Monday, February 2, 2009

Monday Seedling Update

Phil is telling us that we have six more weeks of winter. Personally I think Phil was more freaked out by all the people than by his shadow. Pennsylvania rodents notwithstanding, New England spring never gets here in February - though I do seem to recall one February day with a high of around 80°F (27°C). I don't remember precisely what happened the day after, but it probably snowed. Spring just doesn't blossom here until March.

So while I wait out our long and unusually snowy winter, I'm growing onion and leek seedlings under my new blue lights. I love how alliums grow. They stick just an elbow up to start before the rest is willing to follow. They are such tentative little seedlings. My leeks are just starting to come up. I've got those little upside down U shapes all over the 12-pack. Their germination is a little more consistent than my onions were. I put them behind my monitor which is the warmest spot in the house right now. The laundry room where my seedlings are is only 50-60°F. Even my cool weather crops like it better when it is not frigid.

My onions have stretched themselves out. They are still reluctant to get rid of the little black seed caps. Not all of my onions have germinated. I have a few empty cells. I'll have to deal with the issue later.


10 comments:

  1. The seedlings make that six weeks seem a lot less annoying, don't they? Glad to see them yawning and stretching and getting ready to grow in earnest.

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  2. LOL sometimes I feel like that. This year I'm enjoying seeing some green, so I don't mind that they take months to grow. Now if I can just keep them alive.

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  3. Do you use a clear dome over the seedlings? They are really good at amplifying the heat of the sun & grow lights. I am just about to take the dome off of my onions seedlings, they have germinated really well under it.

    When do you start trimming your onions, after they have formed a couple leaves?

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  4. Yes I use a dome when I'm germinating the seedlings, but as soon as most of them are up I take it off.

    I start trimming when they get too high. I want to keep my lights close. So I'll probably keep them trimmed to about 4-5" while they are little and maybe 6" when they get bigger. Right now they are growing right up to the light. The LEDs don't seem to be burning them at all. If it were fluorescent lights, I'd have to be more careful.

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  5. Daphne this is my first time growing onions from seed, and I didn't know what was happening when the little spindly bit with the seeds on them opened up from the U shape, I have been gently pulling them off !!! is that the wrong thing to do ?
    And what does trimming the onions mean ?? HELP, the seed packet doesn't give any advice.

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  6. Maureen, I don't think it hurts to either pull them off or leave them on. So do whatever makes you happy. As you can see I've left mine on for now because I find them amusing.

    Alliums when they are young can still get fairly tall. Outside this wouldn't matter, but inside they really ought to fit under your light. Some people say their onions are getting "leggy". This is not leggy like normal plants. The growing tip still tends to stay down by the soil with onions, but the plants can reach out for light by having their leaves get really tall. Many people trim the tops off of them to keep them short and manageable. Some people will trim down to 4", some to 6" and some even as high as 8". I tend to do it by how big the plant is. Little plants I keep shorter. As the plant grows I let the height get taller too and I will raise my lights then.

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  7. I'm so jealous! My little seeds are not doing anything yet, but it will be less than two weeks now before I plant seeds that I know will be viable! I'm yearning for some little green babies ;-)

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  8. Thanks for the reply. My red onions are up now and I have left the little spindly bits on these to compare growth with the others. I guess it's all trial & error, not too much error though I hope!

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  9. Hi Daphne, that is so cool. I love the seed casings still attached to the stalks, like aliens. This year I am trying saved seeds from the Chinese trumpet lilies and they make that u shape too.
    Frances

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  10. Annie's Granny, you aren't allowed to be jealous of me. You are harvesting salad from your garden right now. The thought of fresh salad makes ME jealous.

    Maureen, yup a garden is always trial and error. Sometimes what works for someone else doesn't work in your own garden. It is a good hobby for people that like to experiment.

    Frances, hehe yup they do look a bit like aliens don't they? Chinese trumpet lilies sound beautiful, but then I love most lilies.

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