Strawberries try #2

[Sher]

At least the seedlings themselves look okay, maskedsonnet.

Algae is so ugly! Hopefully the seedlings will shade it out soon.

[maskedsonnet]

Ugh yeah, I thought about trying to swab it off, but I’m not sure how well I can do it without accidentally damaging the little seedlings. For now I’m going to leave it alone, and maybe try swabbing it off when the seedlings get a little bigger and less delicate.

[lynnee]

So that's the algae that everyone talks about! I've never seen that in my gardens--only the white fuzz.

Maybe it's our city water that retards algae growth. The water comes from an open reservoir that regularly develops algae blooms. When that happens the tap water sometimes looks a bit brown and has a mildly unpleasant taste.

The utility assures us that the water is safe to drink, and the problem goes away in a few days. They probably treat the water with something that retards algae.

[maskedsonnet]

Lol yup, slimy and gross! Peroxide works well to kill it once you’ve got it, but lack of light is the best way to keep it from happening altogether. I added some to the tank to hopefully help out. It doesn’t really hurt anything, just a pain to clean it up and can possibly clog the pump if you let it get out of control in the tank. But for now it’s limited to the tops of my pods here - generally easy to control with a q-tip dipped in peroxide, as Shawn suggested. Usually seedlings come up so fast it’s not an issue, but these are so teeny they’re not blocking the light out yet

[maskedsonnet]

Still going strong!! Added water and nutrients to everything today. Did 5mL in each side

[Sher]

They are coming along beautifully, maskedsonnet!

[maskedsonnet]

Several of these are big enough to take the domes off!

[Sher]

That is wonderful, maskedsonnet!  DcKpvN

[maskedsonnet]

These are starting to explode!! On my days off I'll start going through the pods with bigger sprouts to thin them out. I imagine by then I'll be ready to take the rest of the domes off, they're getting close!

[Sher]

Exploding is right, maskedsonnet! They are a rousing success so far!

[lynnee]

Amazing that you're growing those strawberries from seed, maskedsonnet !

[Shawn]

You and this project are a great inspiration to want to try and hopefully succeed myself one day

[maskedsonnet]

Today was the day for thinning!!

Before:

After:

On the left side I had one pod with only very tiny, unhealthy looking sprouts, so I plucked all those and transplanted a bigger sprout into it. Left one pod in the back with a couple sprouts in it so in case that transplant doesn't take, I'll have a second chance.

Also added 20mL nutrients and some peroxide to both sides, as well as swabbing the tops of all the pods with peroxide, since the plants are still small enough that the algae is persisting.

[campingcorgis]

You've been busy!!  Things are looking great!!  

[Shawn]

I want to come to your house when they start to fruit.  If you notice any missing it was me LOL

[Sher]

Such a perfect strawberry garden!

[maskedsonnet]

The transplant did fine, so thinned out the last pod. I keep thinking "these are growing really slow" but then I go back and look at the last photos I took and realize these are actually growing really fast, I'm just being too impatient!!

[Sher]

They are doing beautifully! You have the magic touch!

[lynnee]

The magic touch indeed!

[Shawn]

These are certainly looking great.  You have the Strawberry touch