I’m really kind of excited about this. I’ve wanted to grow for a very long time, and now its legal here in Cali. I ordered Blue Berry auto and Gold Leaf seeds from ILGM. While I waited for the seeds, I put up one of those aluminum framed, poly-carbonate greenhouses.
I’ll be growing in containers, using potting soil.
I put 5 BB seeds and 2 GL seeds in water to germinate, and let them set for 1 1/2 days. Before I soaked the seeds, I could tell them apart. So I soaked them together. Now I can’t tell them apart. Well, it’ll be interesting to see if I can tell them apart once they start growing. After 1 1/2 days of soaking, all the seeds started germinating, the hulls were split and I could see the little root poking out. Into the potting soil they go. That was last Sunday morning. (June 11)
In retrospect, I think they ended up a little deeper than 1/4" at planting, but I think it will be okay. I moved the pots to the greenhouse, where I run to check on them at least 4 times a day. There are stairs involved, so I’m getting exercise too. Did I mention I’m excited? The greenhouse is on the opposite side of the house from the garden, where my tomato plants have a spider mite invasion. Last year it was flea beetles, horn worms and grasshoppers. Oh, lets not forget the snails. I am getting the upper-hand on the spider mites. They are a fact of life here, they live in the oak trees.
We’re having a bit of an early season heat wave, and the greenhouse was hot. Worried that the little seedlings would roast, I dug out some shade cloth to cover the greenhouse, and converted some of the greenhouse panels to screens. That helped. I brought an irrigation line down to the greenhouse and set up a drip system. I’ll be away for a few days, so I’m worried about things drying out. I’m also worried about over watering. But the pots have good drainage. I think everything will be okay for the next few days.
Just this morning (June 15), 2 of the seedlings are up and a third will be up tomorrow. I’ve put plastic water bottle ‘domes’ over the planted seeds to help protect them from munching monsters. I’m hoping they’ll all be up and thriving by the time I’m back Sunday night.
Thanks, I’m happy to be learning and cultivating! (post edited to include dates)