I spent the day tending and transplanting and photographing and talking sweetly to the seedlings.
Kohlrabi…
Little Leaf Cucumbers
Zucchini…
Tomatoes…
Nappa Cabbage…
Marjoram…
Green Finger Cucumbers…
Collard Greens…
Kale…
It was fun to shoot with the macro lens, but I’m afraid tomorrow it’s back to building beds.
I think this early Spring weather has gone to my head. I may have developed a slight obsession.
This, my friends, is close to 450 seed pots. After I got my first two trays planted, I realized I was going to need a bit more space for the seeds waiting for their turn under the lamps. Since Dad’s light table worked so well, I thought maybe I’d purchase another of the same, or pick one up from my local gardening store. The problem was, once I sat down and calculated how much space I would actually need, it was clear that one more light wouldn’t quite cut it. So I started looking into multi-level light stands, and completely balked at the price. $650? Are they serious? There was no way I was going to pay that amount of money for a light stand. So me and my friend Google, we went to find another solution. I saw a few made of PVC pipe, and then a few made of wood, which really weren’t such bad alternatives. Then I saw a post by someone who hung shop lights with S rings and chain from chrome wire shelving. BINGO! I already had two of those in the basement, even though mine were only 36″, not 48″. I don’t mind, and I haven’t heard a peep from the plants. Maybe next year I’ll budget for two 48″ inch shelving units so there’s no extra overhang, but for now, I’m happy with my little hack.
The tomatoes are looking a little less “leggy” and are starting to fill out a little now that I’ve lowered the lights a few inches (evidently I had them set a bit too high-the lights are only supposed to be two to four inches above the starts). Amazing how little time it takes those stalks to thicken up.
And I’ve already had to transplant some cukes and zucchini, with more waiting until I pick up some more soil tomorrow.
Everyone seems pretty peachy keen with the new set-up.
I better hurry up and get my beds built! With the record breaking heat wave about to hit us this week, I think a few hours outside sounds just about right.
So far…
so good.
So. Good.
The cucumbers broke through less than 24 hours after they were planted. That was something else! We also have kale, zucchini, leeks, green onions, basil, dill, kohlrabi, and fennel up n’ at em. We’re still waiting for some sign from the eggplants. Next time round I’ll plant the zucchini and cucumbers in the larger tomato disks, as the roots for both have broken through the smaller ones and are now invading their neighbors.
Half of the tomatoes are up; I’m going to re-sow the remaining empties with three seeds a piece and pinch back once they’re a bit more established. They look so fragile!
Strawberries went in last night. Tomorrow, a bit of replanting, some direct in the ground sowing (have my peas in, now for the radishes and some greens) and a handful more into the germination pots.
Wow! This is somehow incredibly satisfying. I hope I don’t mess it up from here.
