Growing seedlings indoors has been fun, but moving them outdoors will take some strategizing on my part.
The spring temperatures are unconvincing, but I try to remember that “life finds a way.”
Here’s a look at some growth happening despite the wind, snow, and drenching rain.
The tomatoes are growing like gangbusters indoors, so when will I plant them out? Good question. Today, as with every other day this week, we had a dusting of snow on the ground.
You can see roots beginning to grow through the pots, above. I’ll be transplanting these babies to bigger pots before I plant them outside. In our zone, May 31 is the last frost date.
Last year, I tried to push for an earlier start outdoors. It didn’t work. The plants were stunted, and succumbed to disease and pests. I ended up no further ahead.
The Nicotiana sylvestris seedlings are getting big! I used tweezers to thin each individual cell pack. I still have some thinning to do here.
Narcissus “King Alfred” is the first of my narcissus species to bloom. The other varieties I’ve planted are slower. Like me, they just didn’t want to get out of the bed!
The basil is looking great. I transplanted the growing seedlings from tiny clay pots to bigger peat pots.
I did manage to get one bed cleaned out fairly well. The Iris germanica seem to appreciate the effort. The soil is so damp, even in the raised beds. And the wind continues to blow around oak leaves, no matter how many times they are raked up.
Occasionally, the sun does get a peek through the cloud cover! That’s when I race outside to catch any glimpse of life that I can find.
? -Jo
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The crocus photo is really lovely. I feel your tomato pain – if they grow well & start to send their roots through the pots, then you know it’s going to snow & hail & dead of night all over the place. If the weather’s fine, the seedlings’ll just sit there looking confused. Soon, tho. They’ll do their stuff soon, both the weather & the tomatoes.
I am very envious of your seemingly laboratory conditions for propagation. I imagine you in a white lab with and very clean surfaces, surgically transplanting seedlings.
Your seedlings are doing brilliantly! I have only sewn cosmos, zinnia and bells of Ireland seeds this week as it’s been so cold. Lovely post!
Tweezers are such a good idea for nicotiana seedlings! Mine were a flipping nightmare! It is amazing how quickly they bulk up though.
My Autumn planted seeds aren’t up to much. They were healthy and ready to prick out in January but I thought I would wait for warmer weather and I’m still waiting. Your basil looks good. I start off with a pot from the supermarket, pinch some tops off and put in water. They root after a week and then I pot on.
I do hope to get some tomatoes! The beefsteak come in so late, getting a head start in pots should help.
I never keep tabs on the last dates for frost, but I try to cover most of the translaplanted seedlings with fleece if it looks like it might get cold.
Those tomato plants look like they’ll be fruitful (pun intended)!