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Lettuce Seeds Started, More Snow
Well, I should have known that right after I set up my cold frame that it would snow. Received about 4 inches of snow yesterday. It has been very cold for this time of year. I delayed seed planting until March 7th. I currently have all of my early lettuce seeds started. They are currently germinating under florescent lights on my converted bookshelf (see picture). I also have a seed warmer under the two half flats (you can order this seed warmer mat here: Electric Grow Mat Park Seed). This set up seems to work well for me. Once the seeds germinate, I move them to the cold frame. The lights keep the sprouts from getting too spindly after germination. I usually check the seeds twice a day, but sometimes they sprout before I get the chance to move them out into the cold frame.
I will be starting seeds of broccoli, cabbage, brussels sprouts, celery, and fennel either today or tomorrow and seeds of warm weather plants in another week or so. The forecast is for warmer weather next week......HOORAY!!
posted by Tim B. | 12:15 PM
6 Comments:
Hi Tim,
I was searching on the web for some gardeners in Indiana so I can plan a gardening schedule. I came across your site and I am excited to read your notes! You are a Master Gardener, and your blog looks really good! Thanks for doing this! I get most nervous about the timing for planting so this will help!
Amy
Hi Amy,
I am glad that you found my gardening schedule useful. If you have any questions, please let me know. Right now it is 63 degrees outside and the sun is shining!!!!!!
Good Luck and Happy Gardening.
Are your lights a special kind of light, or just simply lights bought at the local store? I have some seeds I'd like to start, but am not sure how to get started.
Jenn,
The lights are just regular fluorescent lights. I only use them to germinate the seeds. Right after the seeds germinate, I move them to my outside cold frame. I use this set up to keep the newly sprouted seedlings from getting too leggy before I get the chance to move them to the cold frame. If you are planning on growing your seedlings full time indoors under lights, you can use ordinary fluorescent lights, but be sure to use new ones every year and keep the seedlings as close to the lights as possible.
I hopes this information helps.
Good Luck
Tim,
Thanks for all this information! It's already March 19th and I get so confused as to "what I should be doing."
I went to our local Worms Way the other day, and they had a book they let me look at. Some gardening in Indiana month-by-month guide. It told me to wait until about April 10th to plant early peas.
Do you think this is correct? My mother-in-law told me that St. Patrick's day is the signal to start planting early crops like peas.
My second question is when I can start planting lettuce seeds outside? I didn't start mine inside, which I may try sometime. I got a variety that says "early spring." What do you think it REALLY means when it says to, "plant the seeds outside AS EARLY AS THE SOIL CAN BE WORKED?" I also do SFG and use "mel's mix." My soil has been workable almost all month now... but isn't it too cold?
(Should I do a little hoop house to protect the lettuce?)
(Sorry to ask so much-anything you comment back on is helpful!)
BTW-I hope you don't mind but I think I'm going to start referring to you as my favorite online mentor for gardening. :) Your site is great! I'm in Bloomington, and it's hard to figure out when to do what.
Hi Amy,
First, I have also been told by many people that you should plant your peas by St. Patrick’s Day. My personal feeling is that this is normally too early for central Indiana, especially when the soils are as wet and cold as they are right now. You can plant them now, but they probably will not germinate until the soil warms a bit. I am going to wait until the first of April. I think in most years that is a better time to plant peas in our area.
Your second question about when to plant lettuce seeds outside is probably around the first of April as well. You can get a jump of a few weeks if you use a hoop or some other kind of protection. I have always started my lettuce seeds indoors or in the cold frame and transplanted the seedlings out into the garden when they got of decent size. It looks like this year I won’t be transplanting lettuce seedlings out into the garden until at least the 3rd week in April, if I am lucky. Every year I also shoot for April 1st, but it seems like most years it is always later than that. It just depends on the weather.
Don’t sweat the EXACT dates for any of this. Every year is always a little different. I usually let the weather decide for me. I have learned some time ago to not fight the weather, but learn how to work with it. This spring is shaping up as a late one.
Thanks for your kind words. I have really enjoyed sharing my gardening experiences through this blog and my web site.
Good Luck and Happy Gardening
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