Inside Starts, Yours & Mine

I'm gonna put this picture here and reference my star-crossed efforts in 2013 to cross some of my smaller sized tomatoes (Link).

Most of the problem was that I am not very good at growing tomatoes in containers. I didn't think that mattered since I have plenty of tomatoes in the garden and I wasn't asking much from them - just a few flowers and a chance to move some pollen around.

The season started off by the plants blooming at different times! By the time they had some coordinated blooming, it was late in the season.

I left the mother plant, Kimberley, out until there were light frosts. Dang near killed it!

Moved into the greenhouse, it just would not ripen its tiny fruit! I brought the fruit into the house. It just took forever!

Here's the result:


I am calling it Kimberley 2 and it is right in front of the "K." Now to compare it with its mother's generation: Those are Kimberley 1 plants behind it.

Steve

HotPepperQueen said:

I'm having weird issues with my starts this year. Bad germination on about 1/2 of my varieties, plants just fizzling out, and plants unable to shed their seed coat. I know I'm not under or over watering. I made my own seed starting mix this year which is equal parts perlite, vermiculite, and spaghnum peat moss. That's the only thing I can think of that would be the issue? I did have one flat almost get fried to a crisp because of the heat mat but the flats on the other mats are doing the same thing. I'm getting kind of frustrated!

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I wonder if the peat moss has lowered the pH too much? Maybe it's too acidic.

I am starting to think the same thing thistle. Most are almost ready to be transplanted that did make it. I looked at my flats today and noticed that I did not get a single Sweet Banana pepper to germinate. Fail!

Oh, and here are some updated pictures of my starts. I have tomatoes and peppers in the large flats and then many different kinds of Zinnias in the half flats and then some struggling Marigolds and a pot with Lemon Grass in it.

HPQ, once you get them potted up they should assert themselves and flourish.
You're using different soil for the transplants?

Wow!

What a bright, sunshiny place you have there, HPQ!



Steve

thistlebloom said:

HPQ, once you get them potted up they should assert themselves and flourish.
You're using different soil for the transplants?

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Yes I will be using something different. Any suggestions?

Wow, so many gorgeous plants.

HotPepperQueen said:

Oh, and here are some updated pictures of my starts. I have tomatoes and peppers in the large flats and then many different kinds of Zinnias in the half flats and then some struggling Marigolds and a pot with Lemon Grass in it.
View attachment 1690

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I have had great results using a professional planting mix from The Green Barn garden center in Isanti. It's around $7 for 40 quarts, $16.99 for a real big bag I can't lift. ? can't remember the weight. I've used it for over 5 years, for seed starting and potting up.

I'm not sure how far that is from you, but I don't think real far. The Green Barn

Thanks, Lavender! Isanti is only about a half hour from me, if that. I will definitely check it out.