My first time starting plants from seeds

4. Light, sowing outside, and the final results

The seedlings did well in our west facing windows, although some did get a little leggy, and they leaned toward the light so much that I had to turn them at least once every day. The tomatoes and the marigolds were the least leggy. The poppies were the worst. I wondered how they would ever hold up their flower heads, but once they were in the garden they filled out. I did plant them deep, and that helped a lot. They needed a lot of watering at first, but after the first 2 or 3 weeks, they only needed water twice a week. In fact, we went away on holiday for a week in April, and I saturated them, put a little extra in the flats, moved them from the direct sun, and miraculously I didn't lose a single seedling over that week. They did end up with bent stems, though, and some never did straighten out from not being turned for a week. I can see the benefits of a light table, with the correct light delivered from straight overhead. And someone to house sit the little guys if you have to go away for any length of time. Lesson 5: seedlings require a lot of care at first, but you don't need to be a slave to them.

There were a number of seeds that I planted directly into the ground. These were carrots, beans, and peas. I planted about 10 snowpeas, and 5 each of green and yellow beans. This was enough that a small handful of peas, and three or four beans were ripe at any one time - in other words it was not enough. The snowpeas ended up being between meal snacks (tasty ones at that). The beans I collected over several days and stored in the fridge, and eventually had enough for a mixed colour serving of beans with dinner. Lesson 6: plant enough of each plant to get a usable quantity of harvest.

The end result of all of this is that we had lots of flowers in our front garden, although the colour combination wasn't as good as I would have liked. That would be improved by remembering lesson 1, and planning what was to go where in advance. We've had far too much of some things, and not enough of others. But I have to admit that I've felt very pleased with the overall success of this venture. And it brought spring into our house starting in February, when it's hard to believe that winter will ever end. That alone is worth it's weight in cherry tomatoes. I think I'll ask Santa for a light table this year.

My first time starting plants from seeds
Planting medium and schedule
Sowing the seeds
Light, sowing outside, and the final results

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