Seed Watch V

Sorry for the long break for anyone that’s been following this, but considering my last post I thought it appropriate to let that stay at the top at least a couple of days. Anyway… not a massive amount has been happening. I’m currently pretty much stuck in at home not doing much, as I have some kind of grumbling bug which has been making me feel vaguely fluey for days but not really getting on with it. So no chance yet to check out the sights of East London on an 18 miler as I had planned…

One thing that has happened among the seeds in my kitchen is a bit of a drama… I’ve transplanted the dill as it was clear that if they remained in the pot much longer they’d be hopelessly tangled. Long leggy plants with presumably long leggy roots to match. So I spent an evening making cardboard dividers for a tray so I could give each plant it’s own little cell. Then a very tense hour or so transplanting the amazingly delicate hair-thin 3 inch high plants. The roots did indeed turn out to be very long. To be honest I might have been better doing it sooner when there was less of them to feed into a planting hole. Or maybe it would have been better for nature to take its course and allow the stronger plants to crowd out the weaker... Anyway, so far the results don’t look especially successful, and I think the majority of the dill seedlings are in the process of dying. I think I’ll end up with 10-20 survivors out of 60 or so plants. The thyme pot is also now very crowded, but I’ve decided to let be. I’m hoping they’ll soon develop the wiry character of their species, making transplanting them an easier procedure.

I’ve also realised I’m going to have to try and find places around my flat for the seedlings to grow on, as the kitchen is too dark for them to continue there really… And I really need to get a second wave planted. If I can find the energy!

Day 16:

Thyme: 70+
Tarragon: 45+
Basil: 29
Mint: 0
Dill: 60+ to 20 ish, L
Parsley: 30+
Chives: 17
Sweet corn: 2
Squash/marrow: 2
Marrow/squash: 1
Globe Artichoke: 3

Well, there you go… checking the pots for the list, when I went ‘what’s that white thing in that pot…’. Turns out I have a total of 3 squash/marrow seedlings coming up. And also have to admit I didn’t mark and have forgotten which set of pots was which! LOL. I may be able to establish which is which once they are fully out as the seeds were slightly different shapes… Guess that means the temperature has gone up to their germination level. I’d given up on them! Only mint has yet to show any germination…