I don't have a lot of seedlings left, and I'm quite happy about that. I'm getting rather weary of hauling them in and out of the shed every day. I think it was much simpler task the year I had them in the garage.....no wading out through wet grass in my pajamas and slippers every morning.
Not that I have to carry them far. The sun only hits this side of the shed for a few hours, then it's in the shade of the arborvitae. It's also sheltered from the wind in this corner of the yard. The plants have grown quite sturdy, having been put outside every day that the temperature is at least 50F, and back inside the shed every night.
I do think the tomatoes would appreciate more heat. I don't like that some of the leaves have turned so yellow. Normally I would blame it on over watering, but I let them get quite dry before I give them water, so I'd have to say they are suffering from a nitrogen deficiency. I did give them a feeding of fish emulsion, but that hasn't seemed to help yet. I hesitate to fertilize them any more, so I'll probably do nothing. Soon they will be planted in fertile soil, then hopefully they will green up.
The peppers aren't showing the yellow leaves like the tomatoes, and they get exactly the same treatment and watering schedule. I'm quite happy with their progress, even though I wish I'd started them a week or two earlier.
Then there are these hardy little specimens! They've been out 24/7 for the past two or more weeks, and they're still plugging right along. Never again will I plant lobelia. Those tiny seeds could NOT be planted with proper spacing in a six-pack. The ones in the front have been slightly thinned, the ones in the back will be ripped apart at planting time, and I hope to have at least a few survivors. I'm wondering if anything will kill the California poppies. They need to get planted somewhere, but I can't make up my mind where to put them!
Not that I have to carry them far. The sun only hits this side of the shed for a few hours, then it's in the shade of the arborvitae. It's also sheltered from the wind in this corner of the yard. The plants have grown quite sturdy, having been put outside every day that the temperature is at least 50F, and back inside the shed every night.
I do think the tomatoes would appreciate more heat. I don't like that some of the leaves have turned so yellow. Normally I would blame it on over watering, but I let them get quite dry before I give them water, so I'd have to say they are suffering from a nitrogen deficiency. I did give them a feeding of fish emulsion, but that hasn't seemed to help yet. I hesitate to fertilize them any more, so I'll probably do nothing. Soon they will be planted in fertile soil, then hopefully they will green up.
The peppers aren't showing the yellow leaves like the tomatoes, and they get exactly the same treatment and watering schedule. I'm quite happy with their progress, even though I wish I'd started them a week or two earlier.
Then there are these hardy little specimens! They've been out 24/7 for the past two or more weeks, and they're still plugging right along. Never again will I plant lobelia. Those tiny seeds could NOT be planted with proper spacing in a six-pack. The ones in the front have been slightly thinned, the ones in the back will be ripped apart at planting time, and I hope to have at least a few survivors. I'm wondering if anything will kill the California poppies. They need to get planted somewhere, but I can't make up my mind where to put them!
My tomatoes' bottom leaves also turned yellow right after transplanting, I'm thinking they got a little sunburn even though they were hardened off, I pulled them off and at least all the new growth is green, good luck, it won't be much longer for you!
ReplyDeleteErin, this is the new top growth that is yellow. And the Bloody Butchers, which have the yellowest leaves, are beginning to blossom! They're only about 10-12 inches tall, it's way too soon to be showing blossoms. I think the problem is that I'm putting them out in the daytime at 50-60 degrees, then putting the in the mini-greenhouse, on the top shelf above the lights at night, where they are getting their dark period, but a lot of warmth. Maybe I'll start leaving them out on the work bench at night, I doubt it would freeze them, but it might get awfully cold. The peppers are getting sunshine in the daytime, and artificial light at night, but it doesn't seem to bother them a bit. I guess I need to go back to my "old" way of growing them, and not put any of them out during the day until it's time to harden them off.
ReplyDeleteGran, this gardening thing sure keeps us on our toes! Trial and error all the time, but how bored we would be without it LOL!
ReplyDeleteEverything's looking good! When will you plant your tomatoes and peppers out?
ReplyDeleteKatrina, it will probably not be until May 10-15th. this year. Some years I can get tomatoes out as early as the last week in April, most years the first week in May, but the 15th. is the safest, and that's my normal planting date for peppers. We're still getting temperatures in the 20s some nights this week, where our norms are supposed to be in the low 40s.
ReplyDeleteMake sure you find a place that you will ALWAYS want poppies cuz once they're there, they are there!!
ReplyDeleteThe lady before me had orange poppies and I've been trying to get rid of them ever since. It's been 4 years now----and I see that in the melting snow, there are more seedlings popping up. Sigh.
Sue, that's why they are still in the cells, unplanted! I'm thinking I want them out in front of my garage, where I'm going to take out three ugly shrubs. They can just volunteer to their little hearts content there. I also put them over by the west fence in the back yard, in the pots. That's another spot where they can be invasive if they want.
ReplyDeleteI hear ya! I get tired lugging all the transplanted seedling trays in and out of the deck. Can't complain this week, it snowed, so no more back and forth:(
ReplyDeletePoornima, mine were out, then the wind came up and the sun disappeared, so I went out to move them back in, then the sun came out just as I was moving them so I put them back out, now the wind came up and the sun is gone again. I'm going to put them to bed early, like before 3 o'clock.
ReplyDeleteYour seedling looks really great... you work a lot to put them back inside the shed every night... Happy Easter!
ReplyDeleteScented Leaf, last year I was smarter. I put a half sheet of plywood on top of the garden cart and wheeled the plants in and out. This year my garden cart is full of extra shop lights, garden "garbage" and tools. I need to do some clean up!
ReplyDeleteYour tomatoes will be just fine once they are planted in the ground. Mine don't seem are dark green as usual this year either. Maybe it's our aging eyes LOL. I think that this is the worst time of the year, constantly moving the plants around. I think that you should have Mr. Granny do a video of you out there in your PJ's & slippers :)
ReplyDeleteRobin, can I comb my hair first?
ReplyDeleteMy aunt told me last year that my tomatoes would need lime, and she gave me some kind of granular stuff. When they looked so spindly/pale green I remembered. Sure enough, it greened them right up. Didn't unsoundly them, though.
ReplyDeleteDianefaith, lime is used to sweeten an acidic soil. Here in the west we have alkaline soils, so we don't use it. On the other hand, who knows what is in the potting mix I purchased this year. I really think my problem is from one of three things, either nitrogen deficiency, temperature (cold) or over fertilization. I doubt the last, as I use only weak fish emulsion, and there's not a flush of tender growth. Whatever it is, I hope they hang on for another 2-3 weeks!
ReplyDeleteThis sounds very familiar! I'm doing the seedling shuffle as well. My tomatoes are showing the same yellowing (which I thought might be lack of light) and I'm (always) wishing the same about my peppers. Maybe one year I'll start them early enough.
ReplyDeleteJimmycrackedcorn, the only thing I've done differently from previous years is put my plants under the lights at night and turn them off during the day. I've done it because the nights are so very cold this year. I've also been bringing them out on semi-nice days, so maybe they're just getting too much light. I've begun to put the yellowing plants into a dark, but warm spot at night now, maybe that will help. If not, there are always those nice cheap plants at the nursery!
ReplyDeleteYou have the same problem as me on deciding where to put everything...sometimes I think I spend more time pacing back and forth trying to find homes for the plants than I do actually planting them.:)
ReplyDeleteDon't you just love seeing all the GREEN though? I just love this time of year.
ReplyDeleteI don't know a thing about fertilizing. Once I did the blue powdered MG stuff, where you add it to a gallon of water, then I watered some flowers and the next day 5 of them were withered up. I haven't used any fertilizer since! It skeers me....
When I started my tomato and pepper seedlings I did use a bunny poo 'compost tea'. Maybe that will give them a boost. I know the mosquitoes sure did have a fine time procreating in my composting tea... daring lil bloodsuckers!
Mr. H., I make elaborate plans for where every single seed will be sowed and seedling will be planted. Then I throw it all away and just put things willy-nilly wherever I find a "suitable" spot. I tend to plant the same things in the same places, over and over. If anything should ever, God forbid, show signs of disease, I suppose I'll have to rotate crops....somewhere.
ReplyDeleteWendy, I saw green peas and green carrots today! The peas are quite evident, but I have to really look hard to see the carrots.
ReplyDeleteWow they look great and healthy. Hope you can plant them out soon. GO MOTHER NATURE!
ReplyDeleteI'm afraid to even attempt to get my plants outside. I think I'll need cages for the tomatoes, not stakes!
I've been cruel to my seedlings. Yesterday we had a huge wind storm. It was blowing all sorts of things down. My poor seedlings were out there in it. One of the wintersown packs got picked up by the wind and scattered all over. So sad.
ReplyDeleteSinfonian, it will be a loooong time yet before they can go into the garden. I swear, the poor things will be laden with fruit by the time this weather warms. I just hope it doesn't jump from 50 to 90 overnight once it decides to warm up.
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Daphne, I've gone strictly by temperature. If it's 50 or above, out they go, and they stay out until it drops to 50 in the evening. Wind, rain or shine. I did burn the zinnias and basil, but all the other plants seem to have taken well to the sun and wind.
"unsoundly" is not a word. Neither is "unspindly," but that is what I meant. Spellcheck may correct it yet again. We are red clay country; it's like digging into concrete. Thanks for all your tips. You mention things that would never cross my mind, and, even with different soils, I'm learning.
ReplyDeleteDianefaith, I have to make up my own words, too. Would you believe my spell check doesn't recognize "unplanted"? That dictionary person must not be a gardener ;-)
ReplyDeleteI took my broccoli, pumpkin and green bean seedlings outside. And left them there overnight. Everything fared well except for my bean plants. They all seem to be dying. Ugh. I'll have to direct sow the next batch. I normally direct sow them, but I got these seedlings from my cousin. Any advice how I should harden them off differently. Maybe I should bring them inside every day?
ReplyDeleteMeems, all seedlings should be hardened off very gradually. I start by putting them out in a sheltered area, out of direct sun and wind, for maybe an hour in the morning, once the temperature is 50F or higher. Then I take them back inside. The next day, do the same but increase the time by 20-30 minutes. Repeat and leave them out a few (20-30) more minutes every day. I do this for at least a week before leaving them out most of the day. The second week I let them spend the daytime outside, but still bring them in at night. I wouldn't leave the tender veggies outside at night until the temperature stays up around 50F. The broccoli can stand colder temperatures so you can hurry the hardening off a bit on them, and they can probably be safely outside at night after a week of hardening.
ReplyDeleteIf anyone reading has other ideas for Meems, please chime in. I'm still a novice at raising my own seedlings, and I do have my share of failures (all of my morning glories are now frozen dead)!
The yellowing is likely the result of cool conditions making magnesium uptake insufficient. I would suggest you dissolve a teaspoon of epsom salts (magnesium) per a gallon of water and give your plants a drink. A little sunshine and some easy to uptake magnesium will likely green things right back up. Tomatoes are particularly prone to magnesium deficiency in cold conditions.
ReplyDeleteHere's a link with some simple info for you on the topic.
http://www.ehow.com/how_7525062_water-tomatoes-epsom-salts.html
I keep a large bag of cheap epsom salt granules in my garden shed and usually add a spoonful to the planting hole of my tomatoes - and do the solution drink when I have starts that are looking peaked.
I did my annual plant give away to my staff today which dropped down the number of starts I am carting back and forth morning and night. It does get to be a bit of a hassle after a while.
Every morning when I am shuffling the seedlings outside to get some sunshine and every cold evening that I bring them back in, I think of you placing all your seedlings in the bed of the truck and simply backing it out every day. That was brilliant! It sounds so much easier.
ReplyDeleteI have learned that cold temperatures do make some nutrients unavailable to the plant. I wonder if this is what is happening? I bet some warmer weather will take care of those yellow tomato leaves.
Kitsap and Rachel, it seems you've both come to the same conclusion about my tomatoes! I will get some epsom salts today, and see if that takes care of the problem.
ReplyDeleteRachel, that was so easy, with the pickup! It was just easier having them in the garage, period. Mr. Granny has promised to turn my yard dump cart into a big wagon for me by next year, so I can roll it out of the shed. I tried doing that with the single axle, and it tipped and I almost lost all my plants! I'm not holding my breath until he gets it done, though ;-)
I found your last year's garden via Google and I'm so glad to read you are growing a beautiful garden again this year! I live in Portland, Oregon. The weather here was so pathetic last year (we only had 5 days over 90F. On average we get at least 13 days!)It's a wonder any of my toms and sweet bell peppers ripened last year. This year looks like a repeat of last year with 10 to 12F below our average temps this time of year. One day of over 68F in every 7 to 10 days of rain, clouds and low 50F day time temps just does not cut it. But I'm still going to give gardening a good try this year, but already planning for next year since it seems this year will not be favorable for gardening (again in the PDX area). So glad I found your awesome blog. It gives me inspiration!
ReplyDeleteCindyPDX, welcome to my blog! I think we're having Portland weather here in Eastern Washington this spring. It's been cold, rainy and 15 degrees below our normal temperature. Your garden should be quite good for growing the cool weather crops this year, those are the only ones doing well in my garden....well, actually, they are the only ones that have been planted! It's too cold for anything else.
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