Planted spinach, lettuce, purple beauty bell peppers and patio red marconi peppers on March 9, 2014. 12 of each were planted. As of today, March 22, 2014 germination success is about 58%.
9 of 12 lettuce seedlings were a success. 75%
5 of 12 spinach popped up. 41%
6 of 12 red marconi peppers did their thing. 50%
8 of 12 purple beauties succeeded. 66%
Seeds were sown into ProMix ultimate organic seed starting mix and very lightly covered. Perforated cell packs were placed into non perforated trays. Water was poured into the non perforated trays and allowed to percolate into the cells from the bottom up. The flat was placed on a heat mat and fluorescent lighting was placed a few inches above the trays. Spinach and lettuce are cool season crops and heat isn't a huge requirement so I'm perplexed why the lettuce did so well on the heat mat while the spinach didn't fair so well.
We started tomato seeds today, March 22, 2014. 24 Raspberry Lyana were planted. 12 Best Boy hybrids were planted. 6 Super Beefsteak and 6 Pink Brandywine were planted. Lyana and Best Boy are determinate, bush type plants. Lyana is heirloom and we intend to save seed from the best of these this year. Since Best Boy is a hybrid, seed saving is not recommended. Beefsteak and Brandywine are indeterminate varieties so they will need staked and pruned. Brandywine is an heirloom and this years seed was a result of last years plants that were received from a friend.
These plants were sown into the ProMix ultimate organic seed starting mix and bottom watered for moisture.
The last frost day for our area is May 11. Cool season plants like spinach and lettuce can go out a few weeks prior to that date. Tomatoes will go out around that date and peppers will go in a few weeks after that date.
