Newbie from Boston area!

[hjsullivan]

Wow! What a warm welcome!
Thank you all so much!

It's been quite a process getting a handle on this whole seedling thing lol. I have also been posting on Gardening Forums, that's actually where I hear about this forum (from another member who has been helping me).

I planted my first try about two weeks ago and was not at all prepared with my lights. Needless to say, everything was leggy and no good. So I tried again this past Saturday, and by Sunday night/Monday morning I had sprouts. Luckily I learned from last time and had my lights all set up lol. I have four trays of 72 cups under two 4' ballasts, each with two 32 watt bulbs outputting 6500k a piece.

Below are the photos of my seedlings from this morning. It's also been mentioned that my soil is too wet, but I'm paranoid they will dry out too much. I am away from home for long hours each day. Please let me know what you think .

Impatiens

Marigolds

Cucumbers

Hot Peppers (Bell Pepper to the right, out of frame, have not sprouted)

Sunflowers (Wax beans in the distance to the left)

Wax Beans

For this photo I have a very specific question. I have done a lot of reading and video watching, saying I need to "pinch off" the first set of leaves when the second set comes in. Does that mean cut it off right about where the popsicle stick is, right above the smaller set of leaves? And is this for every type of plant seedling I have, or only certain types? Help!

Oh! One more thing, when do I start transplanting these?
I have several of the biodegradable cups waiting to be used .
I know I can't plant for a few more weeks, I'm in zone 6a.

Thanks so much everyone, looking forward to your responses!
Hoping I don't have to replant... again lol.

ss

 

[catjac1975]

Wow! What a warm welcome!
Thank you all so much!

It's been quite a process getting a handle on this whole seedling thing lol. I have also been posting on Gardening Forums, that's actually where I hear about this forum (from another member who has been helping me).

I planted my first try about two weeks ago and was not at all prepared with my lights. Needless to say, everything was leggy and no good. So I tried again this past Saturday, and by Sunday night/Monday morning I had sprouts. Luckily I learned from last time and had my lights all set up lol. I have four trays of 72 cups under two 4' ballasts, each with two 32 watt bulbs outputting 6500k a piece.

Below are the photos of my seedlings from this morning. It's also been mentioned that my soil is too wet, but I'm paranoid they will dry out too much. I am away from home for long hours each day. Please let me know what you think .

Impatiens
View attachment 12472

Marigolds
View attachment 12473

Cucumbers
View attachment 12474

Hot Peppers (Bell Pepper to the right, out of frame, have not sprouted)
View attachment 12475

Sunflowers (Wax beans in the distance to the left)
View attachment 12476

Wax Beans
View attachment 12477

For this photo I have a very specific question. I have done a lot of reading and video watching, saying I need to "pinch off" the first set of leaves when the second set comes in. Does that mean cut it off right about where the popsicle stick is, right above the smaller set of leaves? And is this for every type of plant seedling I have, or only certain types? Help!
View attachment 12478

Oh! One more thing, when do I start transplanting these?
I have several of the biodegradable cups waiting to be used .
I know I can't plant for a few more weeks, I'm in zone 6a.

Thanks so much everyone, looking forward to your responses!
Hoping I don't have to replant... again lol.

ss

Looks good.

 

[majorcatfish]

your second attempt looks much better.

for your cucumbers.. pick the healthiest one and snip off the others. a healthy one can produce mountains of cucumbers.
nope have never sniped any leaves off any of my seedlings before...
your soil looks much better not as wet....

how about your garden plot what size it going to be?

 

[hjsullivan]

your second attempt looks much better.

for your cucumbers.. pick the healthiest one and snip off the others. a healthy one can produce mountains of cucumbers.
nope have sniped any leaves off any of my seedlings before...
your soil looks much better not as wet....

how about your garden plot what size it going to be?

I have three 2' x 6' beds, plus an area behind those beds where I will grow my cucumbers up chicken wire. I grew them on the ground last year and they TOOK OVER my garden lol. Rookie mistake. The wax beans will go in the same area as the cucumbers behind the raised beds. I'll be growing my tomatoes in several 5 gallon buckets. The rest will go into the garden it's self.

So, I still don't totally understand what I'm supposed to do with the whole trimming the first set of leaves though. Is that only on tomato plants? Am I supposed to trim any of the others to promote growth? And looking at some of these plants, when should I start transplanting into my 3" pots?

 

[catjac1975]

I don't trim anything. I would not transplant anything in the squash /cucumber family. Others do without problem, but the roots do not like to be disturbed. Transplant rest when looking a it vigorous. I do not transplant anything. I use 4x8 plant flats and thin to 8 plants. I use peat pots for cukes, squash, etc.

 

[hjsullivan]

I don't trim anything. I would not transplant anything in the squash /cucumber family. Others do without problem, but the roots do not like to be disturbed. Transplant rest when looking a it vigorous. I do not transplant anything. I use 4x8 plant flats and thin to 8 plants. I use peat pots for cukes, squash, etc.

Hmm-the cups they are in right now are so small though. I'm worried they are going to get root bound before I can plant. It's supposed to snow on Sunday . I have 3 or 4" biodegradable pots I was going to transplant the best looking seedlings into.

So I don't need to trim any thing at all to "promote growth" like some of the stuff I've been reading or watching? Only trim the ones back that don't look as healthy?

 

[majorcatfish]

I have three 2' x 6' beds, plus an area behind those beds where I will grow my cucumbers up chicken wire. I grew them on the ground last year and they TOOK OVER my garden lol. Rookie mistake. The wax beans will go in the same area as the cucumbers behind the raised beds. I'll be growing my tomatoes in several 5 gallon buckets. The rest will go into the garden it's self.

So, I still don't totally understand what I'm supposed to do with the whole trimming the first set of leaves though. Is that only on tomato plants? Am I supposed to trim any of the others to promote growth? And looking at some of these plants, when should I start transplanting into my 3" pots?

sunshine, the cucumber are ready for the 3" pots......
this is just me and the way i do things...
figure what will fit into the space, without over crowding them.. looked at all your photos of your seedlings your going to need more space,unless your planning on giving away a bunch.
properly spaced and the amount you have started... this is what your looking at....

dont tell anyone that your going to turn their backyard into garden.....

 

[PhilaGardener]

Great starts! Welcome from PA! Gardening kind of grows on you

 

[catjac1975]

Hmm-the cups they are in right now are so small though. I'm worried they are going to get root bound before I can plant. It's supposed to snow on Sunday . I have 3 or 4" biodegradable pots I was going to transplant the best looking seedlings into.

So I don't need to trim any thing at all to "promote growth" like some of the stuff I've been reading or watching? Only trim the ones back that don't look as healthy?

Off hand I can think of basil being a good one to prune, impatiens, along the idea of flowers. When your peppers start to blossom, remove the one that is in the crotch of the first branching, to promote more blossoms.

 

[hjsullivan]

sunshine, the cucumber are ready for the 3" pots......
this is just me and the way i do things...
figure what will fit into the space, without over crowding them.. looked at all your photos of your seedlings your going to need more space,unless your planning on giving away a bunch.
properly spaced and the amount you have started... this is what your looking at....
View attachment 12488
dont tell anyone that your going to turn their backyard into garden.....

Baahahaha, I know right!? I know I have too many right now . I am actually planning on giving some of them away and bringing some (tomatoes and peppers at least) to work in buckets . I almost went with four beds, but I didn't want to overwhelm myself. I planted a ton of seeds because I was afraid nothing would grow lol. I figured it bettered my odds.

The marigolds are for here and there in my garden to help with bugs (I've been told its pretty effective), the rest will be planted in my yard . The Impatiens are for my mom, she does a small area of them every year. I thought since I was growing seeds anyway, I'd try those for her as a surprise . I'm also growing sunflowers for the front of my house too. So about 1/2 of the seedlings there aren't even vegetables lol.

I have a few people around here who are into gardening as well, so I can easily re-home some of the veggie plants if necessary. I'm looking into buying a house in the next few years, I'll be able to have a massive garden by then .

I'll post some more photos over the weekend after I transplant the bigger seedlings. I'm definitely doing the cucumbers as you mentioned, thanks! But I'm also going to do the wax beans and the sunflowers.