First Results..!

[NarnianGarden]

Hooray - first tomato seed germination noted! It took 5 days, from Saturday till Thrursday. Very small beginnings that will open the floodgates of blessings open wide.
It's a dwarf called Mohamed (wonder who has come up with the name...) and should do well under growlights. Really curious to grow it indoors until the weather will allow for outdoor gardening.

[beeman]

I have just seen my first result this year. Yahoo....
This year I'm trying something different, Soil Blocks.
I planted Red and Yellow onion seeds on Sunday, today Thursday I noted movement in the blocks, sure enough the seeds have started.
I was dubious, just dropping one seed per block with no soil coverage, just a spritz once per day and a covering of shrink wrap. Does not seem to make a difference, possibly even faster germination.

[b54red]

We are having a much colder than normal winter this year and it is really affecting my seed germination. We are running about 15 or so degrees below normal and my unheated greenhouse is staying far too cool. My first tomato seeds came up 12 days after planting so that is at least a week longer than normal for this time of year. Only about 10% of my seed have popped up so far and tomorrow will be a full two weeks. I waited two weeks later than I wanted to because of the cold and it looks like I should have waited a lot longer. I may end up with a lot of rotted seed or possibly frozen ones since it is forecast to get down as low as 20 by next week. With mostly cloudy days only getting into the low to upper 40s the greenhouse just isn't getting up to the temps that tomato and pepper seed need for good germination. I'm hoping we will get some warm weather before all the seed rot and I have to replant.

Bill

[NarnianGarden]

What I am planning to do, is to drop one more seed in the starter pot. I so much wish to have another dwarf growing on my window before the spring arrives, so I'll probably throw in a Kluykva Sakhare (looks a lot like the other mini varieties)...

What is funny, my mini seedling has a look that might be interpreted blue-ish. I hope it won't mean that it is something else than the intended mini variety Mohamed. Having a possibly large seedling inside is a bit too much for me before April.
I hope this 'indigo look' goes away and it will get a normal green color and stay small.

[tuk50]

Bill, it is a strange winter in the southwest also, but we are much warmer than usual. We only had one frost jan 6, and that only lasted about an hour before sunrise till the sun popped up. I've already had to start putting up shade in the greenhouse. I usually start my seeds in the house and move to the greenhouse to pot up. I've got most of them going now while waiting on the rest of the peppers to sprout. I plant my onion seeds in the garden around the middle of Dec. and they are loving this weather, they are about the size of pencils now and I'll probably plant them in rows this next week. I live in the foothills north of Tucson at about 3500ft and jan and feb usually have frost every morning. I want to start planting now, but I know a blizzard is coming in march just to keep me humble....

[NarnianGarden]

Congratulations for all those onions. Sounds great..
We are finally having proper winter and frost, so I definitely keep my balcony door tightly closed. Even then, some cool breeze gets through to the floor, where my indoor garden grows... The peppermint doesn't mind one bit, but the basil and tomato seedling are something that need to be protected...

[tuk50]

NarnianGarden, We used to live in Flagstaff, Az at 7200ft and you couldn't find the garden in January due to the snow pack.... I don't miss that a bit... So we retired in Tucson and now enjoy gardening year round.
We are never able to plant enough onions or garlic. My family of 6 goes through them fast ....

[b54red]

Looks like I may have to start all over again with my tomato and pepper seed starting. After 18 days I only have a handful of seeds that have germinated in my unheated greenhouse. I'm afraid many or most of them will rot before long if they haven't already. This has not happened in many many years down here.

I haven't had things killed under hoops since I started using them 15 years ago but this winter has been a bit more challenging. I really feel for those further north where conditions are really terrible. Hopefully February will be more normal but I'm not counting on it this year.

Bill

[tuk50]

Really sorry to hear that Bill, hopefully a good day or two of sunshine and they will pop up. Our problem this winter is NO rain.

[b54red]

We have had good rainfall this winter but now it is all ice. I put in a couple of lights to see if they would generate enough heat to keep the greenhouse contents from freezing but more temps in the teens tomorrow night makes that doubtful. What is really amazing is that it should get up into the 70s by Sunday and it was 70 a couple of days ago.

Bill

[tuk50]

The wide temp swings are probably my biggest issue, year to year ... many good tomatoes will thrive in hot or cold, but arid areas like the SW cool off at night (chilly), then hit very high highs at noon, and this really limits many varieties that I would like to grow.
Its always a deal breaker when winter hits the teens. Even my cabbages and greens start to shiver.

[tlintx]

We don't usually get big swings in the summer, but winter time... oo, boy.

I started my seedlings in a tray on top of the dryer, and some are germinating after two days.

May just carry them in and out in a couple of days when it warms back up. I guess. Never really started seeds indoors before.

By the way, I think I read that when they're bluish it can be from low temperatures and it's nothing to worry about?

[tuk50]

yeah, tlintx, your right, grew up in E. Okla. and summer temps were always warm and humid. Here in Tucson, the soil is very dry and gives up the heat from the sun easily. Our days are running in the 70-80's and low 30's at night. This is normal for arid regions, but very stressful on most maters. We have had no rain this month, not unusual to go months at a time, and humidity runs from 7 to 15% this time of year, also stressful. Most mornings my baby eggplants in the greenhouse are laying on their side and two hours after sunup they are upright and perky. I think you are right about the blue stems, most of my varieties are blue in the seedling stage, so I take my cues from their leaves .. as long as the leaves are green and growing, all is okiedokie..
i meant to mention, be sure and only leave the babies in the sun for an hour or so depending on the wind for a few days at a time lengthen the time if leaves are not burning. usually carry them in and out for a couple of weeks till growing strong and then to the greenhouse. Being retired has its advantages... LOL!

[tlintx]

Not to hijack this thread, but do you think they'd be okay if I started putting them out in 60 to 70 degree morning sun once they get their first leaves? We discovered over the last week that our windows are pretty drafty!

My first ups are "Rebel Yell", "Solar Flare", and "Sugar Drop", by the way. I'm pretty sure I'll have nearly 100% germination for many of them and will have TWO trays where currently I just have one!

[tuk50]

I don't see any problem, the magic temp for me seems to be around 40-50 deg. as long as they are getting direct sunlight. With the temps here now they go outside about 11 and come in around 2-3. It seems enough to keep them growing and green. The colder the temps the slower they grow, which is fine for me, as I don't like to use large flowering sets to put out, but rather healthy 8-10in size right before flowering starts. Whatever you do, do it slowly, and in small increments till they are becoming robust. I usually kill my babies by too much love rather than being patient and letting nature take its course.