For my climate, I plant my broccoli and pepper seeds indoors by the first of February or even a little bit earlier. My broccoli transplants went in the ground last week.
But you only find all that stuff out by experience.
For next year, you might want to start a little earlier. Broccoli transplants can go out in the garden a month ahead of average last frost date; they are extremely hardy and frost tolerant. And it helps to give them the head start, because they don't like hot weather and tend to fizzle once it gets hot.
The peppers don't go out until danger of frost and near freezing nights is past, but they are very slow growing. So they benefit from an early start too. For my climate, I plant my broccoli and pepper seeds indoors by the first of February or even a little bit earlier. My broccoli transplants went in the ground last week.
But you only find all that stuff out by experience.
I know. I couldn't decide on where to order seeds from because of cost, and I thought some places around here would sell in bulk and they ended up not getting the right things in bulk in. So I called/emailed the place where I ordered my seeds and tried to get them moving as quickly as possible and I couldn't get them any sooner. As a matter of fact my celery seed was on backorder and I am suppose to get them today-Wed and I need them now as well!
Problem with getting into this is anytime I go to the store and see a cool looking flower packet I want to buy them and grow them. I'm running out of room for flowers!
Problem with getting into this is anytime I go to the store and see a cool looking flower packet I want to buy them and grow them. I'm running out of room for flowers!
I know how you feel. I ordered a bunch of seeds online two weeks ago and the company was sooooo slow in shipping my order. They didn't ship it out for almost a week and that was only because I called to complain. One of the seed packets is for peas and I'm running really late on planting themdtlove129 wrote:I know. I couldn't decide on where to order seeds from because of cost, and I thought some places around here would sell in bulk and they ended up not getting the right things in bulk in. So I called/emailed the place where I ordered my seeds and tried to get them moving as quickly as possible and I couldn't get them any sooner. As a matter of fact my celery seed was on backorder and I am suppose to get them today-Wed and I need them now as well!!
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Ohio Tiller
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Ohio Tiller
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dtlove129 wrote:Next year I know when to order for sure!
Ohio, you really grow your's thick. I just put 2 broccoli and cauliflower seeds to a cell and will pull the weakest if they both come up.
Well this year I had a little help from the wife (unwanted help) and now I am going to have to do some thinning or relocating! Funny how somebody that has never planted a garden knows how to do it better than a person that has been doing it for 30 plus years!
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DoubleDogFarm
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I wouldn't be so hard on her. I broadcast most of my seeds in 1020 open flats. Then prick and transplant. 30 years doesn't mean anything if you are unwilling to learn new techniques.Ohio Tiller wrote:dtlove129 wrote:Next year I know when to order for sure!
Ohio, you really grow your's thick. I just put 2 broccoli and cauliflower seeds to a cell and will pull the weakest if they both come up.
Well this year I had a little help from the wife (unwanted help) and now I am going to have to do some thinning or relocating! Funny how somebody that has never planted a garden knows how to do it better than a person that has been doing it for 30 plus years!
1020 flat of broccoli seedlings
[img]https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h300/eric_wa/Double%20Dog%20Farm%20%20Propagation%20Greenhouse/BroccoliMarch19th2012001.jpg[/img]
4 seedlings transplanted to 4" pots.
[img]https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h300/eric_wa/Double%20Dog%20Farm%20%20Propagation%20Greenhouse/BroccoliMarch19th2012004.jpg[/img]
A little older.
[img]https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h300/eric_wa/Double%20Dog%20Farm%20%20Propagation%20Greenhouse/BroccoliMarch19th2012005.jpg[/img]
Almost ready for outside or sell
[img]https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h300/eric_wa/Double%20Dog%20Farm%20%20Propagation%20Greenhouse/BroccoliMarch19th2012003.jpg[/img]
Eric