Basil Trying to Go to Seed Too Early
skyclad
10 years ago
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zzackey
10 years agoRelated Discussions
too early to seed?
Comments (1)If you are satisfied that you are going to have that bulge at the base of the deck out to where the soil currently meets the grass, then yes, you can probably go ahead with the seed. It is hard to see in 2 dimensions, but is the soil just a bit lower than the pavers everywhere? If it is above the pavers, then forever you will have soil washing out onto the pavers. You will also have a moat along the pavers every time it rains. The soil level should be below the hard scape. I would use a broom to brush the soil away at the edge. Before you seed I would walk over every inch of the new soil, dry, to compress it. Then soak the soil with a sprinkler and let it sit a day to dry. Fill in any spots that sink away, walk on them, and soak it again. Finally walk over the seeds after sowing it to press them into the soil....See MoreToo early to think Fall Seed Swap?
Comments (82)I'm glad you said that MeMo -- We are out of cups and every other little container, too. All - I have been thinking about what kind of contraption I could make that would help me dry the seeds before I pack them. What I would like is to have something totally open on the top where I could continually drop seedpods to finish ripening and drying. Then I could clean a certain kind all at once. I need some mesh yogurt cups. Or little cardboard boxes with coffee filters inside of them (I hate losing all those seeds in the seams of bags and boxes.) I have a bunch of bitty sacks...what kind of box could I put them in to hold them stable I case I overload with snapdragon stems or something? I don't mind cleaning them if I can sit down and do one kind all at once, then bag them. But I like things neat and tidy and things are increasingly perched here and there where I can't find what I need. Just thinking out loud, but if anybody has a seed drying shelf or anything, I'd love to hear about it! Lime...See MoreHow early is too early to start seeds?
Comments (3)Hey, I'm in Cedar Rapids too! I would suggest direct sowing your squash, zucchini, and cucumbers. I transplanted some last year that I started and really, the direct sowed ones caught up with the transplants in no time - not worth the trouble of starting them indoors. I've no experience with melons so I can't help you there. Tomatos - I'd say mid-late March and you'll be okay - lanky plants really don't do that well. Broccoli can go out a bit earlier, I believe, so you could probably start that right now but I'm no expert as I've never grown it from seed. When in doubt, follow the directions on the seed packet! This my second year gardening here in IA and I can't wait! Good thing I'm having my third baby late-March/early April - gives me time to get into a routine before the gardening season really is in earnest!...See Morestarting tomato seeds early-best types for a 'too early' start
Comments (21)Well, I am quite thrilled to read these great responses! I live in Zone 7, but our Winter is still long. The zones just refer to the extremes in temperature, not how long it lasts. I have noticed volunteer tomatoes come out earlier than I would choose to plant out. So, I can watch for that as a sign. I do not have any trouble with legginess of my tomato seedlings. I have a picture window that faces full-South, and shelves there (for seedling starting in Winter) outfitted with shop-lights. I read somewhere that it is important to use fresh bulbs (fluorescent tubes) as the light diminishes over time. I do not get new ones every year, but if one seems to put out less (judging by the plants), I use that on my alpine strawberry seedlings or something else that doesn't mind. I want to start even earlier because I'd like to keep tomato strains true when I grow them out. I plan to grow out severl this year, and if one flowers first for a week, then they are in the clear, and I can mark those fruits, and then not really worry about the rest. I guess what I mean is that an early & staggered start will allow me to focus on each plant as it comes into bloom, selecting from that, and moving on to the next one. I do have some limitations (medically), so it would be easier to focus on them staggered rather then so many at one time. It may not work out the way I hope, but I figure it is a good experiment for this year. By choosing good varieties for this (my un-familiarity with varieties hurts my experiment here) I can better insure success. The funny thing is that I don't really eat tomatoes--except in spaghetti sauce. BUT, everyone else loves them, and I find there is a group involved with tomatoes that have a zeal for the plant like no other vegetable/fruit. A great deal of home-breeding is going on, and I find it the most fascinating thing. Tomatoes provide a great opportunity to study genetics at home, and to look very intensely at varietal development in plants. I guess I am hooked for a reason not common to most, but I am hooked. So, I will try my experiment this year, and see how it works for me. I am thankful at the varieties/categories I see mentioned. When mentioning "use determinate or dwarf" plants, how can I find out which is which? I have consulted some websites, but is there a thorough tomato base out there? Keep the posts coming! Happy Holidays, Robin...See Moreskyclad
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10 years agoCarloMartin947
10 years agojonijumpup, Mich Z5
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8 years agojonijumpup, Mich Z5
8 years agowanna_run_faster
8 years agoJohn Donovan
8 years ago
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