Veggie Seed Starts

[nimue]

Well... this has been interesting 

I started my seeds for my outdoor garden two weeks ago today. The instruction manual says they'll be ready to go in about four weeks (which is still too early in my part of Canada) but I figured I could always transfer the seedlings to my temporary outdoor greenhouse, and besides... it couldnt really be that fast could it?

It could.

I should have known when the cucumbers were sprouting on day 3.

Now we're at day 14 and the cucumbers (especially the Patio Snacker) are taking over. I have no idea how we'll make it another two weeks... I am a bit concerned they are going to strangle each other (and the tomatoes beside them) before we get there.


Any suggestions on managing this? I can't exactly move them around now, the roots are wild (I suppose I could trim but with 2-week-old seedlings, I am kind of reluctant). Or am I good to just wait it out? Maybe I need to think about transplanting the cucumbers earlier?

(growing some Patio Snacker and Sugar Bush Hybrid cucumbers, with Veranda Red, Tumbling Bella and Micro Tom tomatoes, and some cucamelons).

[Shawn]

I have never used a seed starter and do not plant outdoors (except for maybe a handful of times).  However I always suggest that once roots start to form, to turn your plants daily or at least a few times a week.  This helps keep the roots for those plants kinda contained and helps them from tangling with others.  This is not to say it will not happen but if it does it is easier to separate. 

Turning plants form a soft root ball (for plants staying in the machine).  Now if they are to be transplanted, I suggest lifting the deck and carefully untangle them once they begin to connect.  Again I would do this a few times a week especially if growing fast.

Sorry I can not help more.  However I hope what I did post is somewhat helpful to you and others.

[airscapes]

I normally start my stuff in peat pots, last year I tired sponges and  water which worked, but back to peat pods as they are just as fast, if not faster,  all but  the eggplant I started last weekend  are germinated.  With the peat pods you have a good week or more after germination before you need to do anything.  I normally move my stuff to pots and then outside went they are 4-6 weeks old.  I am just outside Philadelphia PA and don't really put things out until the middle of May any more.  Starting early just leaves the plants sitting there with cold feet until the soil get up to temperature in mid may.    Being in Canada, are you not a little early? 

If I were you, I would pot them up now before the roots get too much longer.  This way the roots can grow into the soil rather than being a huge clump that can not function in the soil, requiring the plant to grow more roots before it can grow top growth.  If your greenhouse is not warm enough yet, maybe pick up some grow lights and just keep them inside until the weather warms up .. I am going to have an office full of pots this year as I am trying a couple extra tomato plants and will be using larger custom pots that will allow for larger root system.. 4" too small for 6 weeks and 7" too big.. hoping 5x6 is Goldie Locks 

I have transplanted hydroponically grown items after they have outgrown the hydroponic environment and none have died, in fact I had to  remove almost all the roots from some parsley last year to get it out of the deck.  I cut the plastic cage in halve so only a stub left, and it survived!   Even got transplanted again before the winter to feed some Swallow Tail Caterpillar  

Good luck!!

[Sher]

I agree with airscapes that you should pot them up now. You could put the small plants in plastic drinking cups with holes in the bottom, and put the cucumbers in large enough pots to hold them over until you can plant them outdoors.

Good luck!

[lynnee]

Like Sher, I agree with airscapes that you should transplant the cucumbers now. You don't have much to lose, however you choose to do it, because they sprouted so quickly. You can easily start another batch if these should fail.

In removing plants from a seed starter, Aerogrow deck, or Kratky, I just pull the plant straight up out of the holder or hole (keeping the sponge and plastic pod holder). If there is resistance, I look underneath for entangled roots, and just chop these apart. Sometimes I have to trim the sides of the roots to clear the grow deck hole.

When I pull the plants out, the main roots come along. I used to worry about leaving no-longer-connected root fragments in the grow bowl, but that has never caused a decay problem.

The plants that come out of the grow deck with even a few decent roots almost always survive the transplanting process. I do keep the plants that are transplanted into soil very wet for several days.

[airscapes]

Just transplanted 2 parsley plants I started in little bubble buckets.  Mixed some potting soil and used seed starter (from the onion flats) to try and lighten the mix a bit.   Held the plant at ground level in the plastic cage and fill up the pot.  The potting mix was already wet from the bag so only added a pint of water (what was left in the quart containers they were removed from) Has been 4 hours and not wilted but keep them in the same spot they were in under the lights.  I think too much water is worse than not enough, plants get a lot of Oxygen from the roots, they can do without water but if you cut off the air the fall over fast from what I have seen when over filling a larger container  trans planting from small bubble bucket to larger.

[lynnee]

The transplants look marvelous!

[Sher]

Apr 27, 2022 17:28:31 GMT -5 lynnee said:

The transplants look marvelous!

X 2!

[airscapes]

Parsley is hard to kill, believe me!  

[airscapes]

nimue    How are your little ones doing?  Did you get the transplanted??

[nimue]

Apr 27, 2022 21:19:38 GMT -5 airscapes said:

nimue    How are your little ones doing?  Did you get the transplanted??

So far so good! I was later than I wanted getting everything out of the machine since my household got hammered with COVID, but I finally was able to transplant them about a week ago. I also needed to pot my strawberry roots from Veseys (it’s still been near 0c at night here) so we’re doing greenhouse during the day and dining room table (with grow lights in the fixture 😂) at night or when it’s chilly in the mornings.

[lynnee]

Glad to hear that you're recovered and gardening again!

[Sher]

nimue, I am sorry to hear that your household was hit with COVID, but so GLAD you recovered!

I admire your dedication moving your plants to the dining table at night. I hope they reward your efforts generously!