Seedling Panic!!

lonewolfrissy 4/29/2012, 2:30 pm

first: Seedlings are doing good... that I can tell.... Smile

Worries: My hot peppers mix is doing great! They're getting their second set of true leaves. Do I need to transplant them now? I got one of those Topsy Turvey things for them seeing as I can't just build my boxes....

My tomatoes seem to be doing okay... They have some true leaves but they're small and the undersides look kind of purplish. Why? :scratch: Is this normal? Or do they need to be transplanted too?

My spinach looks okay. I think I have one surviving cucumber but I don't think I do... I think I need to plant some new ones....

help?

littlesapphire 4/29/2012, 2:45 pm

Well, Mel's books says in the back to plant your peppers 7 (I think!) weeks before you set them outside. Of course, I think that's aimed mostly at people like me who have a short growing season and need to start the peppers early. How warm is it in your area? How cold are your nights right now?

How old are your tomato seedlings? I've noticed that mine are purplish at first but then start to green out the older they get.

If you think your cucumbers aren't doing so well, it never hurts to reseed. You may get more seedlings than you need, but that's better than not getting enough!

lonewolfrissy 4/29/2012, 2:55 pm

Tomatoes and Peppers are the same age. Except Jalapenos. Those were planted seperate and had to be replanted... And I looked in Mel's book and got the same info. Sad

I also live in a desert where the climate can change drastically. The days can be really hot and the nights can be really cold. For the most part, it's pretty stable right now. but if it's normal for the tomatoes to be purple at first and then green, I'll try not to worry so much... California is supposed to be great for growing stuff because of the longer seasons. and to help with keeping them watered and stuff, they'll be put into their own containers so we can bring them in during the night and move them away from sunlight when needed.

**camprn** 4/29/2012, 6:42 pm

Pot them up to the next size pot, use your Mel's mix and water them from the bottom. How cold is it getting at night?

lonewolfrissy 4/29/2012, 8:54 pm

I don't have Mel's mix. Sad

It's supposed to 58 degrees tonight. But the nights seem to vary...

I want to do the mel's mix but the fiance kind of rolled his eyes about the book. =/ and I don't have a job to buy the stuff myself.

chjbr63 4/29/2012, 9:37 pm

Like you the first couple of years growing tomatoes I just could not afford to do boxes and Mel's Mix. 5 gal buckets and potting mix worked OK for me. Just make sure it is potting mix and not potting soil. Pot up your plants if they are not ready to go outside. According to http://www.wunderground.com it is warm enough at night for your plants to be outside.

lonewolfrissy 4/30/2012, 11:56 am

Potting mix? What's the difference between the two?

chjbr63 4/30/2012, 3:04 pm

Potting soil will compact to much and rot or strangle the roots, potting mix has more peat and perlite in it for air and drainage. I drill about 20 1/4 holes in the bottom and some on the sides. I put landscape/weed block fabric in the bucket to keep the mix from clogging holes plus I put my buckets on soda bottle tops to keep them off the ground(it help them drain better). By the way I get 5, 4.5 and 3 gal buckets from supermarket bakery for free, they throw them away and are more than happy for you to take them.

lonewolfrissy 5/2/2012, 7:43 pm

oh.. That makes sense... And really? I'll have to try to ask for them next time we're in town and the vehicle is empty.

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