Sown so far

 

Basil

What's growing this time of the year? Not a whole lot outside, the weather finally broke out of the 30's (Celsius) for the past couple days, but it's not exactly spring JUST yet. Even still there is no reason to not get a grow-on inside in preparation for inevitable warmer days to come. Here I'd like to share what seeds I've started indoors so far. 

 

 

 

Firstly, every year I start leeks... from seed, this might make me a little crazy since I keep getting the impression that just about everyone grows them from starter plants. *shrugs* These seedlings are about a month old... you can see that growth is a bit slow, which is might be why you don't really want to direct sow them outdoors and why you should sow them indoors in winter (February is what I do). 

 

 

This year I tried something new, as far as timing goes at least. The same day I planted the leek seeds, I also planted pepper seeds. It makes sense once you realize how slow growing these plants are too... they take FOREVER. At a month since planting, they are just getting their first true leaves (the tiny little thing poking from the center of the seedling above). By doing this earlier sowing I hope to be a month ahead growth-wise when I transplant them out in May. Last year my transplants were so tiny, I had serious doubts about their survival- they did well regardless, but this early start might help me get more fruit since they will have matured 'sooner'. We'll find out.

 

 

The first week of March is my second major wave of seed sowing. Above, I have two types of kale: red Russian kale, lacinato kale (also popularly known as Tuscan kale or Dinosaur kale) and collards. I'm going to admit the red Russian is not doing well, they became too leggy because I didn't have the lights lowered far enough in the beginning of their growth. I'm sure they will still be fine, but this isn't what you want your seedlings to look like- you really want short compact growth. Also it isn't completely necessary to plant these seeds indoors... they grow well directly by being sown outside in the early spring. I did this because the red Russian and lacinato were organic seeds whose seed packets tend to have a limited number of seeds in them. With such a small number of seeds I'm willing to give them seed shelf space as an assurance of a harvest.

Of course the tomatoes. Sown the first week of March. Today I finished thinning these guys so that there is only one (I select for the healthiest looking one of the bunch) seedling per cell in the trays. My seeds (the ones I saved) are starting to get their first true leaves already, while the store bought seeds have some catching up to do, but everything looks healthy so far.

 

I can't go without commenting on the amazing super cat grass that I planted for my feline buddies. It is still so astonishing how fast it grew! Planted on March 3rd...

 

by March 8th...

 

 

... March 9th...

... March 10th... (one week after sowing the seeds!)

... Today!