My garden seems to be in slow motion

HPartin 3/22/2011, 11:32 am

This is my first garden so I am completely in the dark about most things. I planted a bunch of seeds on Feb. 22 and they seem to be growing sooooo slow. My peas are 3-4 inches long and my lettuces all have 3-4 leaves. My beets (early wonder) are supposed to be harvested in 65 days and they presently have 2 leaves after 30 days in the ground. They most definitely won't' be ready in another 30 days and then I think it will be getting too hot here. Oh, the angst of gardening Smile

.

So, where do you think I went wrong: low nitrogen, bad timing or just plain impatience?

Heidi

Lavender Debs 3/22/2011, 11:41 am

HPartin wrote:This is my first garden so I am completely in the dark about most things. ...snip....So, where do you think I went wrong...

Probably in believing the seed packet. Gardening is a game of hurry up and wait, and wait and hurry up.

You will get where you are going (the dinner table). Hangeth thou in there.

Deborah....who once thought that there was something wrong with the strawberries because they started turning red after waiting forever for blossoms to turn to green berry buds to swollen green giants. Really.

elliephant 3/22/2011, 11:49 am

It seems to me that a lot of plants take their time getting some momentum going, then they just take off. It's like they have to build up to a certain critical mass and then ZOOM! I planted most of my garden in mid Feb and most of the plants are hitting that point right now.

quiltbea 3/22/2011, 12:18 pm

The temperature of the soil has most to do with whether the seeds jump start or take their own sweet time. If the soil is colder, they take longer to germinate and grow. They'll catch up when it gets warmer, so don't worry too much.

That's why it sometimes doesn't help to get things in the ground too soon. The seeds just aren't warm enough to make an effort.

FarmerValerie 3/22/2011, 12:21 pm

I have several broccoli plants (bought at Lowe's) 16 total, 8 were planted in one box, and a week later 8 more were planted (bought them a week apart). The first set is almost ready to eat, in fact they are already developing side shoots, and those tasted pretty good yesterday when I snuck one. The second planting is lagging behind at a slower rate than the others, at least to me they are just now developing teeny tiny heads. Plants are like kids, they don't get in any hurry to do one single thing we want them too, but when they decide to do something, watch out, they get it done.

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