I was beginning to think this year’s gardening season was off to a slow start. Probably because up until about a week ago I was so knee deep in wool, that I couldn’t think about anything else.
But then I remembered, this is Maine and maybe it’s that I’ve finally really absorbed the fact that things don’t get started around here until around Mid April and I’ve learned not to stress about it anymore.
Funny how that happens, right? Once you stop second guessing or worrying about something, things just start to fall into place.
If only I could have told my 30 year old self this.
Yesterday I planted my peas. Inside!
Do you do this? Ever since the robins started pulling up my pea seedlings a few years ago {and wiping out several plantings} this is the ONLY way I plant my seeds now.
I’ll usually soak the peas for an hour or two before I plant them. This seems to help the peas to germinate a little faster.
I use Miracle Grow seed starting mix to plant my seeds {I’ve been using it for 20+ years} and have always had good success with it. We found a deal on it at Renys last fall so we loaded up.
I find that it retains the moisture really well and since my seeds always seem to do well with it, why change brands.
I ended up planting {12} 6-packs with peas. That should be plenty for us with a few leftovers for the flower/vegetable cart.
I also planted a flat of basil.
It’s way more than we need but I figured since I was planting some for us, I might as well plant a few extra and make my seed money back and sell some to the neighbors.
Or people walking by the house.
Why not? It’s worth a try, right? What’s the worst that could happen? The extras don’t sell and there would be too much pesto? Is that even possible? No. No it’s not. 😉
6 flats is about all I can have under the grow lights at any one time in my little indoor gardening nook. If I had more room I would have gone crazy with the seed starts but we’re kind of limited on space here at the lobster house.
I figure by this time next week I’ll be able to move the leeks and petunias to a small table by the window so I can start my tomato and pepper seeds.
Starting tomato seeds! That’s how I know summer is on its way. It’s hard to imagine that in just a few more weeks I’ll be spending pretty much all my daylight hours outside.
And after such a long winter, won’t that be nice!
Are you growing your own seedlings this year? If so, what have you started so far? Curious minds want to know.
Keep calm and garden on,
~Mavis
DebW says
NC mountains with seed starting inside and a small greenhouse to house the bigger seedlings.
Tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, celery, spinach, lettuce, broccoli, cabbage, kitchen herbs, lots of marigolds, some nasturtium, alpine strawberry, lavender, phlox, lupine, black-eyed Susan, coreopsis, and sunflowers. Onions in the ground and my asparagus (started from seed last year) have started popping up, some random sprouting potatoes in grow bags.
Boy! I hadn’t realized I had so much until I started listing! There will be more in the coming weeks… I want to have as much as large baby plants as possible to get ahead of the bugs & birds… And hope the marigolds will help with the other critters!
eliz says
I started celery, parsley and lemon balm because they take so long to germinate.
Onion plants I mail order from Dixondale farms.
I sold my greenhouse and its too cold for tomato plants here.
Do you ever freeze basil? I chop it up with a bit of olive oil and salt, then freeze in ice cube trays to throw in soups or pesto pasta later.
Susan says
I have a greenhouse and live in the Portland, Oregon area. I have the same problem about critters devouring my seedlings so I start most things in the greenhouse and most everything is started at this point. I have raised beds that are 4 feet wide so I bought gutters and cut them in half and plant my peas in the gutters in the greenhouse. Then when it’s time to put the peas outside, I just make a small trench in the garden bed and slide them all out out of the gutter and into the soil. Works great.
JulieP says
I can’t wait now to be home to Norfolk, UK to make a start on the garden. I plant my beans in gutters too the first plantings anyway. My seeds I started here haven’t been too successful yet 4 tomatoes have poked through and some lettuce I’m the leaving cucumbers and peppers for when we get home. I need to make a plan. See what my daughter has planted and with what success. I’m excited for the gardening season to come 🙂