Monday Seedling Update

The seedlings are slowly growing. My onions planted in January now have their third leaves. Some have four, but most have three. The leeks planted a week later have two. They are supposed to be planted out in 2-3 weeks. With the blizzard going on outside my window, I'm skeptical. I keep planting more regardless of the weather.

Last week I seeded more onions. This time it was bunching onions with seed left over from last year. Onion seed doesn't last long. Many people say to throw it out each year. Otherwise one ought to check the germination rate before planting old seed to make sure it is strong enough to grow. If the germination rate is low, you should toss them. Some say you ought to have at least 80% germination some say 60% is good enough, anything less and the remaining seed is too weak to grow well. Did I check? Of course not. I just made blocks and planted four seeds in each block. I want that many because I'm going to block plant them. I won't thin. All of the seed germinated. Including five from one where I only planted four. I swear I counted out four in that block, so the seed is so vigorous it had 120% germination. Whoo hoo! No don't tell me I just dropped one in there. I need something to celebrate during our March blizzard.

The other plants hoping to go out in a couple of weeks are my newly seeded lettuce. I sowed two blocks of three different kinds on February 21st. The Merveille De Quartre Saison and Red Sails germinated in 2 1/2 days. The New Red Fire had one block come up in six days. The other block took eight. That is very slow germination for lettuce. Hopefully now that they are up they will be stronger growers.

So far the blocks are holding up well, but they haven't needed much watering yet. They seem to need water about every 4 days. I bottom water and soak them, then let them dry out until a little of the surface is dry.