Seedlings - Slow growth

[OmahaJB]

Not posting this as a question really, just wanted to vent my frustration with my seedlings this year. I've started tomato & pepper seeds the past 3 years, and this is definitely the longest it has taken them to grow to the size needed for transplanting.

I moved from Omaha to Toledo last August so I'm in a different location. I'm using the same type of seed starting soil, the same lights, the same length of time for the lights being on per day. The only real difference is in Omaha I was able to set the seedlings in the middle of a spare bedroom, under the lights. In Toledo they are confined to a walk-in closet that is about 4 1/2' deep and about 4' wide. So it's possible poor air circulation is to blame. I do have a small fan, but don't like using it with the seedlings being in small 2 & 4 inch containers - the soil drys out too quickly.

There is some good news however, my Black Cherry seedling is doing extremely well and is the best of the bunch. 1884 & Mammoth German Gold are right behind it. The others that are doing fairly well in size are diseased to varying degrees. Mexico, Akers West Virginia, NAR, Czech's Bush, Red Rocket, Soldacki, Black Sea Man, KBX, & Cherokee Chocolate are the ones infected. KBX looks like a tall stick with just a couple of leaves remaining. Since I didn't have Daconil I pinched off portions of leaves or whole leaves to get rid of the infected area in the beginning. I stopped doing that knowing I'd be getting Daconil soon. So I separated them from the healthy seedlings, and will try to save those infected.

I don't know what the disease is - the ends of the leaves turn yellowish and have small black spots or blotches on them. Then the ends of the leaves kind of curl and start dying. Hopefully Daconil will save them. Will be getting some next Friday or Saturday.

I started potatoes in grow bags that are outside over at my mother's house. They seem to be doing decently, however grow bags are frustrating to use with potatoes, since you have to gradually fill the grow bags with soil. Since they are not filled up yet they obviously wont stay open so the sun can hit the plants. Next year I'll use 5 & 10-gallon plastic containers I think.

And I love growing lettuce! This is my first year for getting any to germinate. They are still very small but I have one that is doing really well and it's giving me an idea of what they will grow to look like. The color is nice - I'm growing Yugoslavian Red & Pirat.

I'm also enjoying watching my garlic grow. Thanks again to Alex in B.C. for sharing some of his great varieties with me. I have 15 that grew for me. Some with very thick stalks. Can't wait until the end of July (approximately) for them to be ready to pull out of the ground.

Will also be trying corn, melon, & rhubarb!!! The temps are warming a bit so I'm going over to my mother's today to weed & plant some melon seed. I had some seedlings but they bit the dust. Orangeglo, Ali Baba, Kansas, Thayer, Collective Farm Woman, & Charentais will all get a chance to grow.

Should be a fun year for me for gardening. Even if none of my pepper seedlings are doing well. They are also growing excruciatingly slowly.

Ok, my venting/sharing is over for now. Until I think of something else. Oh yeah! My Cinnamon Basil is a bit of a disappointment - I like Genovese Basil better. The Cinnamon isn't that strong smelling or tasting.

Jeff