Veggie Bites – Seedlings

Posted In: Canada, Growing Food, Local – Ottawa, Master Gardeners, Veggie Bites

In house vegetable and seed garden with artificial light

As the days have been getting longer, I have been monitoring my little seedlings and decided it was time to transplant several of them into larger pots. I took the best seedlings of each of my five tomatoes and planted them up.

Greetings fellow gardeners,

I can’t believe that it has been a year since I started writing Veggie Bites. I have been overwhelmed by the positive feedback that I get. Gardeners are wonderful people. It has become obvious that being outside in the garden is good for us physically as well as mentally. Being in the garden helps us to focus and become calm. Many people that I have talked to have said that their garden has become a place to nourish and support them, as well as giving fresh fruit, vegetables, and herbs. Here we are getting ready for the new gardening season. Spring is such an exciting time; new ideas and new experiences await.

The weather is quite unpredictable, but that is typical of March and April. It is a great reminder to remain patient and to not get too deep into the garden. I would like to clean up beds and the mess of perennials, but it is still too early. I came across a lovely clump of sedum (Autumn Joy) which I have left until the world warms up and the warmth is a consistent fifteen degrees. These clumps are sheltering overwintering insects as well as providing nesting materials for birds.

One thing that I have noticed outside is that the March winds have blown all manner of garbage into my area. That is something that I can clean up.

My Planting Compound

I have been working on my planting compound, adding extra netting and cuttings of lemon-scented geraniums. The too-many cats have discovered that if they make attempts to get at the seedlings in the morning, there is a greater chance that I will get up and feed them breakfast. As the days have been getting longer, I have been monitoring my little seedlings and decided it was time to transplant several of them into larger pots. I took the best seedlings of each of my five tomatoes and planted them up. I have more than one of each tomato, so I planted them up in some larger containers as well. My peppers did not have the best germination results, but I have two that are strong and sturdy and I am hoping they will be there for me this summer. I am finding that the potting soil I used this year, a seed-starting soil, dries out very quickly. Fortunately, I fuss over my seedlings every day so I can keep ahead of it. It is a fine line between not allowing the soil to dry out and overwatering.

It is Easter this weekend. Some people are warm and cozy, while others are dealing with up to five centimeters of snow. Years ago, when I was new to rural living and being a young mother, I hid some chocolate eggs outside overnight for my two children to find in the morning. I learned that raccoons like chocolate eggs too, and that gas stations have emergency eggs in stock. For now, the eggs I love to find come from my three little hens, and they have not disappointed me this Easter weekend.