What did you do in the garden today?

[gtaus]

I'm happy to learn you found the baby bok choy seeds @gtaus. Best of luck for a good harvest.

Thanks. I was able to find the seeds locally, which is nice because I prefer to support our local businesses when I can.

 

[gtaus]

Burpee recommends sowing two seeds per cell and clipping the weaker one if both sprout. However, I think its okay to separate tomato plants, some pros sprout a lot of them in a single pot and then transplant them when they get bigger.

Thanks for the link. Well, if Burpee recommends two seeds per container, I guess that's what I will do. I hate to thin plants, but I probably have way more seeds than I can use anyways.

I noticed that the video used the capillary mat for seed starting. I have not seen any of those around here locally, but I watched a number of YouTube videos on how to DIY an inexpensive mat. One guy used an old cotton tee-shirt. Another guy used a cloth diaper as the capillary mat. Does anyone know if those would work as well as a seed starting capillary mat?

I don't know if I have any 100% cotton tee-shirts, and I surely don't have any cloth diapers. Can a person still buy cloth diapers? If so, do any big box stores carry them? I never had children, so it was never an issue for me....

I put my tomato and lettuce out in the morning sun when they sprout, they seem to like it and I don't have to harden them off when they get bigger.

That's great. I wish I could do that.

Unfortunately, it was -4F this morning where I live. That's a different kind of hardening that kills off the plants.

Looking forward to a weekend high of 44F in the forecast. That will be nice. But we have another small snow flurry expected tomorrow. Old man winter still hanging on.

 

[gtaus]

The only seeds I've heard that have short shelf life are onion seeds, like a year. Lots of seeds are viable for 3-5 years.

When I plant seeds in my (over-sized) pots, I'm generous! I plant 5-6 seeds, depending on how many I have. For my saved seeds, I have a lot. Purchased seeds are usually 20-25/packet on tomatoes and peppers.

This year, I'm trying new varieties of tomatoes. If I like them, I'll save seed. If not, I won't plant them next year. So I figure I can use the whole packet. I usually thin to the strongest 2 in each pot.

For strength criteria, I've read that at the seedling stage, it's all about stem diameter/strength, all other things equal. And I just snip the weak ones off with scissors, so I don't disturb anything.

Thanks @Sally PB, that's good info to consider. And yes, for my older seeds, I'm thinking I might as use them all up and be done with them. Maybe planting 3 seeds in each 3-inch net pot and hoping for at least one to germinate.

 

[CNJ]

I don't know if I have any 100% cotton tee-shirts, and I surely don't have any cloth diapers. Can a person still buy cloth diapers? If so, do any big box stores carry them? I never had children, so it was never an issue for me....

Micro fiber towels don't break down like cotton, I have been using them to wick water up in my self watering 5 gallon buckets, they going on two years. The cotton towels I used before broke down and disappeared before the year ended.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07KR1JS37?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details

 

[jerryse]

Got one of my plant orders today. Cushion mums assorted. Already up potted them. A six pack of rooted cuttings. Expecting 3 more orders.

 

[gtaus]

Micro fiber towels don't break down like cotton, I have been using them to wick water up in my self watering 5 gallon buckets, they going on two years. The cotton towels I used before broke down and disappeared before the year ended.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07KR1JS37?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details

You know, I have lots of incontinence pads for the bed leftover from caring for my elderly parents before they passed. I have about 100 of these pads still in their original wrap in the closet downstairs. Do you think those pads would work as a wicking pad? Even if disposable one time for seed starting, because I don't have any other use for them.

I know those pads are absorbent, would they also be good for wicking?

 

[CNJ]

I know those pads are absorbent, would they also be good for wicking?

The only way to find out is to try them, as long as they are wet to touch and it wicks water, it should work.

 

[Swiss]

The only seeds I've heard that have short shelf life are onion seeds, like a year. Lots of seeds are viable for 3-5 years.

I just asked someone about that. She recommend to do it around Easter this year. When you think about it, missed potatoes in the soil are happy to sit there, and then grow the next spring. So why not plant potatoes now? I am going to wait at least a week or two on mine, though. Mine are from my garden last year, and they have sprouts that won't like a frost/freeze.

Last year, I tested the germination of onion seeds I got at the way end of 2014. I got 40% germination, so I planted all of the seeds. It was surprising because I had read everywhere that they'd only be viable for 1 year. Only 2 actually grew in the garden, but still very surprising.

That was my thought about potatoes. Although, now that I actually think about it, when you are planting potatoes, they've usually already sprouted. Maybe in the ground, they wait for the right temperature before sprouting, instead of sprouting in the fall and sitting until spring.

Canning lids. I think I've only had one fail to seal in the two years I've used these.

https://www.fillmorecontainer.com/70mm-generic-lids-silver-bulk.html
Regular size
https://www.fillmorecontainer.com/tlg086lidct-86.html
Wide mouth

THANK YOU! I will look into these!

 

[Swiss]

You know, I have lots of incontinence pads for the bed leftover from caring for my elderly parents before they passed. I have about 100 of these pads still in their original wrap in the closet downstairs. Do you think those pads would work as a wicking pad? Even if disposable one time for seed starting, because I don't have any other use for them.

I know those pads are absorbent, would they also be good for wicking?

Another use for them: I have one of these in my trash can under the trash bag in case of any leakage. Then, I don't have to clean my garbage can! I've had the same one in my garbage can for probably close to a year at this point. Of course, I also do what I can to keep liquids from roaming free in the bag.

 

[Sally PB]

Although, now that I actually think about it, when you are planting potatoes, they've usually already sprouted.

Mine in the basement have sprouts 6" long.... I have them in a cardboard box, lid closed, covered with a heavy blanket. And somehow they still sprout.