Things Are Getting Busy!

This is how most every morning begins....you know, after I get five kids fed and four off to school.  I head into the grow room to water my thirsty plants with my coffee in hand. It's about an hour long process now.  I need a bigger watering can.  I have one, but the spout is too big.  The one I use only holds a quart, but have a small spout that is perfect. You can imagine how many trips back to the kitchen for warm water that is!  And no, I'm not losing weight because of it.

We have cucumbers!! Yea! I did some in peat pots and won't do that again.  They seem to dry out instantly and I'm not really sure anything will germinate.  I believe I have five varieties that we are trying.

Out of all the vegetables that I want to make it these are number one.  Little cherry tomatoes are like Nature's Candy. I grew a few two years ago, but the greenhouse was started to late and I was left in late fall with tons of green ones.  Last year the greenhouse wasn't used so I am very excited this year.  I can almost taste them.

These are the California Wonder Peppers.  I also started some Jalapenos and have some Habaneros to plant (not that I'm going to eat them, but I'll give them to the guys that work with my husband).

This is Swiss Chard.  I've never even seen or eaten this before, but the package looked so interesting.  I have conflicting information for growing this in Alaska.  One thing tells me to start it ahead of time and another says it won't transplant very well and to start it outside.  I planted half the packet and will sow the other half directly.
The Schizanthus seem to be doing better this year. Not as spindly, but it's still early.

Look at those Geraniums.  They really took off!  I wish I would have planted more, but I only had a couple survive last year so this is an improvement.  There's always next year. :)

A blurry shot of the tomatoes sent from Oregon.  (I'm really too exhausted to go take a new photo).

I am so happy with the Livingstone Daisies.  Last year they just grew into one big blob in a flat and were planted that way.  This year I actually got a lot transplanted and now I'll be able to be a bit more creative.

The Roma's are doing great.  I still have that panic feeling thinking I should have grown twice as many, but this will be the learning year.

Some of the Wave Petunias are coming up.  I stress the most about these checking them several times a day.  The seeds come to about 16 cents each and if they don't grow I can't replace them as they go for about $3.79 a plant (last year).  Fingers crossed!  They already don't seem to be doing as great with the fine vermiculite.  I've never used it before even though it says to.  Not sure it's working out.

I am up to 73 flats in various stages of growth.  Still behind, but that's my own fault.  I can't pass the seed rack without picking up one or two new packets.  I want to try everything!

Still so much crap on the other shelves.  Bad idea to use them for storage...not like I didn't have all winter to clean them off.

Well, that's it for tonight.  It's been a long day.  I hope to make some real progress tomorrow.  I need to do a count at some point as well. Happy Gardening!!

My Petunia Seeds Arrived!!

One of my most exciting days is when my seed order from Harris Seeds arrives.  I order my Wave Petunia seeds from this company plus a few miscellaneous seeds.

Wednesday the 16th I put 494 pelleted petunia seeds into six-packs using tweezers.  It should be about 20 more, but I can't locate the rest of the Tidal Wave Silver.  Not sure if I'm over-looking them or if they were spilled when I was distracted with one of the kids.  I sure hope to have a good germination rate and growing success as these are expensive seeds.  This number comes to about 16 cents per seed.

The seeds were covered with fine vermiculite as they need light to germinate.

A few went under plastic covers.  I went to a local greenhouse to pick some up and they were $3 each!  I only got four.  I figure I'll just add a few each year until I have what I need.

The rest were covered with plastic wrap which is what I used last year.

Here's my little fan busy at work.  It is attached to a long extension cord and I move it around the grow room throughout the day.  I know it would make sense to have a bigger fan system, but this way I am forever checking the plants and know if a flat has dried out before it's too late. It can happen so quickly.  Yesterday I had to take my son to the doctor and didn't water before we left.  By the time I got home I had lost some seedlings. (This is where the plastic covers would come in handy, but I need 200 of them and that is just too much money).  Why the fan?  It provides a gentle breeze to make the little stems sturdy and strong for when they go outside.

An update on my progress (and boy, am I behind!).  Nine Pineapple Tomato plants from the seeds from Oregon.

35 six-packs or 210 Livingstone Daisies (I'll lose a few before they are mature and go outside....in a few weeks I'll be over-whelmed and not have the time to tend to things as they should be).

30 Starfire Signet Marigolds (I really cannot grow this plant.  By the time it is done I'll be lucky to have two or three.  I have no problem with other marigolds so I don't know what the deal is).

20 six-packs or 120 California Wonder Pepper.

10 six-packs or 60 Sweet 100's tomatoes.

Some Schizanthus...as you can see they are few and far between. 

There are 41 Geraniums that are doing good and all should make it.

(Middle) 53 six-packs or 318 Dahlia plants.  Sure wish I wouldn't have killed all my tubers.  Not fond of starting over from seed.

The Internet and I are not jiving today.  The entire neighborhood is full of kids on Spring Break and my speed is at a crawl so I'm not even going to attempt to add my other photos at this point.

There are a few Pansies sprouting.  That's another plant that I seem to kill more than I grow. I also have 27 Roma Tomato plants.  There is a flat that is supposed to be celery, but honestly, I think I'm watering dirt and the seeds didn't make it in there.  Oh, well. There are also 16 6-packs of Impatiens that are just beginning to show.

I am way behind in getting things started.  There is so much to do and it seems each day something takes me away from gardening (dread locks, broken hands, etc.  which you can read about here).  I'm thankful it is only the middle of March.   We still have 10-11 weeks before anything can go outside.

Back At It

Today, I transplanted the last twelve Geraniums that were baggie-started, but tonight it looks like two won't make it. They were small and I should have given them another day.  I'm too impatient!  That brings the total to 30 out of 41 or a 73% germination rate using the paper towel and bag method. Only a 68% survival rate...so far...if I don't kill anymore. The seeds started in the soil have 3 sprouts.

I put 479 Schizanthus seeds on paper towel (counted using an enlarged photo).  Not even sure I'll be able to transplant these as they are awfully tiny seeds, but I'm willing to give it a try.  Worst case scenario is I've wasted two packets and have to start over.  Best case scenario, I have surgeons hands and can do it!

I also packaged up 161 Verbena, 132 Pansy Swiss Giants and 38 Pansy Tidal Wave Mix.  Everyone is safely tucked in darkness.

Look at these little guys go.  Last year I didn't have very good luck and only ended up with five Geraniums that made it to summer and pots in the yard.  Hoping for a little more success this season.