Meet TS and Come See the Rest of the Garden...

Wednesday, January 13, 2016

Seedy Persuasion


5:41 alarm


5:45 alarm


5:55 alarm

Scout

Throw back the covers, slide out of bed,
 feet into slippers, grab robe, 
call the dog who was awake on the first alarm.


Genie


Baby and Lucy

Down the stairs and into the kitchen
three sleepy dogs, tails thumping against their beds. 

"Out, dogs" I mumble as I open the back door.
I am not a morning person.


Coffee like jet fuel with sugar and almond milk

Into the basement 

Tap the red switch to turn on the grow lights


Centranthus ruber 'Snow Cloud' and 'Pretty Betsy' seedlings to the left
 Very tiny snapdragon 'Frosted Flames' to the right 


Seedlings!

(To see what I'm growing this year, check out my So Seedy 2016 page.)

68 comments:

  1. What a coincidence: I was just thinking about you, and then your post was the first one in my feed. I can imagine your morning because it's similar to mine--except I get up about an hour later, and I feed two cats. Yay, re: the seedlings! I guess I need to get mine going! Cheers! :)

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    1. I was so excited, I started the seeds Jan 1. :o) I have them broken down into 4 groups to be sown Jan - April. I'm a zombie in the morning but I do love seeing my little seedlings and watching them grow. :o)

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  2. I love the dogs+++
    Still a bit early for us to start seeds-when will yours go outside?

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    1. Not for quite a while. It all depends on the weather. Snapdragons like cool weather so I'm hoping to have big, robust plants by late March so I can put them in a pot for early spring color. The centranthus were grown as backups in case the ones I have in a pot don't make it through the winter. But our winter's been so mild so far, I'll probably just have a bunch of extra plants!

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  3. Those are some cute alarms. No pets here. We have to set extra alarms to get us going.

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    1. What's pathetic is that the 2nd alarm is across the room and after turning it off I go back to bed!

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  4. I imagine the seedlings can make you more cheerful in the morning than dogs or coffee.

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    1. As much as I love my seedlings, they aren't as cuddly as my dogs. ;o)

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  5. Sounds a little like our place except the dog IS the alarm clock -- I'm awake you should be too attitude.

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    1. Genie is a morning dog and she and Lucy will occasionally wake me up on the weekends if I've slept too long, according to their schedule.

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  6. Hi Tammy, how long do you leave your grow lights on for each day?

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    1. I leave them on for about 10 hours. I've read that they should only receive the same amount of light as they would if they were growing outside but it's easier if I just turn them on at 6 when I get up and off again at 4 pm or so when I get home from work. But if I forget, which I often do, they stay on a bit longer.

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  7. Sorry you can't post dog photos and seedling photos in the same post...the adorable faces of the bow wows won out hands down!!!

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    1. They are sweet, funny dogs and I love them more than coffee or plants. :o)

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  8. I'm an early riser but coffee is definitely my friend in the morning and in the afternoon. :-) There is nothing more fun than watching seedlings grow.

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  9. WE are having that discussion now, are we going to start seeds this year? Tomatoes, maybe. Last year they were tall leggy splindly, but we planted them anyway along side the healthy, gorgeous nursery sets. They all did well until they were beaten to death by a vicious night rain. One remained out of 30 plants. We replanted and all flourished, including the little house plant. Had the best tomato crop ever. I will watch yours grow with envy and admiration.

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    1. I start mine under grow lights and that makes all the difference. I've lost seedlings to spring storms, too. It's so frustrating! You should try again. :o)

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  10. Same morning, with the exception of alarm clock, sugar and a basement.

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  11. Hi Tammy, nice to get a glimpse into your morning routine! To see all four of your lovely dogs must warm your heart, even though you are not fully awake, yet. I am admiring that you do grow you own plants from seeds. I am curious what Centranthus ruber 'Snow Cloud' will look like once it is grown up! Enjoy your morning coffee :-)!
    Warm regards,
    Christina

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    1. It has white flowers that I hope will be beautiful planted with the more common pink Jupiter's Beard, which is the common name for centranthus. I used to be intimidated to start my plants from seed but I started small and worked my up to shelves of grow lights. But it helps that I grow plants that are easy to grow. :o)

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  12. Hi Tammy, I did not know you had more than one dog. They look like friendly fellows.
    I envy your seedlings. Just now I only have one cutting, which I hope will make it alive home.

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    1. For several years we had five dogs! They are sweet, older dogs. I'm essentially running a canine senior center since the youngest dog is nine and Baby is 16. I hope your seedling survives, too. :o)

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  13. It wouldn't be winter without your seed reports! I direct sowed sweet pea and other seeds in the garden in early fall and watered them religiously only to have the blankety-blank raccoons take out the first crop of seedlings in one of their rampages. My California poppy seeds went down before rains that were projected but didn't arrive so I have no idea what, if anything, I'm going to get there. More sweet pea seeds went in prior to last week's rain but El Nino isn't keeping up his end of the bargain. However, my Amaryllis bulbs have healthy foliage growth! :)

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    1. My sweet peas fried last year so I've given up on them but I have wonderful memories of them growing up the front of our house in Oceanside (Camp Pendleton). El Nino needs to get his butt in gear! The CA poppies I sowed have already germinated due to our mild winter. I hope they don't freeze solid when real winter finally hits. They grow up between my milkweed and bloom at the same time. It's so beautiful!

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  14. I' not a morning person either! Gosh....that is awfully early! Just loved your sweet pups, and that pic of Baby and Lucy is soooooo adorable!
    Gad....seedlings already????? Way to go gal!xxx

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    1. It was all I could do to wait til Jan 1! I was so tempted to start them in December. My basement ends up looking like a greenhouse by April. :o)

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  15. Gosh you are organized with your seed list! I usually pick up a handful of interesting things at the Green Spring seed exchange, and a bunch more from friends -- expired and leftover seeds. How many catalogs do you go through each year?!
    Ray

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    1. Hi Ray,

      I try to consolidate my orders into just a few companies to make shipping cheaper. I usually peruse the online catalogs and grow some of the same types of plants every year, such as zinnias, gomphrena, and ammi. Last year my dahlias and tithonia were so easy and successful, I decided to grow them again. I'm pretty systematic about what I grow: they have to attract pollinators and be fairly easy as well as interesting. I'm hoping the tassel flowers grow better under lights than they did in winter sowing. They're a really cool plant!

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  16. I am definitely not a morning person, I'm a night owl. I had to change my ways when I had kids at home, I am going to try to get up earlier in the summer when it's cool out but it gets so hot here bedtime can be late, plus when it's light past 10 in late June early July it's get to be out and be up later. I have some Jupiter's beard here and it does well. It reseed a bit too, I'm excited about seeds now since I've seen your post!!

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    1. I'm definitely a night owl but get up so early that I find I'm exhausted and headed for bed by 10. However, in the summer I have to actively work not to become a bit nocturnal. I find starting seeds exciting. I love the potential they hold. :o)

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  17. I don't like waking up on dark mornings. As long as there is a glimmer of sunlight, I'm happy, but I still need oceans of coffee! I will be getting outdoors very bright and early soon - we are awaiting the arrival of a new puppy. I will be cherishing my weekend lie-ins for the next two weeks, then I will be out in the dark with our little dog and longing for sunny summer mornings! Love the seedlings - I still haven't started sowing.

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    1. A puppy!!! How fun! My dogs are all old, have issues and I'm their helper monkey. Seedlings are easier but less snuggly. :o)

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  18. I didn't sow seed yet Tammy. Looking at yours I think when I should do this - in March or April? To wake at 5am is impossible, is too dark outside, oh.

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    1. I have to be at work at 7:45 so I don't have a choice. I'd rather sleep much later! When to start the seeds all depends on the type of plant you're growing. :o) Snapdragons like cool weather and the centrathus are perennials so I want to start them early so they'll be big enough to flower.

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  19. I am not a morning person either. And I'm usually rushing around in the morning to get everyone ready. So thankfully they have timers for electrical plugs for my seedlings so I don't have to remember to do that too. :) I haven't start mine yet. Oh so cute and wonderful to see little green things coming up!

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    1. I have a sign by the coffee maker that reminds me to turn on the seed lights or I'd forget. I'm too brain dead in the morning. :o)

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  20. Tammy, you seem like a seed-starting expert!

    Can I ask a question?

    A few times when I tried starting seeds indoors, I had the 'root ball' fall apart when I tried to transplant to the garden. Maybe I used the wrong soil? Or maybe my seedlings were not mature enough? Is there some secret to successfully growing and transplanting seedlings?

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    1. Oy! I am no expert!! But I've been growing my own seedlings for a while so I have learned a few things. It sounds like the root ball was just too small and underdeveloped. I start mine early so I have big, sturdy plants when it's time to transplant. :o)

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  21. I'm not a morning person either - I can completely relate to the lady holding that humongous coffee ;)

    I won't be starting any seeds until mid-February but am already looking forward to it. I so love when those first seedlings pop up...nothing brightens up my day more (other than the coffee, that is)

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    1. It's a reminder every morning that spring and summer are on their way. Plus, they're just cheerful. :o)

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  22. You know now that I don't have to get up with an alarm, I am up earlier and love it! But my seedlings have not been started yet....am rethinking what I want to plant and what I have to start soon....will check out what you are starting from seed.

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    1. Seed starting is addictive. The hardest part is deciding what to grow. :o)

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  23. It is so hopeful to see your seedlings on a cold winter day!

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  24. Hi Tammy, I always remember the crazy grow-lights and the industrial scale seed germination you do each year for annuals and other plants. It makes my greenhouse and staging look poxy by comparison. We did a mass-seed planting last year and still have many plants that are in the queue, waiting to be planted out, so we might take a more steady approach next time we're not overwhelmed. We'll be scaling up to commercial levels for when the large herbaceous border is ready (but that might not be for a couple of years yet).

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    1. 'Poxy' is a word I've never heard. I like it! With the strange lights emanating from my basement, my neighbors are probably worried I'm growing something other than just flowers! As long as the police don't show up, I'm ok. :o)

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  25. I can not stand alarm sounds .. even when they play on TV I have to press the mute button .. I think I am allergic to them they send me sweating ... maybe that is too much information .. ignore that bit ..
    Ahhhhhh ! those sweet pups ... now how could anyone not fall in love with them ? .. coffee ... OMG ... I had to give it up and your description has sent me into withdrawal mode .. naughty woman ..
    Seedlings !! ... I am also allergic to them .. so I have to stare at them from a distance and pass on my admiration to the gardeners that can produce the lovely little creations.
    Congratulations on the bouncing baby seedlings girl !
    Joy

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    1. The first alarm is a light that slowly gets brighter and then plays bird song. The second alarm is a traditional irritating alarm sound and the third is a different song a day played on the iPad and chosen by my husband. I hate the second alarm but am always curious what song will play for the third.

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  26. Hi Tammy, I love this post. I'm not a morning person either and can't function without coffee. I love your seedlings. I'm going to check your post to see what all you're growing. You asked about the smell of the Nectarscorum. I didn't detect anything offensive and neither did the hummingbirds. However, garlic chives (Allium tuberosum) very smelly. Pretty, but smelly. The only downside to the Nectarscorum is that they tend to droop somewhat. I'm thinking I'll keep a few stakes nearby just in case they get too top heavy this spring. And speaking of spring, I think we're all ready aren't we?

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    1. Thanks! I'm ready for spring but am enjoying the downtime winter offers.

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  27. Oh, I like your seed selections. The Nicotiana alata, they will reseed for you every year. I love how they pop up all over. So much nicer than dealing with weeds. Have fun!

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    1. I quit growing them years ago because they were always covered with tobacco hornworms but I had a little purple one pop up in my garden and it was such a sweet surprise that I decided I'd give them a try again. Plus, I'm a sucker for anything fragrant. :o)

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  28. Cute, cute dogs. Beautiful seedlings.

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  29. what a busy morning community - all wake up at the same, human, dogs and seedlings!

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    1. I wish I had grow lights that would gradually become brighter, like the sun, instead of only having an on or off switch. But my seedlings aren't complaining. We are a little community. I'd never thought of it like that. :o)

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  30. I'm not a morning person either. DH is. I really, really wish I was.

    You can get timers to turn your lights off and on, if you would like. We used those for our fish, birds and plants.

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    1. Not using timers reminds me to water them and gives me the satisfaction of seeing them grow. It also helps wake me up. :o)

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  31. Thank you so much for visiting my blog, A New England Flowerbed and leaving a post. It's always nice to hear from someone new! Your puppies are adorable! A house isn't a home without a pet or two or three! Your seedlings look great.

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    1. You're welcome! The method I use for starting seeds is really easy. :o)

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  32. Bless you for getting up early to turn on the grow lights and let the dogs out. I am not a morning person either. I may be up, but my body is miserable till 8:00a.m. This is my biggest sin as a gardener and nature lover. I would revel in early morning if my biorhythms were geared another way, but it is what it is.

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    1. My brain just doesn't function in the morning. I'm definitely a night owl!

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  33. Morning isn't my time either but hooray for sleepy dogs with thumping tails and seeds waking up for the season. And coffee!!

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  34. And they look super healthy! Congrats. I have some winter-sown flats outside waiting for spring. Hopefully they'll sprout. It's always a crap shoot. ... I admire your early rising. I am so NOT a morning person. Thank God for coffee.

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