Set up Trays for Some More Indoor Planting

As you know I have planted some containers full of dill, alyssum, and some wildflowers.  I also have some lettuce and spinach growing in the cool cellar under lights.  These are the only plants I have growing indoors as of yesterday.  I decided that yesterday was a perfect time to start planting many more seeds that I need to give a head start.

Getting most of my plants into the windowsill for maximum light exposure which all my flowers need before going outside.  It has been some warm days recently and I probably could have put my spinach, lettuce, and all cool weather plants outside.  Instead I kept them inside under lights for now.  It won’t be too long until I set up my table and start bringing all kinds of plants outdoors.

I have a tray that has 72 cells where I can start planting all kinds of seeds.  I have many types of peppers that I needed to plant yesterday and these cells definitely came in handy for this reason.  I have literally five different varieties that I am looking forward to grow especially all the spicy peppers.  I even planted some of the sweeter ones as well which make for great salads and sauces.  The hot types will be used mainly for salsa hopefully.

I also have another tray full of other vegetables and some flowers.  I knew I wanted to get eggplant started and hopefully don’t grow so many plants as last year.  Six small containers are what I stuck with this year and that should be plenty of plants as long as the seeds sprout in the soil.  Some sun king hybrid broccoli is what I plan on growing the whole season so I planted some of these seeds in containers.

 
I also bought some more raspberries this year and looking forward to planting them in the garden.  I need to place them in a tray of water in order to get them out of their dormant state before planting them in a container or the ground.  Once they start growing roots and producing leaves I can then take them out of the tray and get them ready for soil.

Tomato Seeds Now Planted Indoors With Others To Come

I just finished planting my tomato seeds this week and they are placed underneath lights to get them started a little bit faster.  Right now the weather has been quite cloudy and they would probably normally take twice as long if I were to put them in the windowsill.

Right now most of my seeds that I have planted have began to germinate and sprout.  Some of them are growing quite well and my second planting of flower seeds have also poked through the soil.  I need to start planting melons and eggplants since these plants take awhile to mature I want to give a good head start this season.  I hope to plant them sometime this week.  They too will be placed under fluorescent lights for the start they need.

Not much has changed in the tomato seed planting and I decided to do five seeds of cherry and steakhouse with 24 Roma seeds.  This should give me a minimum of 34 tomato plants with plenty of room to plant all my other fruits and vegetables.

With a New Season Comes Some New Crops

I am not changing the garden that much this year and instead will be introducing some new vegetables into the mix.  Potatoes are one of the new vegetables that I want to add into the garden.  I also decided on keeping peas and radishes and will have a little bit less lettuce than last year.

Spinach has always been a favorite and since I didn’t plant any last year I decided that I would plant some this season.  I also want to get some celery into the garden as well and I have started them inside for a head start.

Rhubarb and brussel sprouts are the two new things that I will add to the spring garden.  I used to have rhubarb many years ago, but I have actually never grown it myself and I decided that this would something new that I could add.  I love brussel sprouts and have never actually thought of growing it until now.

I am also growing some new types of lettuce.  Last year I grew all four types, but this season I want to add some new varieties.  Instead of ruby glow hybrid I will be substituting it with the king crimson hybrid.  I have selected green ice to take place of my looseleaf type that I planted last season.  I still will be planting all four types of lettuce just different types.

So far I have planted celery, the two new lettuce varieties, brussel sprouts, dill, and alyssum.  I probably should have started a little bit earlier, but if I place them under fluorescent lights I believe I could catch up in time for the spring. 

Other than these three things I think the garden will be the same as previous years.  I might have some new types of melons, corn, or other vegetables or fruits to grow this season, but hopefully we’ll have a fruitful season.

How About Starting Tomatoes Indoors?

That is exactly what I like to do every season and is the best thing to do with these plants.  Starting them inside is probably the easiest way to get a head start on the season and since they transplant well it makes sense to start them in your home or apartment.

I always like putting them under artificial lights because getting them sprouting as soon as possible will allow you to plant more seeds once your tomato plants reach a good size.  After tomatoes I like to plant zucchini and pumpkins under these lights.  They sprout quick and will not be under these lights for very long.

Three types this year are what I am focusing on.  Granted I am planting the same as every year I figured I would let you know the three that I chose.  The steakhouse and super sauce are the same, but I did pick a different cherry tomato type that I thought I would try instead of the usual.

 

Lettuce, Watermelon, and More Flowers Planted Indoors

Yesterday I started planting more flowers indoors in order to get them a head start for the garden season.  Getting them blooming as fast as possible is the first thing that I focus on when gardening.  It is also important for vegetables and fruits as well.  Below are pots that contain amaranthus, calendula, queen anne's lace, and statice seeds.

That is why I began with lettuce yesterday as well as watermelon.  Watermelons take quite a while to mature and need more time in order to get a much bigger and tastier fruit.  Starting them inside is the best way to give them extra time as well as a few other strategies that I will use when I plant them into the ground.  More on that at a later time.

Lettuce doesn't take that long to grow, but they need cooler weather and the best time to start them is now because one they are ready I will place them outside at around mid spring which is when their preferred temperatures arrive.  They don't like cold weather like spinach, but much cooler than summer temperatures are desired.