IT'S ALIVE!!! IT'S ALIVE!!!

Okay, so maybe I am being a bit dramatic but this the first time I've seen any sign of "garden" in well over 3 months! And it's ALIVE! Could this day get any better? But wait there's more? I don't believe it... Yes it's true signs of life in the greenhouse too!

PS~ My mom is mad at me because she lives in the woods and her gardens look like this:

HeeeHeee! Oh, I mean, jeez that's too bad, Mom! LOL!

I think I've been disinherited!

Greenhouse Dreaming and Ramblings

My "Accidental Forcing" bulbs are thriving in my kitchen window. They seem to be quite happy which makes me quite happy. In other parts of the house I have set-up my greenhouse (hopefully in a better position than the "stock" photo from yesterday's post.) I have placed the greenhouse in front of my sliding glass door which gets the most light and sun of any room in the house. It's also a placement which should ensure pretty consistant temperatures.

Yesterday, I excitedly said that it was time to start pepper plants. However, I was mistaken. After checking my Storey's Basic Country Guide and speaking to a local farmer (he's a Farmer's Market favorite) I learned that I needed to wait at least until Mid-April. So, before rising from bed this morning I told my husband that although it may be too early for vegetables. It's never too early for annuals. I think he rolled his eyes at me. But how can I get a new greenhouse and not immediately start some seeds? It just seems wrong not to!

So today I turn my attention to deciding what kind of annuals I'd like to decorate my front porch with this year. Suggestions are welcome as always.

A Seedy Gift & Successful Seed Starting Tips

Don't you love it when hubby shows up with a gift? Especially one that proves how well he knows you? Hubby did just that when he brought home a greenhouse last night. Since Robin posted about Winter Sowing late in January I've been frantically looking for a shelf system to meet my needs. It's been a difficult search as most of February our garden centers were still in the midst of "seasonal" stocking. At last, they've brought out the real goodies... the garden gear! Yippee!

I think hubby was fearful that I was going to try and "repurpose" his workshop shelves...I had threatened to steal his workshop lights. So tada! Greenhouse gift! And just in the nick of time too... It's finally time to start my peppers! As I've admitted I have had difficulty with seeds before. Matter of fact, my three year old was "helping" to assemble the greenhouse last night and asked, "What's this for?" Daddy answered, "For Mommy's seeds." To which she said, "Mommy's seeds don't grow!"

Seed starting can be overwhelming. And the information available tends to focus on how to start the seeds which is a pretty straight~forward task. To help improve my seedy chances this year I've ignored all that info and bought the peat pellets. I've heard good things about the pellets and am ready to give them a try. Through my research I've found these really simple starter's guide to:

Seed Survival~The Basics
Provide your seeds with the following for happy seedlings.

• Light! You have two options natural or fluorescent. For natural light place your seedlings near a sunny, southern window. Rotate your seedlings often so they don't bend over as they search for the sun. For fluorescent the key is to use a cool white bulb and to hang the fixture directly over the seeds.
• Warmth! Most seeds like a warm environment. Seeds will germinate and grow best in a 70-75 degrees Fahrenheit (21-24 degrees Celsius). After they've become little seedlings though they tend to enjoy temps between 60-70f (15-21c).
• Mositure & Humidity! Keep the germinating medium moist but never soggy. To keep moisture levels high slide your seed flats into clear plastic bags. Or cover your shelving system with clear plastic. Remove the cover as soon as seeds sprout. Check medium everyday for drying out. (TIP: Dryer medium will be lighter in color.)
• Water! As your seedlings grow they have to establish they're "feet" in the soil. Just like babies they can fall over easily. So as your tempted to grab your watering can...STOP! When you add water to the top of your planting medium your seeds/seedlings have no way of anchoring themselves into the soil and so they will "float" on the water and fall over! :( So ALWAYS water from the bottom until seedlings are quite large.
• Fertilize! I've made the mistake before of fertilizing too early so when is the best time to add those extra vitamins? After the first True leaves appear. The first leaves are food storage cells...it's those second leaves that really spell success! This is a good time to begin fertilizing with liquid soluable plant food as you bottom water your seedlings. When seedlings are very small use 1/4 of the amount of plant food directed on package. Increase to 1/2 the normal stregnth as seedlings begin to mature.

With simple steps like these I hope even seed challenged people (like myself) will find it easier to get healthy plants from those amazing little seeds.