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Only the tomato plants are bursting out. The rest are waking slowly, timidly. No sign, I think, of the habanero plants. As well, the pepper seeds aren't all on the rise, or don't seem to be. They must have a lower germination rate? All are supposed to be heritage, if I got it right and wasn't scammed. Simply, I want to harvest my own seed for next year, and perhaps, in time, tinker with cross pollination as a little hobby thing. But mostly it is to ensure seed, regarding prepping.
I need to research when and how to transplant. I have a bunch of plastic cups in my stocks, which will work just fine. My guess is even the tomato plants won't get too big for these cups before it is time to plant them outdoors. I also need to find out if I should be using bits of something to stake the tomatoes even at their current size. The peppers, I think, will do fine without that effort. It would be good to know, though, at about what size they will need to be transplanted into a cup. The other thing to figure out is how to deal with the cups. I am thinking, perhaps... a sodacan flat, with uniform holes cut in the bottom, placed over another flat, or simply upside down, for stability... one way or another. The question is, how many flats will be needed? Questions, always questions. Aye, but tinkering is my way when I can have my way.
I think I am awake enough to finish the dishes. A quick additional hot soak and some cooling time, on top of what they have, then to dry before they get cold again. Tending laundry and setting up a line of loads would also be good. After I get a bit of that going, I may have to... seek an escape from my home. It seems pretty cool outdoors yet still though, so I am not sure about shooting. That depends on whether my friend can handle the cold or not, and whether he feels up to it. But a bit of work on leveling the earth around the new hydrant wouldn't be a bad thing. And maybe even spading a small patch for the remnant seeds. I personally think we are past the frosting stages. Difficult to know, for sure. Well, and I could always cover the seedlings if I think a frost is coming, with some hope, if any of the seedlings seem to be popping. More tinkering, I suppose.
On to it. Good day.
The close up of the seedlings seem to indicate to me that they need more light. Seedlings stretch like that when there is insufficient light.
ReplyDeleteAs for when to transplant, you can probably go straight to the garden from those containers. When the roots are peeking out the bottom here and there and/or the plants are at least as tall (up to 1-1/2 times as tall in the case of peppers, and even 2x as tall or a bit more in the case of tomatoes) as the soil containers. Assuming you are well past the "last frost date" for your area.
A trick when putting tall, leggy tomatoes in the garden is to bury maybe half the stem along with the rootball. Roots will grow out of the buried stem and give the plant a launchpad to vigorous growth.
Thanks for the planting tip, I will use that!
ReplyDeleteAs for frost... Last frost, technically, is at the end of this month. I am just being a bit smarmy concerning putting seeds out. Offering hope to the possibly hopeless? Something.
As to the pictures? I don't have a camera, save on my cellphone, which I don't use. I don't have a means of crossing those over, really, and don't like the camera or pictures it produces. I will try to let the gardener who DID take the pictures know though. :p Now, my plants are like that too, but they get 14-16 hours of light per day between electric and sun, most of it being sun. I can't do much more about it.
As for a replanting in cups, it would be to save some of the extra growths. I could not possibly use them all, but I could choose the best and offer others to local gardeners so they don't have to buy... But, going by your notions, I think I can just plant the extra peppers in pots that didn't produce and be good for them. Tomatoes, not so much.