Last week I sowed the first of my tomato seeds - a difficult choice at this time of year when it is still so cold and inhospitable outside.
Here they are a week later, stirred into life in a warm propagator. When I transplant them I will put them into their pots a little deeper so that roots can form further up the stems to give a stronger plant.
I have been turning the pots everyday so that they don't get too leggy, but they really need potting on so that they can develop fully.
It is still very cold in the greenhouse so I will have to keep them indoors a little longer and make some space on a windowsill somewhere so I can nurture them and make sure they survive. This is always my first task of the year and always gives me hope that the growing season has begun. The peppers I sowed haven't made an appearance yet perhaps I need to buy some fresh seed - come to think of it I am sure I saved some seed last year - I'll have to have a root through my seed box to try and find them.
Ah good news - checked out my seed box and found some Ramona (long) peppers seed so I'll get them sown this week. Whilst I was rummaging I found some kitchen paper with seeds inside. The label has come adrift along the way and I have no idea what the seed is - I know they are flower seed - can any of my learned friends help me out? I must have liked the plant or I wouldn't have bothered to save them - this is going to bug me now - what on earth are they?
Here they are a week later, stirred into life in a warm propagator. When I transplant them I will put them into their pots a little deeper so that roots can form further up the stems to give a stronger plant.
It is still very cold in the greenhouse so I will have to keep them indoors a little longer and make some space on a windowsill somewhere so I can nurture them and make sure they survive. This is always my first task of the year and always gives me hope that the growing season has begun. The peppers I sowed haven't made an appearance yet perhaps I need to buy some fresh seed - come to think of it I am sure I saved some seed last year - I'll have to have a root through my seed box to try and find them.
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| This is the beautifully carved box that I use to store home-saved seed |
I haven't sown my tomatoes yet, but my peppers have put in an appearance. I love the box you keep your seeds in, so pretty. I'm afraid I can't help with the seeds. Perhaps you'll need to sow them and see what grows.
ReplyDeleteNo peppers yet for me perhaps they take a bit longer to germinate.
DeleteAre they Nigella seeds? I recognise them and I am trying to remember what I had that were similar last year and Nigella seeds jumped out at me. Well done on the tomatoes. I am going to start next week during the half term. Take care. Chel
ReplyDeleteBroad beans next for me and onion sets in pots.
DeleteDon't know about the seeds, Elaine, but I love the seed-box - much better than mine, which is an old shoe-box!
ReplyDeleteI have shoe boxes too Mark - the wooden box is only big enough for small packets of home-saved seeds.
DeleteLooking at the dry flower heads it seems to be something with flower like pulmonaria but I'm guessing it's not that. Could it be some sort of phlox?
ReplyDeleteI've remembered what they are Sue - wild sage.
DeleteI'm waiting a couple of weeks before I sow my tomatoes. It is a very pretty seed box, I have a collection of plastic tubs & shoe boxes.
ReplyDeleteMe too - I just showed that box 'cos it is the nicest.
DeleteI have been searching through the dusty annals of my mind and finally remembered what the seeds are - wild sage. I recall that I kept cutting the stems off to keep them flowering but they set seed faster than I could keep up with. Thanks for all your suggestions anyway.
ReplyDeleteI started my tomatoes early last year and kept them in for months but didnt have much success when they went outside.I dont know what to do this year, I might just cheat and buy a few varieties of plug plants!
ReplyDeleteLast year wasn't a good example of how to grow tomatoes - let's hope it is better this year.
DeleteI've bitten the bullet today and put some of my germinated tomato seeds in the greenhouse. It's warm enough by day and heated to min 5C at night, so we'll see how they do. I've got another packet of seeds if it doesn't work.
ReplyDeleteMy greenhouse isn't heated, although I do have a small paraffin heater but it smokes too much so I don't use it.
DeleteI's amazing just how quickly tomatoes come on once they have germinated. I made the first sowing of sweet peppers yesterday - hopefully tomatoes to follow in the next few days. A beautiful seed box Elaine but do they all fit in there? :)
ReplyDeleteNo Anna they don't all fit in - I have a collection of other boxes as well. I'm always on the lookout for nice boxes but they don't come along very often.
DeleteSo cold and damp here that I'm holding off for a bit longer before I start my sowing. Its amazing how quickly they germinate. A very lovely seed box.
ReplyDeleteYes, under a week is pretty good, but it is where to put everything till it gets a bit warmer outside thats the problem.
DeleteVery stylish seed storage - mine only get plastic click boxes! Was supposed to sow tomatoes today but ran out of time. At this rate I will have run out of February too... Such a hopeful point in the year, isn't it, the first sowing.
ReplyDeleteYes Janet, it sort of helps to know that you are doing something constructive towards the new growing season.
DeleteLike a lot of the other commenters, I'm experiencing a bit of seed box evy here - so much classier than an old shoe box! Your tomatoes look to be doing well - hope you've got big windowsills to house all those seedlings!
ReplyDeleteIt's going to be a bit of a squeeze.
DeleteYou've got my little green fingers itching to plant seeds now! I don't have a greenhouse so last year I started everything off in the utility room. Unfortunately this is now where the kittens live when we're at work so it may not be a good idea :-)
ReplyDeleteYou will have to think of somewhere safe to start your seedlings off.
DeleteWell done, you must be pleased to have got started. Flighty xx
ReplyDeleteYes I've made a start but the way things are going I think this year may well be as disastrous as last year - we'll just have to wait and see.
DeleteI too am itching to plant something after seeing your baby tomatoes! I've got to wait until the children go back to school next week. :)
ReplyDeleteOh there's still plenty of time - I just hope I haven't started too early.
DeleteGood of you to have started already. I don't grow tomatoes, I can't commit to be that diligent with the watering all summer, but I think I will try some salad and radish for the first time this year.
ReplyDeleteI am sure you will be successful Helene they are very easy to grow.
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