Branching Out's Seeds and Sprouts

[Branching Out]

Spring has definitely sprung, so I am feeling like I need to be in twelve places all at the same time-- and loving every minute of it! You can almost watch the plants growing. There are volunteer patches of bright green dill seed leaves, and very small and cute lettuce plants appearing here and there. In the warmest corners of the garden dandelions are already 6" across, with buds. Today will be rose pruning day, but unlike Phaedra I will not be potting up the cuttings; they will all find their way to the green can. I always spray my snips with Lysol when I move from plant to plant, and as a precaution I like to start with whichever rose I care the most about. That way if there is any disease lurking among the canes it won't be transferred to my favourite rose. It will be warm and dry today and tomorrow, so the cuts should have a chance to heal before the rain returns.

 

[Branching Out]

We had two lovely days in a row, which provided the perfect opportunity to get some starts in the ground. My neighbour and I spent a couple of hours weeding their steep slope, and then we worked together planting out seedlings of Ethiopian Kale, yarrow, and rudbeckia. Kind of an eclectic mix, but for now we just need to get roots in the ground to prevent further erosion. We also sowed a few rows of flower seeds across the hill including short sunflowers, nasturtiums, and two kinds of calendula. These were all seeds that I saved last year, so if they don't sprout it will not be a big deal. My track record is not good for direct sowing flowers, but we are feeling optimistic that this might actually work.

Previously the dirt here was horrible, but the one thick layer of compost that we applied last October had really transformed it to good looking soil. It was much easier to weed, and the roots of the buttercups didn't take half of the hill with them anymore when you pulled them out. Progress!

Here are a couple of photos of some of the seedlings waiting to be transplanted.

 

[Branching Out]

I am really falling in love with crocuses!

 

[Branching Out]

The season's first 'bouquet' of daffodils is in full bloom, and in behind it the early camelia is just getting started.

 

[Branching Out]

Just opened my bin of dry organic fertilizer that I keep indoors, and a cloud of small cream coloured moths started flitting around. It was absolutely crawling with them. I had them on my arms, my hands, everywhere. The whole mess was hustled outside pronto. This gives new meaning to 'Bio-Live'!!

 

[digitS']

I am just back from the greenhouse and some transplanting tasks and was thinking about "Bio-Live" and how we may want "No-Live."

Sterilizing potting soil. Penn State says 180°f for 30 minutes. LINK What would a black container of mix in full sun in a greenhouse above room temperature accomplish if it was for several hours?

Steve

 

[digitS']

Ah ha, did some more checking with Penn State.

They say "In general a compost substrate temperature of 140° F for 4 hours is adequate for a complete pasteurization." LINK This is for mushroom culture.

Our household water is 120°f and that's too hot to do more than touch. That 140° seems a bit too high to accomplish ... but, passive solar greenhouse heating might kill your moths/larva.

 

[Branching Out]

I think the moths will just have to enjoy life outdoors on the covered deck for now, and I will try to use up the dry fertilizer as soon as possible-- maybe on my hedge. It is the second time that I purchased this product; no issues at all with the first sack, so an unpleasant surprise this time around.

 

[Branching Out]

I spent this morning bumping up tomatoes, peppers, and other plants such as German Winter Thyme. It was kind of a pleasant experience, but I am struck by how much time, energy, and soil goes in to this process. It is making me rethink how to approach my next wave of tomatoes and peppers because I don't have space for an unlimited number of 4" pots indoors, and I do not own a greenhouse. The seedlings will have to be timed so they get bumped up when they go outside under cover, or I am going to run out of of space in my light station.

Is there anyone who grows a crazy number of pepper or tomato seedlings without using a greenhouse, who can share tips on how to do this while still remaining sane??

 

[digitS']

I have very limited experience with growing under lights, Branching Out. But, let's try to keep your question front and center.

It's a great question and one that cannot be adequately answered by a simple "move them to a South Window" response. That may be especially true for someone living in a NW coastal environment. Vertical, double pane windows have limits.

Some folks have plants under living room table lamps. We have two floor lamps with top shelves. An overnight relocation there might be very beneficial to supplement window exposure.

Rotations of 12 hours under grow lights my work

Steve