Update on Seed Starts

YorkR88 Sun Mar 13, 2016 6:35 pm

Hello,

Just wanted to update and ask for any opinions, thoughts/suggestions to help me keep going on the right track.

Here are some photos after setting up my lights and leaving town for the weekend, what I came home to:

thanks for the feedback!

**Scorpio Rising** Sun Mar 13, 2016 8:14 pm

Wow! You got it goin' on! When is your plant out date? Do you have a plan as far as what can go out sooner? Like your spinach, lettuces, etc.? Lookin' good!

YorkR88 Sun Mar 13, 2016 10:05 pm

Scorpio,

I am not sure my plant out date.. I was thinking somewhere in the first of April.

When do you think it would be time to get the lettuce outside. They are so small now I'm not too sure..
Also, should I start thinning those tomato rows and transplanting them into separate containers?

These sets were all planted 7 days ago... I've seen nothing from either pepper or any cilantro and parsley, is this normal?

thanks!
RY

**sanderson** Mon Mar 14, 2016 3:53 am

York, Have you looked at this thread for information on Regions? https://squarefoot.forumotion.com/t872-what-is-a-region-for-with-map

The website www.gardenate.com also provides info on what seeds to start or direct sow, and when to set out seedlings.

**sanderson** Mon Mar 14, 2016 4:21 am

York, I never answered your questions. Tomatoes sprout before peppers, so just need a little more time. Herbs take even longer. For transplanting the tomatoes, when they get a little taller, you can up-plant them into larger containers and let them get bigger before setting out in the garden. I get a larger container, fill with MM and make a depression the size of the seedling cup. Then remove the soil and plants from the seedling cup intact and set into the depression in the larger container. When they are a little larger, I just snip the weaker looking plants in each container near the soil line. That way you are not traumatizing the keepers too much.

YorkR88 Mon Mar 14, 2016 10:06 am

Sanderson,

Thanks for the links! Gardenate is pretty handy tool and I will be using in the future.

I will try and be a little more patient on the transplants for toms and sprouts for peppers. Everything just started popping up so soon that I was too excited and wanted to get things rolling haha!

I believe I stared at the starts fro about an hour last night just wanting to play with them but refrained from pulling them up and transplanting into larger containers.

There are 56 tom sprouts right now so I bought a 200 pack of clear plastic cups that I'm going to use for transplants. I wont use all 56 but wouldn't mind giving some away to the local gardners and etc...

RY

**sanderson** Tue Mar 15, 2016 2:15 am

YorkR88 wrote:I believe I stared at the starts fro about an hour last night just wanting to play with them but refrained from pulling them up and transplanting into larger containers. RY

We know exactly how you felt!!!

**Scorpio Rising** Tue Mar 15, 2016 7:38 am

YorkR88 wrote:Scorpio,

I am not sure my plant out date.. I was thinking somewhere in the first of April.

When do you think it would be time to get the lettuce outside. They are so small now I'm not too sure..
Also, should I start thinning those tomato rows and transplanting them into separate containers?

These sets were all planted 7 days ago... I've seen nothing from either pepper or any cilantro and parsley, is this normal?

thanks!

Find your first and last frost free dates: http://www.almanac.com/content/frost-chart-united-states

I don't thin until the plant has it's first set of true leaves, the ones that come up in the middle of the little plant after the first 2 cotyledon (seed leaves). They will look like the actual plant's leaves. Then, take a pair of iris scissors and just snip the weaker looking plant off at the soil level.

Peppers and herbs take forever to germinate! I think you cold weather stuff could go out as soon as it's ready! Here, it is time to plant peas, spinach, radish, and kale. Turnips soon!
RY

**Scorpio Rising** Tue Mar 15, 2016 7:41 am

Find your first and last frost free dates: http://www.almanac.com/content/frost-chart-united-states

I don't thin until the plant has it's first set of true leaves, the ones that come up in the middle of the little plant after the first 2 cotyledon (seed leaves). They will look like the actual plant's leaves. Then, take a pair of iris scissors and just snip the weaker looking plant off at the soil level.

Peppers and herbs take forever to germinate! I think you cold weather stuff could go out as soon as it's ready! Here, it is time to plant peas, spinach, radish, and kale. Turnips soon!

YorkR88 Thu Mar 17, 2016 1:37 pm

Thanks Scorpio, Here is an update as of this morning.

okra coming along nicely and my banana pepper, jalapeno, onion and Herbs have all started to sprout (not pictured)

Most that are pictured have their true leaves budding through. Should be getting close to transplant and separate in the next few days, ya think?

Also, the lettuce are growing larger but getting long and falling over. They also have brown spots on their leaves..should I use fertilizer or transport them to a pot with composted nutrients?

Windmere Thu Mar 17, 2016 2:26 pm

Hey there and welcome to the forum. If I could just add my two cents. Be VERY careful when transplanting cukes. My first year I disturbed their roots too much and they immediately bolted (produced on flower and then promptly died). Everything is looking great! Nice work. Smile

landarch Thu Mar 17, 2016 10:04 pm

very nice starts...good luck

Kathy Gizzi Sat Mar 19, 2016 3:38 pm

I seriously could not be happier with my successes thus far! My celery didn't take, but, frankly, I don't care too much about that one. Everything I read said celery is one of the hardest things to grow and requires TONS of water. Unfortunately, it was an afterthought for me, and I planted it in a peat six pack with other things that don't require as much.....no go.

So, I just transplanted my zucchini, squash and cucumbers. Started my bush beans and dill today as well.

So far so good! I have radishes, lettuce (romaine and butter), beets, carrots, onions, broccoli cauliflower, peas, zucchini, squash and cucumbers in so far. I'm also VERY pleased with the way my trellises came out! I'll say this, it REALLY pays to do your research and be prepared! Thank you so much for everyone's help!

YorkR88 Sat Mar 19, 2016 3:41 pm

Very Nice Job! Those are good looking boxes!

**sanderson** Sat Mar 19, 2016 4:11 pm

Kathy Gizzi Sat Mar 19, 2016 4:20 pm

What does that mean?

**sanderson** Sat Mar 19, 2016 5:03 pm

Ditto or agree to what the person above wrote. Just a short hand.

Kathy Gizzi Sat Mar 19, 2016 6:48 pm

Yup-it's official-I'm an idiot!

CapeCoddess Sat Mar 19, 2016 6:55 pm

LOL

I don't agree, Kathy...that box is to die for!

CC

Kathy Gizzi Sat Mar 19, 2016 7:00 pm

[url=http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00JHP7DLI?keywords=garden boxes&qid=1458428190&ref_=sr_1_3&s=lawn-garden&sr=1-3]Bought them here![/url]

I bought them on Amazon; well worth the money-I think. All parts were pre-cut and all of the boards slide into slots. It took me all if 45 minutes to assemble all 4 of them. I added the strips for sectioning (at a cost of about $18.00 total for all boxes). A bit disappointed with the minimal bowing, but, I doubt it'll blow out-lol.

Funny thing is....it was the fact that I found the boxes that prompted me to try my hand at SFG!

**AtlantaMarie** Sat Mar 19, 2016 7:04 pm

REALLY nice...! Looks like you're going to have lots of fun!

**sanderson** Sat Mar 19, 2016 7:09 pm

Kathy Gizzi wrote:Yup-it's official-I'm an idiot!

No you're not! You assembled, filled and even put grids on.

CitizenKate Sat Mar 19, 2016 10:06 pm

Beautiful work on those boxes, Kathy! okay

Look forward to seeing those trellises loaded up with plants.

CitizenKate Sat Mar 19, 2016 10:20 pm

YorkR88 wrote:
Most that are pictured have their true leaves budding through. Should be getting close to transplant and separate in the next few days, ya think?

Also, the lettuce are growing larger but getting long and falling over. They also have brown spots on their leaves..should I use fertilizer or transport them to a pot with composted nutrients?

York, the ones pictured look great. I think you could transplant them any time, as long as they've had some time to get hardened.

I had the same problem with my lettuce transplants in previous years - they got somewhat leggy and were tipping over. In my case, it was due to the seedlings not getting enough light. I've built a new light stand that holds more light fixtures, and my lettuce starts are very stout and leafy this year. If it's not too cold to get them out into some direct sunlight, that will probably help. I planted my leggy starts anyway, and once outside, they filled out nicely.

**Scorpio Rising** Sun Mar 20, 2016 3:31 pm

Wow, York! Nice boxes! And your plants are lovin' it! I re-read what I said about thinning, not always true to wait for true leaves, sometimes you just go ahead and thin early. Not sure what I was thinking! Didn't hurt your efforts, we'll done!

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