Checking In with Our Seedlings

Our seedlings are doing fantastic this year! We have some tomato plants that are 8 inches tall and with numerous sets of leaves, even.  The grow lights are the secret!  We turn it on only in the day so the plants get some rest during the night.  I know I perform my tasks better when I am well rested--aren't plants the same way?

We have two growing systems too.  The newer one with the water-absorbing pad, sits the plants higher.  The second and third trays of seeds are just sitting in individual mini-pots on top of water and soil.  The tray with the water-absorbing pad is the one producing the plants that are 6-8 inches tall now.  The other trays have plants that are only about 3-5 inches tall. Same amount of water and same amount of light, but that water-absorbing pad seems to have made all the difference.  

We still are a long way off from hardening the new plants off-- especially since Mother Nature isn't cooperating with the weather (we still are having frosts! and wintery mixes of rain and sleet!). 

This coming week we might be able to stick the trays outside for a few hours in the day to get some real sun light. I think soon we will be transplanting the plants we have into bigger pots since they are getting so tall and crowded in these starter pots. 

 

In talking to my great uncle Jimmy, who is also an amazing gardener, he was going to start getting his ground ready just this week.  He thinks that he is at least another 3 weeks away from even thinking about planting anything directly into the ground.  Considering that he has been doing this for a while and he always produces the most amazing tomatoes, beans, and corn, I will wait to plant our seedlings as well.  It helps having such expertise in the family.