Green thumb is itching, anyone else?

[cmb19]

Does anyone have pictures of seedlings when they're the size to pot up? I don't want to kill them by moving too early, but I don't want to leave them in the cells too long either. Quite a few are just starting their "true leaves." At least what I think of as true leaves, and I know you're supposed to transplant when those show up. But how big should I let them get?

 

[carolsaucier]

no pictures, but I pot up or plant in garden after first full set of leaves develope. Don't leave too long or seedlings will get root bound if using small seed starting trays. Mine are usually about 2 inchs tall when I transplant.

 

[cmb19]

Aw man, that's what I figured. Think they'll be ok until I can get supplies this weekend. I didn't manage to pick stuff up this past weekend like I'd planned.

I have a bag of regular potting soil from last year...how long is dirt "good" for?

 

[carolsaucier]

Are you planting in the ground or in pots? Makes a difference. Potting soil should be okay if a year old IF is still loose and friable, if lumped add to your garden get a fresh bag. If planting into th ground, buy a good top soil. I use tiny seed starting trays and when plants are about 1 in tall move up to 4 in pots. When first true leaves form I move to either ground or into a permanent pot. I live where ground is basically sand, so lots or organic matter is needed to grow a nce garden or bed. Friendly stables provide me with all the free horse poop I can haul off, works better than store bought fertilizers.

 

[cmb19]

Oh sorry, yeah I'm moving them into different pots....beer cups actually...red solo cups? I hate that song by the way.

It's still not quite warm enough where I am to put plants in the ground. Well, it's plenty warm during the day (odd winter, we should still have a foot or so of snow right now) but night is still too cold.

I'll just buy new bags of soil, just to be safe.

 

[Kassaundra]

Oh sorry, yeah I'm moving them into different pots....beer cups actually...red solo cups? I hate that song by the way.

It's still not quite warm enough where I am to put plants in the ground. Well, it's plenty warm during the day (odd winter, we should still have a foot or so of snow right now) but night is still too cold.

I'll just buy new bags of soil, just to be safe.

Never heard them called that before.

 

[AliceMae]

I have heard of red solo beer cups (and used them!). Just a word of caution ~ they are plastic and do not breathe! The soil will stay very wet, even with drainage, possibly causing stem rot and/or root rot. Be Careful or you'll kill all of your seedlings!

 

[rancher hicks]

Here's a few pic of my garden so far. I love my raised beds. All work digging and cleaning out what few weeds there was done by hand with no tool except to smooth things over. Straw is good cuz you can just work it in at the end of the season. There is one broken bed (4yrs) that I'll just take up and replace moving the soil to another bed and start over. The other beds are the same age but for some reason lasted longer. Notice the before and after pics. Weeding between beds was done with a Weed Whacker. I have a cordless so I'm limited in time. Of course I should have done more to put the garden to bed in the fall but being old I don't always cover the beds for the winter. You can of course lay cardboard boxes between the bed too. It breaks down nicely. The chickens like digging for treats under it and break it down for you.



Planted spinach and swiss chard so far.



The Lemon Balm survives each year under some straw.

 

[rancher hicks]

There is garlic growing through that straw.

If you are starting a new bed it helps to fill in the bottom with old hay or straw. It breaks down quickly. I buy bags of garden soil for $4 a bag and cover it over and plant. Or if you have good compost use that.

Now don't forget my idea of using cans and milk cartons for mini green houses. You can set your plants out a couple of weeks early that way.






The chickens have since ripped the cardboard to shreds. They are great at working the garden if you don't mind shoveling the soil back into the beds. I'll surround this one as time and money allow.

 

[3forfree]

I use toilet paper tubes cut in half for seed cups, and after the seed sprouts I transfer it to another cup made from newspaper about 3in tall,and 2-3in in dia. when they are ready for the garden I open the bottom up and put the whole thing in the ground.I have some that I sprouted in my incubator and just this morning put them outside in the sun, 84 degrees in michigan in march, who'd a thunk. I'm usually still ice fishing this time of year. Next week I will start my tomatoes and cukes in the incubator, it works great, always 90 degrees plenty of light.