It's that time of year when an overwhelming phenomenon overtakes us. And when I say US, I mean gardeners.
Yesterday morning after my quick walk to the mailbox, I gathered my seed containers to add a few loose packets of seeds I've been receiving in the mail and picking up here and there, and set to finishing my inventory and seeing which seeds I would be sprouting first for the season. Well, as I flipped through the boxes and packets, a paralyzing event took over me. Before I knew it, a bag of seed starter soil, peat pods and other miscellaneous planting items appeared before me.
I'm not sure what took over my brain, but soon my fingers were in the soil; scooping out 1/4 cups of dirt at a time. Then the seeds started jumping into the cups and peat pods. Heaven help me!
As I scooped the dirt and watered the peat pods, I kept telling myself, "It's OK... If they sprout too soon before I can move them outside into the greenhouse before the last frost of the season, I can always put them in my grow tent inside." Yup.. I was VERY convincing!
So What's Been Started?
I have two trays like this; one is peat pods and this one has the cups pictured above.
Seedlings include:
- Scarlet Runner beans
- Sunflowers (dwarf & evening sun)
- Little gem lettuce
- Luffa Gourds
- Some extra herbs- oregano, dill, chives and basil
- Feverfew
- Lemon Balm
NOTE- Thank you @fernowl13 for the Scarlet Runners and @beatitudes8 for the Luffa Gourds!
I carefully went through my selections before choosing which ones to start with. The way I am scheduling all my seedlings will be precise and for a reason. I have the next set in mind; which I am hoping to start in the peat pods in the next week. I am getting a jump on the planting season as I have the grow tent set up and already in use. I have a few plants and herbs already in the tent, but can always make room for more. Plus I have the gardening table cleared off and ready for action. I have a 150-watt grow light fixture hanging over the table, so any overflow from the grow tent, can go here.
It won't take but a moment to move my wine as it continues to ferment in the secondary phase. Other than that, the table is ready for ACTION!
So who else is JUMPING in head first already?
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Awesome. I really don't like gardening but I like the results :D I often decide for multi year plants/bushes because I can't find the motivation to plant yearly lol.
Wahooo seeds are go go go!!! Temptation take over 😂😂😂
You know it!!
Kind of sad though, once you get started the fever takes over!
Sunflower and Oregano worth keeping in the garden :)
Rydhi
xox
Very exciting seeing everyone start to get their seeds going!
I am absolutely in it already LOL! Got just short of 100 pepper plants growing and I am going to start 40 or so tomatoes today! The great heirloom ones @karenfoster sent over in the Canadian seed exchange!!
Oh, that's great that you're able to put to good use the seeds from @karenfoster!
Are you planning on planting in a greenhouse later? Or in a garden?
They will go into our garden. We do all containers and raised beds. 15 x 120 Liter planters and then a mix up other containers.
Oh that's wonderful!!
I'm planning more containers and buckets this year. I don't have a lot of ground space for a garden so I have to be creative.
Containers work great for everything! Here is a pic from the middle of last summer.
BEAUTIFUL!!
WOW!
Thx! Any garden plant will grow to full potential in a pot or raised bed. Beauty is that you can move them to fit any space.
@goldendawne, have you seen Disney's hydroponics display? They have lots of great ideas for space-saving vertical gardens.
NO I never have- I haven't been to the theme park in over 25 years.
I"ll have to pull up some images online. THANK YOU!
I’ve been starting seeds like mad. I’ve had to dreams lately that spring was here and I forgot to start my seeds and it was too late. So, I guess I’ve been suppressing some sort of seed starting anxiety. lol
Looks like a nice project you started there.
If you are not already you might want to get in contact with @pennsif ... he might have tips for you :)
lol- Yeah I know him well!
This little project will get out of hand if I don't watch myself. Yeah,I can picture that happening.
I think we've met already...
I wish I could find all those lovely growing supplies here in Cambodia... no garden centers and no reliable mail system :( Looking into a DIY hydroponics system now.
Oh, that's not good. WIsh there was a better way for you. Have you checked here and searched for hydroponics? I think I may have seen some over the last few months.
Yep... so much info here. My parents are coming over in 2 weeks and after that, I am visiting hydroponics farm close to the capital that will hopefully give me some inspiration to make my own system with materials we find here.
I've got about 200 jalapeno peppers ready to transplant.
Hopefully, it'll be a good growing season :)
200!!! Wholly Camolly!
WIshing you a success and HOT season!
I don't personally like the spicy peppers, but I've got a buyer who goes through 300 a week or more.
WOW! That's a lot of peppers! Now I'm thinking of making a Mexican dish for dinner tonight.
When those green thumbs start itching, there isn't but one cure! PLAY in the dirt. :) I'm trying to hold off a little longer, but you aren't helping! lol
Sorry I'm not helping the cause! But I swear... something just came over me. Seeing all the posts on here this past week... holding those packets in my hand. FELT SO good!
Oh I'm a jumpin, just gotta grow when the s pirit days grow!!! It'll all work out. These plants want to grow, we must help them!!!
Hahahaaaa
YES! We are only looking out for the plants that WANT to grow up! I like that line of thinking!
I don't know how it happens. It is like opening a pack of biscuits and only eating a couple to find somehow the pack is empty.
Hope they don't come up too early. But as you have said, there is options even then.
lol- yeah so very like that analogy! Only one... well, maybe two... oh man! They're all gone!
So excite spring is almost here!! Yeah to warmer weather!! & Green country road drives! 😁
Ohhh, I can't wait until we can go for our weekend little (local) roads trips. We will go up and down back roads for hours! SO much to see as everything starts blooming!
Can’t wait !
Looking good @goldendawne! Hope you have a great growing season this year.
Thank you!!! And I have plans to make this one the best to date for me.
Doing all this yesterday just made me smile from ear to ear! I felt like a little girl on Christmas morning.
I started my eggplants a few days ago. I'm itching to do the rest but I'm also being very patient this year. I'm going by the Farmer's Almanac's planting guide.
Are you? I have read it quite a few times over the years, but knowing me... patience lacking here- I'm not sure the excitement could control me.
Well posted, very good for me ... Thanks for posting you so beautiful,
dear @goldendawne..
I hear you! I'm already on my second tray. Getting a lot of tomatoes and cabbage and herbs. I sometimes start a little early. I don't have a basement, so I'm always doing the transfer tray dance as we go about our day, and the sun moves. I'm curious if those luffa gourds really work for bathing. Have you tried one?
I did quite a few herbs thinking they will be good to have inside before I transplant out in the ground or out into the greenhouse.
Yes the luffa are those... I had been reading about them and @beatitudes8 sent me some on the mail. I'm planning on harvesting them solely for the purpose to use in my homemade soap. This is my first experience with them, so I'm giving myself a wide berth to learn about them more.
We have no basement either but we have a 1500-sqft house and it's only the two of us here; so we have room for the plants and seedlings.
Ah okay, I thought luffa sponge for baths...you grind them for soap? Interesting! I look forward to reading about that. We're in a camper currently with our kids. Thought about passing on sprouting myself this year, but as you say I was compelled! My seeds were calling out to me :)
No not grinding them- they come out like this
I believe you just have to peel them.
You're well ahead of me :) I've just posted what I've bought this week but nothing is planted yet. It's still early here in Romania.
Nice job! :)
Technically a little early here too but with the grow tent I can utilize the extra space in the kitchen until I can move things outside to the greenhouse.
At the risk of sounding dumb...what is feverfew?
It is an herb I use in my herbal teas- good for digestion and nausea- which I suffer from. Iactually wrote about it long ago.
I've not started yet with the beans or tatty seeds for my mum's little plot. Gotta get myself in gear ;)
Hopefully you will- would hate to have your mum getting on your case about it.
I know lol.
I'm visiting her tomorrow so I might suggest a trip to the garden centre/nursery.
I can't wait to see your little seedlings start to sprout. What kind of wine are you making?
Wow, you're already all over it! I am planning on planting another small garden this year, but I don't have a greenhouse, so was planning on just planting the seeds after the frosts are done...and then we've had temps below freezing again for over a week. Oh, well. At least unlike last year, we already live in this place, so we can plant around March-April rather than May. More yield!
I'm anxious to get started too! We've recently had really nice weather and I've got lots of seeds that I'm ready to plant. Unfortunately, our last frost date is around the middle of April, so I have a long way to go. :(
Soon... I don't have an intermediary landing zone yet, so I'm playing it safe and waiting just a while longer.
Love that table! Looks like lots of room for some serious work!
My hubby bought this table at a garage sale two years ago! THE BEST garage sale find we've ever had! I love it too
Oh So Very True!!!!
Haha! Hey, sometimes, seeds just need planting, it happens. I can't wait to watch their progress!
I was looking at your preparations with awe. You're in good time with the seeds I suppose.
Although I would very much like to have an apartment garden I am yet to get going with it. Hopefully, I will be able to start with it this year.
Oh how exciting! I didn't realize it's that time already. I have some seeds set aside that I now need to go through.
I've got some of my herbs planted and in the greenhouse. It's hard to guess what our winter will do, here. I'm trying to hold myself back from starting too early, as I've got SOME room indoors, but not a lot...and the small greenhouse is almost full...so I have to pace myself! lololol The urge to toss the wilted grape tomatoes into their hangers is becoming too much to bear!
My houseplants suffer for about 2 months when spring seed starting begins at our house. Until the nights are warm enough and the greenhouse maintains a minimum temp, they can't go outside. Today it's over 40 out, with snow still on the ground and more on the way. By Tuesday it will be back down in the teens. I have cabin fever so bad. So bad.
I loved your post and thank you for the Hollar Out. I did not see it until over a week went by as work kept me from both Discord and Steemit. Much appreciated.
It really is a sickness. I know it far too well...
😂😂😂😂
This year I am sort of taking a break from the gardening so I don't have as many things distracting me from building the house but I have a feeling these impulses could return with a vengeance next year......
I've got Cabbage ,Brussel sprouts, Broccoli and Cauliflower going so far! So excited about this growing season. I hope your luffa's do great!
Not started any seeds yet but getting things ready to go. Feels good to get the hands dirty. Got some stuff to go get and then I will be off to the races. lol
Sweet!
I have exhaled and released my grand garden expectations.
Yesterday I picked the term Freestyle to describe this year's gardening approach. It's feeling right.
I deeply ache to be doing what you are. Spring on an Ozark mountaintop is windy with torrential rain. I've had sour luck with baby plants the last two years, a greenhouse of some sort is needed to achieve what I consider a normal spring.
Post lots of baby pics!!!
...you've got my gears turning...
You know I will! As soon as the little sprouts start coming up I'll be snapping pics like crazy!!