Seed Watch VII

How things have changed… my windowsills were overflowing with young plants. Now they have finally burst… and the otherflow have been sent off to new lives planted out, some in ‘my’ garden, some with other people. It’s like sending your kids to school. I even took some last pics before sending them off!

It’s also been rather hard work… I managed to properly dig out half of my vegetable plot. That involved digging away the top layer of soil, then digging and turning the sand and gravel below, and taking out more large lumps of concrete and brick. It’s still not exactly brilliant, and there’s still loads of building rubble down there, but at least the plants no longer have a pretty solid layer of concrete less than a foot down! The big pipe I found is a little deeper than that… and very solid I’m glad to say!

I’d like to be getting on with the other half, and building a raised bed near the pond… but I’m so stiff and sore! I’d do it anyway, but I do have a marathon in just over a week… It’s frustrating, but I’ve had to ban myself from any more heavy work until that’s done with, as I should be resting. Plants due to go in those beds will have to stay on the windowsill a little longer.

This will be the final Seedwatch for now… I’m probably still going to plant a few more of my freecyled peas as I’m short of them, and seeds have been planted straight in the garden, but germination is pretty much in the past. Ah the memories… did I ever talk about the chives? Starting as tiny spikes, then mysteriously splitting along their length, one side curving out like a bow. Finally the mystery revealed as one end pulled free of the earth. Or the joy of seeing the first little prickles on an artichoke’s downy leaf. Anyway, It’s all about plantwatching now.

In fact, and here’s a surprise, even the mint has germinated now… I’d given it up, but gave it a last go on my sunny living room windowsill, and I guess that did the trick. The pot is speckled with tiny green leaves.

Seed Watch VI

I got round to planting another lot of seeds on Sunday. Meanwhile the squash and marrow, having taken their time, are now going a bit nuts. A couple of days ago I had a good look at the little strip peat pots they are planted in. At the time each group of 4 had two seedlings emerged and a third just showing. But roots were pushing out all over. One marrow (if I’ve identified them correctly…) had a root 3 inches out of the pot. What’s more there were actually roots coming out of all 8 pots… yep, 2 days before those seeds actually stuck their heads up they were already breaking out of the pots! I’ve now potted them all on to larger pots, even though two have really only sprouted today. The tallest is about 4 inches tall already, outstripping the older seedlings of other species. If I have 100% germination with my new seeds I’m going to be overgrown with squash and marrow!

Group 1, Day 21:

Thyme: 70+
Tarragon: 45+
Basil: 29
Mint: 0
Dill: 14
Parsley: 30+
Chives: 17
Sweet corn: 2
Squash: 4
Marrow: 4
Globe Artichoke: 3

Group 2, Day 5:

Tomatoes: 0
Lupins: 0 (25 planted)
Nasturtiums: 0 (25 planted)
Globe Artichoke: 0
Marrow: 0
Squash: 0
Sweetcorn: 2

Only 4 days and the sweetcorn is already growing! I now have the makings of a proper clump :-)

Meanwhile I’ve been digging up lawn for vegetable plot. Unfortunately I’ve also found where the builder’s rubble went. The soil looks good but it’s amazing how many bits of brick and broken concrete there are a few inches down. So much I’m having to dig it out or it’s going to be a real problem for the plants. There’s also snails all over the place that have woken up from their winter sleep. Time to gather them up and do a Gordon Ramsey on them I think… bit scary.

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…

Seed Watch IV

I’ve decided to drop this to every other day for now, as there’s less happening. It’s not over though…

Day 11

Thyme: 60+
Tarragon: 30+
Basil: 24
Mint: 0
Dill: 50+
Parsley: 3
Chives: 8
Sweet corn: 2
Squash: 0
Marrow: 0
Globe Artichoke: 3

So, it’s mainly a picture of increase in numbers, with the only new entry being the parsley. Glad to see more chives. My single seedling was on it’s own for what seemed like an age. Glad I’ve got the makings of a clump, though they are tiny teeny spikes as of yet.

I’m guessing the temperatures in my kitchen have been too low for the squash and marrow (the packets do confirm they needed higher temperatures to germinate than some of the others: 20-25 C rather than the 15-20 C range I guess my kitchen has been at! Mint germination time is described as ‘erratic’. I looked at a packet of catmint the other day that said that could take up to 30 days. Since mint is of the same family I guess I could be in for a long wait!

It’s fascinating to see the different forms. From the biggest: chunky-leafed artichokes and the thrusting spires of the sweetcorn, down to the tiny round-leafed thyme, and spiky chives – so similar in form to the sweetcorn, but so tiny and delicate. The thyme, which started so tiny, is growing faster than the tarragon and dwarfing it now. Meanwhile dill is very much doing its own thing. I thought at first they only had one leaf: starting off bent over with heads in the soil, by the time they straighten they are already tall compared to their neighbouring herbs, each slender stalk toped by a jaunty slash of leaf, out to one side like the top of a musical note. It was a while before they were revealed as actually being two leaves, only reluctantly parted. The dill have turned into a forest now, still slim and criss-crossing, baffling the eye when I try to count them.

I’m waiting for warmer weather to plant the second wave... maybe I’ll actually post about something else tomorrow!

Seed Watch III

I just went onto Qype and found I have a ranking of 180 with 2001 points. Well I thought it was cool…

Meanwhile, day 9:

Thyme: 50+
Tarragon: 20+
Basil: 16
Mint: 0
Dill: 30+
Parsley: 0
Chives: 1
Sweet corn: 2
Squash: 0
Marrow: 0
Globe Artichoke: 3

So I now have one solitary chive! It’s just a tiny little spike at the moment. Still waiting for mint, parsley, squash and marrow. I’m planning to plant some more seeds soon, and may plant more of the big seeds as I’m presently a little short!

Seed Watch II

So, is my single sweetcorn seedling destined for a life of celibacy? Will the squash and marrow ever sprout? Hold on for some of the answers… maybe! The weather here is still cold. It’s amazing me that seeds are sprouting at all in my kitchen, which feels frigid to me. Anyway, here’s the latest on Saturday night, day 8…

Thyme: 35+
Tarragon: 7
Basil: 3
Mint: 0
Dill: 8
Parsley: 0
Chives: 0
Sweet corn: 2
Squash: 0
Marrow: 0
Globe Artichoke: 3

So… the basil have arrived. Dill has overtaken tarragon. Globe artichokes are doing me proud with the biggest percentage germination so far among the big seeds. Thyme seedlings may be gifts to everyone I know. And my sweetcorn seedling is no longer alone! I’m still a little worried though… while the artichokes are in a nice little group, the sweetcorns that have sprouted are diagonally opposite in their little block of pots. Hope this doesn’t mean they don’t like each other. And the squash, marrow, mint, parsley and chives are still notably absent. Come back soon for another thrilling instalment…

Seed Watch

The last few days I’ve become totally obsessed with my seedlings, and I thought it was time to share it! A week ago I planted a sprinkle each of some second-hand herb seeds, 4 each of squash and marrow, and 6 each of globe artichoke and sweetcorn. Small amounts maybe, but it is a small garden. I was hopeful that with brighter weather predicted after the rain it was the right time, and I’d be seeing them in the 7-10 days most of the packets seemed to predict.

I got worried as the weather turned colder. Would any sprout? Then after only 5 days I spotted the first seedlings. Tiny teeny thyme plants, three of them, and so small I had to stare closely to be sure. Next was one solitary tarragon seedling, also small, though not so teeny as the thyme. The next to arrive, early on day 6 was something of a shock. A great spear thrusting up, announcing the arrival of the first sweetcorn seedling.

Today (well, yesterday now if you want to be picky, since midnight has passed) was a day of little new. The thyme seedlings multiplied, reaching 15+. Tarragon climbed to 3. Still only 1 sweetcorn though and nothing new. I was especially worried by now about the globe artichokes, since mould had developed on their pots, surely not a good sign. And 1 sweetcorn? I think they are not self pollinating, so I need at least 2!

Scores on the pots this evening:

Thyme: 15+
Tarragon: 3
Basil: 0
Mint: 0
Dill: 0
Parsley: 0
Chives: 0
Sweetcorn: 1
Squash: 0
Marrow: 0
Globe Artichoke: 1.5

Yep, no need to worry about the mould it seems! One big strong seedling thrusting up, and another pot’s soil cracking in a way that surely indicates a plant pushing upwards (hence the 0.5!)

Stop Press: just checked and there’s two dill seedlings now… More tiny seedlings, long and leggy with their heads still buried in the soil and long stems bent double. Time for bed! Wonder what will be there in the morning?