Wednesday, March 23, 2011

Growing from Seeds Update March 23, 2011



Winter came back for few days!
Things are moving quite fast on our seedlings front.
The Lobelias were transplanted from cells into 3” pots; now we have 15 pots that could have been divided easily into 50 pots. My hand was a bit heavy when I spread the seeds, I guess. Lesson learned.

Cosmos have new home and doing very well and so do Petunias, Zinnia, Red Millet and Black Eyed Susan Vine. The Snapdragons slowed down in their growth for some reason but are healthy.
Snapdragons and Zinnias


Black Eyed Susan Vine, Red Millet and Cosmos

 I wrote about my little Snapdragon experiment before but I have to post an update. Few weeks ago I snipped the top of one plant to force it into branching. Instead of throwing the 3/8” long tip in the garbage I dipped it in growth hormone powder and planted it in a Jiffy Pot.  Last week I have notice roots growing through the pot sides. It penetrated the sock! I am sure that If I clip same plant and repeat the process I could grow hundreds of Snapdragons from one seed! Amazing, isn’t it?


Anyway, this plant will join its mother and rest of seedlings in a hanging basket.

Arugula and French Tarragon
Some tomatoes were also transplanted and so were some peppers and all eggplants. Things are looking good.

3 comments:

Kira said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Kira said...

When is your 'last' frost date out there?

Kira in Calgary

Jerry said...

Last hard frost is around 3rd week in April and light frost (down to -3 deg C) is about 10 days more. Since most plants will be in containers or close to house I take them out after hardening them about 2nd week of April. Yes, it is crazy but I have not lost a single tomato, pepper or eggplant. Flowers, that is a new territory for me, though. I did plant quite a few Salpiglossis, nasturtium and black eyed Susan last year and they all did well. I will have to fish out pictures from last year and post them.
BTW, we are in Carolinian Forest Zone, tobacco belt, so the micro climate here is so different from areas just 30 km away.