Tuesday, April 21, 2009

From Seed to Seedling, and Beyond: (Seed Experiment #2)

*NOTE: I accidentally published this post before I was completely finished. I've edited it and think it's done now! Have you ever hit the publish button before you were ready? I didn't even do it purposely...it just 'happened'. arrgh!

My first time planting seeds (Seed Experiment #1) has been a success, thus far!







I have to say, I had no idea I could hang in there this long.


What kept me going were the seedlings themselves!


Each day I would check on them and give them the TLC I sensed that they needed.


I hung 2 grow lights from an old shelf in our basement.


It currently stores many of my workbooks and materials from my work as a counselor, along with other 'stuff''-so please excuse the mess!


Additionally, on an out-of-the-way counter in the kitchen, I exchanged the under-the-cupboard florescent lights with more grow lights:


(To avoid 'legginess', I moved the flats up closer to the lights.
I used whatever I could find-so again, another mess)!

From this packet of seeds:


...came these tiny leaves:


...and here is the Petunia today!


From these seed packets:



These have developed:

Rock Soapwort:


Wildflowers:


and, Lobelia:


(I'll do a separate post on my Lobelia...I have a surprise to share)!

The Salvia seeds have given an impressive turnout:


Here they are as seedlings:


...and now, Salvia plants!


Because I had lost the Texas Bluebonnet and Johnny Jump Ups that I'd started, I decided to plant some Dwarf Impatiens and some Thyme. (I still have so many of those little peat pots left over that I could have filled with seeds. I'll keep them for next year (hopefully they'll still be good).

I used color-coded toothpicks for labels this time!


Impatiens:


Here are some Impatiens seedlings:


and, as 'just-about' plants!


...and some Thyme


Thyme seedlings:


and some larger Thyme:


(I decided to put them in a larger pot since they were beginning to 'crawl'...and needed room)!

So as you can see, my seed experiment has been a success! I am now just waiting until they are just a bit larger to put them in the garden. I might start to harden them off now, and then leave them outside until I can find some places for them in the garden...

Hope you enjoyed my experiment as much as I have!

--Today I am thankful for a successful seed experiment!

30 comments:

  1. You've done a tremendous job, Jan! You can be proud!

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  2. Your seedlings are doing much better than mine. Mine have all come up, but most don't even have any true leaves yet. But we use natural south-facing sunlight for light, and a regular blanket for bottom warmth. I don't think either one of those is quite enough.

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  3. Very Nice, you'll have an instant garden within a few weeks.
    Great choices too.

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  4. Your plants look great, Jan!

    I lost so many of my seedlings while I was away. My sweet daughter tried to take care of them for me, but we still lost quite a few because they needed transplanting. Others just didn't get watered enough and totally dried up.

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  5. Good for you, Jan! My seed starting is a bit jumbled, too. What matters is how pretty (or productive) the plants will be out in the garden, right?

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  6. I'm impressed with your patience and experiment, Jan ... but ... WOW ... Mr. Innocent is one HUGE squirrel!

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  7. That's great that your seed experiment is going so well. I have hit the Publish button before I really meant to more times than I can count.

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  8. I've hit publish MANY times too early :)
    Your seedlings look great. It's so exciting to watch a little seed turn into a plant. I wish I would've thought to switch out the fluorescent lights like you did. That is a great idea, and I will try it next year.

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  9. Great job on the seedlings! Be sure to pinch out the growing tips of your petunias so they can send out more basal branches. In fact, most flowers benefit from this treatment.

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  10. Jan! I would say your experiment has been a tremendous success! I bet you've had fun too? They all look so good, I can't wait to see them growing in your garden!

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  11. WOW! Your garden will be stunning!
    Did you know that you can make cuttings from the petunias? Just cut of the topps and put in potts.
    Same with dahlias...
    But that you allredy knew.
    Linda

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  12. Jan,
    I am so proud of you. You did it.
    You got lights...yay !
    It's the only way to go but most try to avoid getting lights and aren't happy with their results.
    Everything looks happy...way to go girl!

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  13. Hi Jan~~

    There is something so gratifying in successfully raising baby plants from seed. Your plants look so healthy and cared for. They know they're loved.

    Your banner tulips are to die for.

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  14. It's swell, Jan! Pat yourself on the back for your patience. You must be proud of all those babies and I'm sure your heart would swell when you see them blooming. Good luck!

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  15. Hi Jan, your seedlings look great!

    Good for you figuring out a good way to label them - I might have to borrow your idea.

    I didn't label my seedlings (meant to.) I know which ones are tomatoes and which are peppers, but beats me which varieties they each are! Same with the vining plants - the cukes and squash look alike too. Oh well, as long as I put the vining stuff on the trellis and stake the tomatoes, they'll be fine, and when they start producing I'll be able to tell which ones are which!

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  16. The seeds are looking good! It won't be long before you can plant them outside and enjoy some flowers! I've done the publish thing too but you can hit "save as draft" in blogger and that will remove the post from view for editing.

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  17. They are doing well - you must be very pleased. I like the colour coded toothpick idea. I hate it when I mix seedlings up by mistake and forget which is which.

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  18. Ooh, it's so exciting to see seedling babies. Some of my winter-sown seedlings are up, too! And, yes, i accidentally pressed Publish instead of Save once, too!

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  19. Hey looking great! Couldn't wait until they grow and flower.
    Oh, and if I accidently hit 'Publish', I again quickly hit 'Save as Draft' which will also unpublish it instantly.

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  20. Jan- those seedling grew wonderfully! I am going to try planting some perennials from seed in the fall and see what happens. I have not done this before! You have inspired me!

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  21. Hey Jan - thank you for letting me know about my photo. I accidently deleted my photo on the Picasa account. I hope Me and my bunny are showing now?!!!

    Your seeds starter porject is doing wonderful. Mine are going very slow because where I have them housed right now does get cold at night. I am using a room we added on to the house but it is unfinished so the nights are very cold. WARMTH makes a difference. A friend of mine is having great luck with those heat mats. I didn't want to invest in those this year because I bought a greenhouse to use next fall.

    THANKS AGAIN .... I am still so excited about the seeds I do have going.

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  22. Just like you, I never get tired of planting stuff at the same time and seeing what comes up first. Always an experiment.

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  23. You have some very healthy looking seedlings. I'd say you did everything just right;) Can't wait to see them in bloom.
    Marnie

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  24. Jan~
    Looks like a great success! Your garden will be teeming with new blooms. Doesn't it feel good to start them from seed? It's like you brought it to life :)

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  25. I haven't tried seeds yet, either. Exciting to see your results!

    Very inspiring :)

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  26. you have done a good job with your seedlings...i attempted such a feat a few years ago and decided that that just didn't work for me. i am fortunate to have a local place that sells smaller plants and i usually go that route rather than purchasing the larger and often rootbound ones at the box stores.

    i will have to post my jumbled assorted of pretties on my porch soon. they have survived a couple of weeks now on the screen porch...:)

    have a wonderful evening

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  27. Seed experiment. Are you sure, I reckon you're secretly starting a nursery.

    They all seem to have done so well.

    Rob

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  28. Oh, I just love this post with all your seedlings. I had to laugh when I saw all the things you use to get the plants closer to the lights. I do the exact same things. In fact, it looks like you've been here and stolen all my proppers:))
    I'm also very impressed with your impatiens. I can't grow these little buggers no matter how many times I've tried, and believe me, it's been many!! I get maybe 3 plants out of a whole packet. Now I just buy the plants:))

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  29. You have gone such a great job of growing so much from seed.
    The coloured toothpicks is an inspired idea :)
    K

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  30. I think it's been a great success Jan! I have under-counter lights in my kitchen and I never thought to swap out the bulbs! You've just given me a great idea for next spring. I can take the mess for a few months!! Congrats on the great germination rate.

    ReplyDelete

Thanks so much for visiting and taking the time to comment! Please enjoy your TODAY and all of the gifts in YOUR garden of life!

Jan

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