Last month I wrote about the seedlings I started for our March salads. I thought I would give a little update on how they are doing.
The seeds were started in this 200-cell plug flat. After one week, they were up and growing and ready for transplanting.
seedlings one week after germination
I transplanted most of the seedlings into cell paks a few days ago. I will grow them on this way in the fluorescent light garden until they get a bit bigger and the weather outside moderates a bit.
seedlings 5 days after transplanting (12 days old)
Last year I was able to get some planted on March 7th. Below is a photo I took right after planting the cold frame bed.
cold frame garden after planting in 2009
I covered the lid with a spunbonded polyester material (like Reemay), and by early April we were eating the first salads from the greens in the bed. From left to right in the photo below, we have Merlot and New Red Fire lettuces, Oriental Giant spinach, and Sunset, Winter Density and Simpson Elite lettuces.
same bed about 5 weeks later, April 2009
I’d like to get an earlier start this year on planting the bed, if the weather will cooperate. Right now winter still has its death grip on us, and the cold frame is covered in snow.
cold frame in February 2010
Still, hope springs eternal, and the snow will melt eventually, and the temperature outside will slowly increase. And when that happens, these new little plants will be ready to go in the ground. Until then, it’s time to start broccoli and cabbage seeds for the April plantings.
There’s always something “growing on” at Happy Acres!