What did you do in the garden today?

[lagrange chicks]

Turned the fan on so my tomato plants don't get leggy. Some petunia I started about 6 weeks ago are getting buds.

 

[gtaus]

I did the 3" Net pots too this year and HATED it. I won't do it again.

Well, I guess the net pot method is not for everyone. For me, it was the best method I have ever used. My roots did indeed air prune, the potting soil stayed inside the net pots, and they were the healthiest transplants I ever had. I think my tomatoes and peppers were 8 weeks old when I transplanted them, and I had no root problems at all.

Anyways, I am using the 3-inch net pots again this year and, so far, no problems. I am using potting soil that does not fall through the slits in the net cups. I do not use the very fine seed starting media, so maybe that makes a difference?

I was all excited about using soil blocks a few years back, but I never got the mixture quite right and my blocks did not hold together. That's why I moved to using the net cups. For me, I was much more successful with the net cups.

As for seed starting in the baggy, I do this all the time with fruit seeds. I've done it with apple, pomegranate, lemon, Plum, and kiwi seeds. I've had great results with it and never had any problems moving a seed from the paper towel to soil.

I did the paper towel in the baggie method for seed germination a few years ago and it worked for me as well. The only thing I did not like was that I could not see if the seeds had started to sprout, or not.

Thanks for your response. I love to get all kinds of feedback. I don't pretend to have much experience with gardening, but every year I seem to learn a few more lessons. And I understand that what works for one person might not work for another. That's why I like to try to different methods.

I have a bunch of old seeds that I think I will try sprouting in the "petri dish" method in that video. I just don't want to take the time and effort of putting those old seeds in starting pots and then risk having nothing germinate. I don't have that much room on my starting shelf with lights. I mainly like the ability just to look into the plastic container and being able to see if the seeds have sprouted, or not, and if they are ready to pot up.

 

[Sally PB]

He have ask at Sunbirds yesterday they had male asparagus
plants so do you need female?
Will they make their own?

Female plants will make flowers, and I've read they grow fewer spears. I have some of both. The flowers have led to some seedlings; I have a few that are up right now. They're the thickness of a pencil lead. There are some that were seedlings last year; they are about the size of a pencil.

 

[Sally PB]

Frost advisory tonight, so I covered the blueberry bushes and cherry trees.

Freeze warning for tomorrow night. The cherry trees are almost in full bloom, and some of the blueberry flowers are out now too.

Everything else I have can withstand the cold that's coming, or is under cover in the green house.

 

[fuzzi]

Worked my 10 hours, came home, fed and watered flock, then decided to plant more of the annuals I'd purchased earlier this month:

The seedlings on the left appear to be volunteers from last year's tithonia.

From top down: two petite marigolds, lantana, bidens.

 

[fuzzi]

Yes you do.... They are SO CUTE and fun!

View attachment 3809766View attachment 3809767

Maybe after I retire...and fix the fence.

 

[TJAnonymous]

OK. I'm done for the night. Still not done with the coops but good enough for now. Put the truck in the barn and covered the sand with a tarp to keep the barn cats out. It's going to rain for the next few days. I don't want the sand to get wet... It's heavy enough as it is.

Also got all the plants that were over-wintered in the sunroom moved back outside except the purple heart plants. Waiting on a new raised bed to come in that I'll put those in.

Planted the lilies, day lily, and gladiolus that I ordered from Brecks. Apparently they couldn't fill my original order because of excessive rain that damaged their inventory. Instead of telling me and asking if I'd accept a substitute, they just sent the substitutes... Most are very similar in color but the bulbs are really tiny. The bulbs I ordered are golf ball size. The bulbs they sent were more like nickel or quarter size. And they doubled the amount... So now I have at least 50 gladiolus bulbs that I have NO CLUE where to put them. I'll probably end up putting them in the same bed as the purple heart plants.

Omg... My body feels like I've been hit by a bus. I'm really going to pay for it tomorrow.

 

[WthrLady]

I use the hole punch tool. Then put some boiling hot water in a Yeti... Dip in the end of the tubing in the hot water for 5-ish seconds, the connectors slide right on... Easy peasy!

I thought she was talking about the holes in to the mainline.
I use the tool too, when I remember to grab it lol.
But to add the sprinkler ends and the barbs into the 1/4 inch I either use hot water or a flame wand.

 

[Swiss]

I got the tomatoes thinned out and their cups filled with soil today! It was hard to throw away the cut seedlings, but I do NOT need more tomato plants!

I forgot to mention that doing tomato seedlings this way is like up-potting, but easier and requires less containers. And I'm pretty sure I learned to do this from someone (or someones) on here!

 

[cj2024]

I am exploring a number of different ways to germinate seeds to make best use of my limited space for starting plants for later transplanting in my gardens.

I used glass petri dishes with paper towels to start seed before, but it wasn't as successful as this self-wicking seed trays. If seeds don't sprout in this wicking tray, they are duds. https://www.amazon.com/Burpee-Cell-Self-Watering-Starting/dp/B00SNLOTUK?ref_=ast_sto_dp&th=1