Last Wednesday, Talks in the Garden covered starting your own seedlings.
Don Weber and Puwen Lee explained some of the ins and outs of seed starting.
One of the main reasons to do this is to get the variety you want. Another is to save money on plants. Some of us also just can’t wait to get our hands in the dirt, so we start planting seeds inside in late February.
The seedlings I wrote about last month are coming along nicely, including the peppers, which took a while to sprout. I may have started the squash, which don’t need to be started inside, a bit early, but enthusiasm took over. You might say my Blue Hubbard Squash seeds were burning a hole in their envelope.
Blue Hubbards lower right. These are big, sturdy seedlings.
If I’m going to grow summer squash and these, I’m going to have to create more space in the garden. I’m looking into trellising the smaller squash. I’ll post on what I decide. The tomatoes are growing well in both the cold frame and indoors, but the same insects that prey on the eggplant in my garden are eating the seedlings there.
These Black Beauty and Violetta Lungha have escaped insects so far.
I have a surprise for them. When I transplant my eggplant seedlings from home, I’m going to use light row cover for the first few weeks in hopes of deterring the hungry bugs.
Meanwhile, the lilacs are in full bloom and the rabbits continue to occupy the forsythia thicket. As long as they stay away from my garden, I’ll continue to think them charming. Otherwise, I’ll be turning into Mr. MacGregor.
One of Peter's cousins...
arlingwords 