Lol, I should have sent you some sunflower. I have a 5 lb bag. Was just not sure if you would try this type of growing now or later in the Fall.

I also have a few pounds of mixed salad greens. They take forever, 4-6 weeks. So, many friends trying for the first time fail. A seed/sprout needs some extra nutrients after about 10-14 days.

I tend to preach quick growing, full on food value.Those that can be grown in 7-10 days 365 days a year. In succession. Little effort.

I call this my 'party pack'. I can start 5-6 trays 8-10 days before an invite dinner party and take fresh salad. (I have a better tray now that holds 6 trays) this was just a cardboard box....

Well, I was just going to ask if you needed some - I ordered a 5 lbs. bag too! Ha! Gosh, that photo is torture... Gorgeous greens!!!! Ahhhhh!

I ordered some grow lights (Amazon) because I won't go into Lowe's and they don't deliver them. The grow lights won't come until the 26th. I've made notes on my calendar to start seeds and soaking just prior to grow lights coming. No sunny windows really - other than those the cats can get to, and they'll eat them. You were right to think I wasn't starting until later... but I couldn't help myself after your starter kit! Got some room cleared out of the guest bedroom (where our remodel furniture and boxes still languish) and cleaned a baker's rack - perfect for hanging lights! Studied/read all your comments over time, and ordered what I thought were all fast growers. A decent variety : )

I didn't order much of the salad mix - it says 8-12 days! Huh. Anyway, I know this will be trial and error for me, so I'm fine with failures. But I'm anxious for greens, too!

Lovely sweet peas, sooz, we had snow on the ground this morning so I'm definitely not picking flowers, LOL.

My grow lights are being used right now to grow my tomtoes and peppers, eggplant and cabbage, broccoli and cauliflower, so no microgreens, although I've been kind of thinking of starting some salad greens out in my raised bed and putting a couple of old windows over the top, kind of a makeshift cold frame...

Sleevendog, what is that in the right upper corner, looks like alfalfa?

Annie

Thanks, annie!

sooz, my apologies - I signed off last night, didn't see your post until earlier, but was unpacking groceries (which take forever to disinfect). True Leaf - where I ordered mine yesterday, and they still have them, says shipments are 10 days out, minimum. If you can wait that long, I'd be happy to send some to you : ) Message me your address. No need to pay me for shipping, just spreading the joy is good for me : )

Those are beautiful!

Annie, that is one of the pea varieties. They all look a bit different, some more swirly-curly. Upper left is sunflower and buckwheat. I do a bit of mixing when something has the same grow time. (or might be mung bean with the sunflower). Just like our outdoor gardens, where the bulk of our crops are tomatoes, greens, beans, summer and winter squashes, etc, I grow the winter indoor garden with the most food value, then rotate some of the others but not as often.

Sooz, BakersCreek has free shipping on all orders. I would think you would want to pick a flower of your choosing. Link, HERE

2MD, yes, you will have fun experimenting watching what does what and how fast/slow the grow is in your environment. Most written copy by seed sellers is for the cotyledon stage of growth, not the first true leaves. 13-15 days will be the little 1-2 inch tweezer garnish commercial growers sell to fancy restaurants.

Your salad mix can go straight into your outdoor garden if you are free of frost. My salad bed is 2ftx6. I start a 2ft row of mesclun mix every two weeks all spring so I always have some for harvest. My first row is already in. (covered with a board for germination but mostly to keep the strong rains from washing the seed away).

Lots of tricks in that dept.

"13-15 days will be the little 1-2 inch tweezer garnish commercial growers sell to fancy restaurants" Laughed far too long at that!

I hadn't thought of that - the salad mix into the garden. We're running low on mixed greens seeds I bought for our little bed (about the same size as yours, but two of them), I could use those thanks to you! Fantastic! When the weather cools down later this year, I'll be out of the mixed salad greens seed, and will plant those.

Lettuce seed in outside garden is already growing (not to true leaf yet, but by tomorrow most likely) despite frosts - put a frost cloth over them, left it as it allows sun through.

Those that grow to first true leaf and beyond are calling them 'macro' greens instead of micro. Commercial growers as well. And leaving them under lights 24-7 for the final three days or all the time for a boost in growth. Faster turnover.

My garden window yesterday - Salanova lettuce window boxes, cilantro, peas, broccoli, kale and Chinese cabbage, grey striped sunflowers. I harvested some this morning.

I have garden seedlings started as well. Peppers, tomatoes, broccoli and chicory in 6 packs plus another seedling tray just planted.

Oh, nice agmss!!!

I may try 'macro' greens, but not at first, I'm sure, because I'll be far to ready for just micro's by the time mine get going. Thanks for the tip on 24/7 as I'll be wishing to rush - I've got a mini notebook started, and will add that to it. I'll make notes on growth, success and failures, flavor at various growths/days, et al. I'm weird that way, note taking : )

March 28 to April 15

Thanks, 2Many, message coming at ya! (yes yes yes please!)

SD, thank you for the link!! Such pretties on that site!