More snow ... and a seedling update

 I didn't write anything last week because there wasn't much going on.  

If I had written a post this past Saturday, it would have been about the quiet, lazy Saturday my husband and I were having. I pulled out my crochet blanket and was working on it. 

This is Furby and I watching Fr. Brown Mysteries this weekend.  I was crocheting.  She was supervising, and not doing a very good job of it, if you can see her eye.  She was snoozing.  Lazy slacker! 

Then we got snow. We knew it was coming.  We thought we were prepared for it. I don't think we really were.  I think the entire area is completely done and over snow at this time. The roof on the mall collapsed, presumably under the weight of the snow. 

Soooo ... yeah ... after spending several hours on Sunday and Monday, we were not very happy to hear about the snow storm that was coming to our region, starting today. 

This is my poor greenhouse on Monday.  I had to snow blow the path - yet again! - to the greenhouse. 

I had to leave one size of the door unzipped so I can go inside now and knock the snow off the roof. 

I thought I shared this video I made in February.  A quick peek back is showing maybe I didn't. 

You can see how much more snow we have received since then.

It appears Furby is as tired of the snow as we are. 

I noticed this last week, or so, she's been taking naps like this.  Is she blue that the snow isn't going away and we can't spend more time outside?  I wish I knew what was going on in her head. 

This morning my hubby and I were talking about snow removal/moving stuff that will most likely happen tomorrow.  We are confident that when he said something about going up on the roof to clear off the snow, and Furby threw her two cents it, it meant that she was ready and willing to go up on the roof and help him out.  Probably in a supervisor role.  Unless she can flap her wings hard enough to knock the snow down. Wouldn't that be something? 

Yup.  That's pretty much this past week, give or take, in a nut shell. 

The snow started today after the rain. The rain started in the 11 a.m. hour and switched over about 11:30 a.m., maybe. 

So. Seedling update. 

I had envisioned myself posting weekly updates, at the very least.  Perhaps photos every few days.  Obviously this didn't happen and I only have myself to blame.  I really wanted to document this growing year. I guess I'm a lazy slacker, too! 

I made a quick video showing how everything looks. Sometimes photos can't cut it. 

Photos and more details are below.

The container of mixed salad greens I started on February 1. 

I did a light harvest on the first or second day of March.  What a difference fresh greens make on top of a salad made with some iceberg lettuce. I have ideas (grand delusions really) of always having some mixed greens growing in the house during the winter. I'd have to think of a good spot to place the container and grow light

My broccoli, cabbage and cauliflower I started February 12.

The broccoli is to the left and I think it's cauliflower in the middle.  Cabbage on the right. 

The broccoli ... I'm letting it grow, but I'd be surprised if it's very productive down the road. If the broccoli doesn't work out, I'll remind myself it was an experiment and to practice making the soil blocks. The other plants seem to be doing what they are supposed to. These plants are just over a month old now.  I'm keeping an eye on how they look, and will up pot them when I feel it is time to do so. 

All the peppers that sprouted ...

They are doing what I think they should be doing, and not growing too fast.  I'm keeping an eye on them, too. Aren't they pretty, though? 

So then I decided I was going to start some strawberry plants from seed. 

Why? I like trying new things. 

I started these seeds on March 4, 2023. 

On the package it says it can take anywhere from one to six weeks for the seeds to sprout. 

Within a few days this little seedling showed up.  It's the only green thing on these two plates.  

Is it a alpine strawberry plant? Your guess is as good as mine. 

I also thought I'd try starting them on foam plates I picked up from the dollar store. I picked this idea up from the Gardener's Workshop.  

While I don't regret trying the foam plates, I do have some concerns because they sort of stick to the seed mat when the thermostat isn't on and the mat is always warm. 

In the meantime, I have another packet of strawberry seeds in my freezer.  Research found some gardeners saying they had better germination rates if they cold stratified the seeds. 

I also started some more lettuce seeds.  

Gourmet and loose leaf mix started on March 4, 2023. Seedlings started sprouting in a few days.  I dropped the seeds in the little holes and didn't bother to cover them up. I think these seed packets are two years old, at least. 

On March 5 I planted my tomato seeds, more peppers and a sweet pepper. The tomatoes took a little longer than I expected.  

I double seeded the older seeds I had.  Some pinching out may happen in the future.  Unless I want to try and prick some out and try to save them. 

My jalapeños are just starting to pop up.  I was getting a little worried.  They started sprouting a few days ago.  This tray is not on a heating mat. 

Then I started one more tray of micro soil blocks.  Mostly flowers, some herbs and some celery. Scroll down for full list of what I seeded this go around. I noticed a few days later I did *not* mark all the blocks.  It will be a fun surprise once things come up (hopefully) and I can see what they turn in to. 

I decided to not put these blocks on foam trays. I thought I'd give an upside down humidity dome a try. It works. ... It's very flimsy. I broke down and ordered some shallow 1020 trays. The humidity dome is sitting in one of the shallow trays now.  Now my concern is that the watering isn't even.  Glutton for punishment, I am. 

A few things have sprouted.  I was a bit concerned I cooked the seeds.  I set the tray on a seed mat directly, and the mat wasn't on a thermostat.  I rectified this by putting the mats on a splitter and plugging the splitter into the thermostat. 

A couple days after I planted there was some green. I don't have a lot of experience with flower seeds. The slow show of green was concerning to me (Thinking I had cooked the seeds). I have to remind myself that a lot of these seeds take time to germinate.  When to decide they aren't going to come up? No idea.  

In the last few days my celery has started sprouting.  One of the herbs is growing.  A few of the flowers are doing very well. 

Baby hollyhocks

Some calendula.

Butterfly weed. 

I have read in a few places that you shouldn't start a variety of seeds on the same tray, since germination and growth rates are different.  I decided to ignore that bit of information and be a rebel. Things can always been broken up and up potted, if needed. 

Full list of things I planted on March 5, 2023

Cilantro

Lavender (Old seed, fingers crossed)

Thyme

Oregeno

Celery - Tall Utah improved

Calendula - Pacific Beauty mixed

Asters

Impatiens

Butterfly weed

Holly hock

Columbine

Jalapeños

Sweet pepper - California wonder (older seed)

Sweet Banana pepper (one soil block. Figured I didn't need several plants of this pepper)

Tomato - Early treat

Tomato - Best Boy

Tomato - Roma

Tomato - Triple crop

Tomato - Cloudy day

Tomato - Bodacious