First Seedling!

Signey 3/20/2013, 10:04 pm

Ok so on Sunday afternoon, I planted some seeds: Tomato, Broccoli and Lettuce.
I checked on them just a few minutes ago and one of my broc's is already up!
This in my first year gardening: i avoided it because I figured I would kill stuff. lol
So maybe I don't have a black thumb after all!
Signey

Windmere 3/20/2013, 10:52 pm

Well done Signey! My family and I are planting our first ever vegetable garden. I can totally feel your joy!

brainchasm 3/21/2013, 4:33 am

First timer here too Signey! Welcome, and congrats, and good luck!
Remember, if you're using Mel's Mix (properly made), it is very hard if well-nigh impossible to OVERwater, as it drains so well. That being said, UNDERwatering is unfortunately very easy and very common, so keep focused, and just keep growing!

Signey 3/21/2013, 12:06 pm

Thanks Brain and Wind! I just used MiracleGro potting soil to get them started, Havent purchased MM yet, snow still on ground here!
I wish all of us first-timers the very BEST of luck with this adventure!

R&R 1011 3/21/2013, 12:18 pm

@Signey wrote:Ok so on Sunday afternoon, I planted some seeds: Tomato, Broccoli and Lettuce.
I checked on them just a few minutes ago and one of my broc's is already up!
This in my first year gardening: i avoided it because I figured I would kill stuff. lol
So maybe I don't have a black thumb after all!
Signey

Yay! My broccoli was the first to sprout after 4 days as well. My tomatoes are just starting to sprout at 7-9 days after planting. I was super excited as well since this is my first year SFG.

quiltbea 3/21/2013, 12:25 pm

Congratulations to you newbies with your first seedlings. I know its a fantastic experience, but it never gets old. I'm starting my 5th year and the first sprouts are always worth a celebration of spring.
The best is yet to come, the first taste of those marvelous crops. Compared to store-bought, there's such a distinct difference and the fact that you grew it yourself...well, nothing compares.
Good luck.

landarch 3/21/2013, 12:35 pm

Congrats and very nice...I've had tomatoes up for a few days and peppers just poked out last night...I've always just bought bedding plants so it's cool to see seedlings grow inside.

Windmere 3/21/2013, 2:37 pm

@Signey wrote:Ok so on Sunday afternoon, I planted some seeds: Tomato, Broccoli and Lettuce.
I checked on them just a few minutes ago and one of my broc's is already up!
This in my first year gardening: i avoided it because I figured I would kill stuff. lol
So maybe I don't have a black thumb after all!
Signey

When I was a boy, I tried several times to grow tomatoes. Never did the seeds I planted germinate. So, when I bought tomato seeds, I really had very low expectations.

Well, my Black Krim tomatoes have peeked out from beneath the peat pellet "soil." Maybe I also don't have a black thumb!

cheers

Lillyz 3/21/2013, 5:29 pm

@Signey wrote:Ok so on Sunday afternoon, I planted some seeds: Tomato, Broccoli and Lettuce.
I checked on them just a few minutes ago and one of my broc's is already up!
This in my first year gardening: i avoided it because I figured I would kill stuff. lol
So maybe I don't have a black thumb after all!
Signey

Congrats!! I know the feeling of having those first few seedlings emerge. Caring for them and then planting them out. One of the things that is so great about starting your own seedlings is that you can get so many varieties that its really difficult to choose which ones you want to start. Plus, if you keep a journal you can see which ones made the grade Wink

and which ones, well didnt do so well.

Signey 3/22/2013, 11:41 pm

Update, two days later:
Both of the brocs are up and two of the beefsteak tomatoes...I planted some Simpson lettuce, but the seeds were older (about 7yrs) and they didnt come up. But I am thrilled with what I have! (I will just wait till the frost is past and plant different Simpsons outside)
Thanks for all the encouragement!
Signey

brainchasm 3/23/2013, 12:19 am

I'm growing Black Krims too!

Here is my best seedling:

First Seedling! 8566155313_5eb1279da6

Make sure your light is sufficient! If you want more detailed info on lighting, let me know - I know...top men...in the field.

Here's hoping we get fabulous tomatoes, and remember to water consistently so the fruits don't crack!

[eta] Give the lettuce time. They are slow sprouters in my experience so far. Checking my records, mine took a week, direct sowed into the soil, and I was having nice 70s weather.

landarch 3/23/2013, 12:25 am

My first seedlings finally have some friends...and I rigged a couple grow lights in the basement.

quiltbea 3/23/2013, 10:51 am

Signey.....Are your lettuces under lights? Lettuce likes light to sprout where other seeds seem to prefer the dark on a heat mat.

Windmere 3/23/2013, 11:04 am

@quiltbea wrote:Signey.....Are your lettuces under lights? Lettuce likes light to sprout where other seeds seem to prefer the dark on a heat mat.

Quiltbea is absolutely correct - I have learned the hard way. My poor Romaine seedlings were in our kitchen window box and they tried so hard to reach for the sun (there really wasn't enough). They grew exceptionally tall and got so top heavy that most snapped their stems.

Another round of lettuce seedlings has begun. I put them out in the sun every day and bring them in when frost sets in.

I can not afford an artificial light system, but I think daily sun is working.

sunny

Signey 3/23/2013, 9:41 pm

Hey all! Yes, I have them under lights and on a heat mat. I have not given up on them yet...
waiting and watching...

Windsor.Parker 3/24/2013, 1:31 am

Congrats from me too!
This Globe Artichoke seedling was one of my first sprouts this year.

If it survives it'll join 4 "homegrown" others which HOPEFULLY overwintered out there.

Last year's harvest was meager and smallish, but like gardeners everywhere; we are eternally optimistic, determined to harvest more. salute

Signey 3/25/2013, 1:01 am

Wow! Artichokes in Chicago! Amazing!

Windsor.Parker 3/25/2013, 10:15 pm

@Signey wrote:Wow! Artichokes in Chicago! Amazing!

Signey, I read somewhere that, timed right (even in Chicago) they're perennial. I'm determined, so here's hoping!

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First Seedling!

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Nice!

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Very cool!

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Tomatoes!!

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Light for lettuce - Very important and Quiltbea says~

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