Off to the races!

On Sunday, I started my first round of seeds for my Olympia garden: tomatoes, eggplant, peppers, ground cherries, bok choi, basil and some flowers. I started a little earlier this year based on last year’s experience. (Actually, I planned to start two weeks ago but broke a finger–ouch–and that set me back.) Last year I started most of my seeds in March and I was wildly successful. So many plants. But I found that a few plants needed a little more time so I am starting earlier this year. It’s day 6 and the bok choi is up, a couple of flowers and one tomato seedling. It seems like a miracle every single time.

Last year, I started most of my seeds in small paper cups. This year I made mini flats out of white plastic tofu containers, drilling drainage holes planting 6-12 seeds per container. Eight tofu trays fit in one black flat. We eat a lot of tofu. (I use the heavy duty flats from Bootstrap Farmer–they are great. I bought mine last year and they still look new. And now they have fun colors!)

I was MUCH better at labeling this year after confusing the tomato varieties and mixing up the bok choi and brussels sprouts seedlings repeatedly. I decided to use my Brother Ptouch labeler and reinforce it with tape.

I decided to try Black Gold Seedling Mix. This is my first time with it, I’ve always used a vermiculite-peat moss blend in the past. I dampened the mix thoroughly before filling my tofu trays. Stay tuned for updates on that! I have one flat on the heat mat but the one off the heat mat is coming up all over so stuff grows, no matter what.

I am growing PNW varieties of tomatoes exclusively this year after some uneven results last year. I had tomatoes but it wasn’t a bonanza. I really was hoping to be inundated. (I know, I know. Careful what you wish for!) To be fair, June was really cold and not tomato friendly. This year I am going to move the plants to a warmer, sunnier location and start them out in a portable greenhouse when I first move them outside.

The gardening experiment continues!

Funny enough, we are in the midst of a winter storm warning in Western Washington, low thirties with unusual single digits and 3-5 inches in our immediate future. Everyone and their mother was at the grocery store when we went out at lunch time. I am hoping this passes us by quickly and return to the 40s ASAP. In the meantime, I will reassure my tiny seeds and whisper the words loved by gardeners everywhere: spring is coming.