Friday, March 22, 2013

Spring on a Windowsill

   Spring has not yet come here. The bright green seedlings are growing on all windowsills at my home.
In my other post I told about seeds that I bought for the garden.There were some packets of tomatoes, zucchini, cucumbers seeds, flower seeds of lobelia and petunia, Dianthus and campanula (Blue bells).
In the first days of March I thought what the best way should be to sow in the soil or in
expandable coir pellets. And I decided to buy both, soil and
pellets. Most of the seeds were sown in pellets then I continued sowing, pouring soil in plastic or paper boxes.


I was told that the hybrid petunia seeds poorly germinate and I had to use only coir pellets. So I've sown 5 seeds of petunia 'Gloriosa' (first photo) in the coir pellets and my own simple petunia seeds were sown into the soil. The photo shows that petunias 'Gloriosa' are still weak, and the garden petunia seedlings are strong enough (photo below).


Tomatoes were three 'cherry tomatoes' varieties. Surprisingly, they've rapidly germinated and now one variety of tomatoes 'Richy' outgrows the others


Over time, I've noticed that pellets began to rapidly dry up on sunny windowsill. I didn't know whether I should keep them watering constantly. So I've added soil, now moisture is keeping better.
The lobelia seeds are very small and were sown very tightly, I need to separate seedlings soon (below, in cells). 
I'm glad Monarda seeds were perfect and I have nice and healthy seedlings (in a plastic pot)


 Begonia tubers wintered well in a cool place and now are growing in a light windowsill. I think begonias will bloom soon, and I'll move them blooming to the garden.


I've picked up milk boxes, cut them and planted Gladiolus bulbs there. Gladiolus bulbs have also begun to sprout. I have to plant gladiolus in large garden containers later.
Here are growing dahlias. As I showed in my other post, I bought red and white dahlias. Since sprouts appeared on their tubers I've planted them in pots. Now, they are drawn to the sun and waiting for to be planted in the garden.


When the warmth come and temps are high enough my plants will be moved to the garden.
What did you sow and how are your seedlings grow?  
Where do you sow: in cells, pots or in expandable coir pellets, my friends? 

 And now what is new in my garden? The Blackbirds arrived!


 

52 comments:

  1. Oh, your tomatoes are already so big! They look great. Mine are much smaller. You've sown a lot of seeds. You'll have many plants to move to your garden. Happy weekend, Nadezda!

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    1. Satu, I hope all my seedlings will be well at the moment to move them! Thank you!

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  2. Hello Dear Nadezda!
    I admire your plants. They are already very high.
    I also sowed, but the lack of sun did not rise.
    Is still frost, snow and very cold.
    The garden is covered with snow.
    I send greetings.
    I wish you have a nice weekend.
    Lucia

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    Replies
    1. Of course, my seedlings are growing better on sunny place! Now the weather is cold, windy and sunny.
      Thank you, Lucia!

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  3. Everyone is impatient for spring, including your seedlings! They look wonderful. I wish I had more space indoors to start seeds but I don't. I would like to try gladiolus in pots for my garden and you have given me a great idea, thanks!

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    1. Rosemary, I plant gladiolus in vases or big containers and I'm glad, especially in fall it's not hard to dig them out, only to turn the pot. Thank you!

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  4. Wow where it grow ..... have to say is something is happening. Here we have still a lot of snow, but high bright sunlight, so maybe spring just around the corner. Wish you a good weekend :) Hugs Hanne Bente

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    1. You're right, something happens..The spring is still cold, windy. But my seedlings do not feel cold, they get sunlights through the window. Thank you, Hanne Bente!

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  5. Spring has come to your windowsill! Everything looks very good! Happy weekend to you, Nadezda!

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  6. All your seedlings look very healthy and you will have to replant them very soon. I am surprised you have already such a high dahlias and sprouting gladiolus. mine are still in the basement, I grow them directly in the garden. My dahlias I have just potted up in the greenhouse, but it is still very cold with temperatures around and below zero. Anyway you have a lot of spring in your house, have a nice weekend.

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    1. Janneke, of course, to have dalias and gladiolus in a greenhouse is better than on windowsill (for plants). But the cold weather -10 C...-5 C doesn't permit me to move them. Thank you!

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  7. Escribes muy bien el castellano:))
    Te decía que nosotros también hacemos criaderos en casa, por el frio. Hasta mayo no sembramos en el huerto.
    Dentro de poco tendrás unas flores preciosas.
    Buen fin de semana.
    Un beso.

    Te dejo el enlace para que lo veas:
    http://asimegustaelmundo.blogspot.com.es/2011/08/los-tomates-de-mi-huerto.html

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    1. Laura M, gracias por la idea de cultivar tomates bajo del forro negro. Lo hare lo mismo este ano con mis criaderos!

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  8. Hi Nadezda
    Your seeds are doing so well! That's great. And you have a terrific mixture of flowers and vegetables. You'll have a great head start when Spring weather finally arrives.

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    1. I believe that spring finally comes, too!
      Every spring I want some new flowers and vegs instead of those that were bad the past summer. And have the problem where to plant them :))
      Thank you, Astrid!

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  9. Don't thin the lobelia. They are such tiny, tiny seeds, and they can just grow all together in a dense mat, They'll be fine! Most other seedlings need to be thinned, but not lobelia.

    All your little babies look great on their sunny windowsill.

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    1. Well, I will all together lobelias re-plant in a bigger pot.
      Thank you for your valuable advice, Laurrie!

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  10. Lovely pictures of your seedlings! Mine haven't grown that much yet.....waiting for some warmer weather:)

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  11. Buenos días Nadezda.
    Te explico. Es plástico, lo ponemos encima de la tierra para evitar que salgan las mala hierbas, así no salen. El riego lo hacemos por goteo, se ahorra mucha agua, hay veranos que tenemos poca. Esta es la del año pasado, ahí puedes ver los tubos del agua entre los calabacines:

    http://asimegustaelmundo.blogspot.com.es/2012/08/la-alegria-de-la-huerta.html

    Buen sábado:))
    Un beso

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  12. Your tomatoes are looking so good Nadezda. Seeing something growing is just what we need this time of the year.

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  13. Dear Nadezda,i like how your tomatoes grow!Your seeds are doing so well!!The Blackbirds arrived here too!I love those birds!Hope you have a wonderful weekend!
    Dimi.

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  14. Oh, I have not started any seeds this year - I am going to be very sorry! Your tomato plants look great, and the Glad bulbs look like wonderful, too.

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    1. I think you will sow something and have greenness in your home too. Thank you, Holley!

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  15. Wow! All your seedlings are looking really good! Interesting to hear about your coir pellets too. Mine seem dry too.

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    1. The coir pellets are good for seeds, but when seedling grow they need more water and the pellets get dry. So I covered pellets with soil around. Thank you, Anna!

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  16. Your seedlings look so fresh and healthy. You have done very well to have them all germinate. Now we will look forward to some beautiful colour in your summer garden.

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  17. Hi Nadezda, all those seedlings look like they are coming on great, hopefully it will warm up soon so you can put them in your garden. Those blackbirds look huge. I hope they don't eat seedlings! Your garden looked beautiful last time I saw it, in warmer weather.

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    1. I do hope that will be warm soon. The blackbird sing prettily and aren't interested in seedlings.
      Thank you, Karen!

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  18. I've grown from seed in years past but never have they looked as healthy and vibrant as yours. You are so ready for spring, aren't you? I hope it arrives soon. If the blackbirds are back, this must be a good sign. Take care.

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    1. Grace, I do hope spring arrives, although we have snowstorm today! My seedlings wait for warmth too. Thank you!

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  19. Your seedlings look great! What's your secret?

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    1. Tammy, I have no secret, I have expandable coir pellets. For the first time.
      Thank you!

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  20. Your seedlings look so vigorous and healthy! Can't wait to see them in your garden. :)

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    1. I can't wait for warm weather and green grass. I'm tired of snow!
      Thank you, sweetbay!

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  21. Your seedlings look fantastic, I so love growing plants from seeds, it's so satisfying isn't it.

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    1. Yes, it is! I sow different seed and have my own seeds, I collect them every fall. Thank you!

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  22. How I love to see the first shoots. They look so healthy and perfect and new... as yet untouched by life, and full of hope. With your care, I know these ones will also grow into wonderful plants!

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    1. Jenny, I will care! And we all are full of hope, waiting the warmth. Thank you!

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  23. Nadezda, your begonias, dahlias, tomatoes, and other plants are looking very happy. You will be prepared when the weather is finally warm!

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    1. Jason, I think your begonias are growing well too! Thank you!

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  24. Your seedlings are amazing! This is the perfect way to hurry up spring. I have mixed results with starting seeds indoors, but I can't resist trying some every March. I have some flower seedlings growing under a grow light in the basement, but I'm waiting for an order of tomato seeds to plant one more tray.

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    1. Rose, I agree, when I was starting seeds I felt the spring is near. Now my tomatoes are growing well and soon I'll need to plant them in bigger pots. Thank you!

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  25. Your seedlings look lovely, great you have room for all of these indoors on your windowsills. In my house I don’t have much windowsill space, and the little I have is occupied by orchids so my seeds have to wait until I can put them straight in the ground. Can’t do that yet, we have full winter here in London still! I hope spring is arriving to us all soon!

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    1. Helene, hope the weather is warmer and you'll be able to sow your new seeds. Thank you!

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  26. Looks like you've been busy sowing lots of seeds. You must have a lare window. I have to set up grow lights for my seedings. Glad I found your blog.

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    1. My seedlings are growing very fast.
      Thank you for stopping by!

      Delete

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