I finally managed to get a single asparagus seed to germinate (out of about 25 starts since early March).
I thought it was a weed and pulled it accidentally. When the root came up with an asparagus seed on it I was horrified! Fortunately the root was intact and I was able to re-plant it. It grew a full cm on each of the next 2 days, so I assume its still alive. I think I have a place to bed them now too.
I am so bummed with my garden! I took a gamble and planted out my overgrown tomatoes - almost all of them have shrivelled up! Can't decide if it's not enough hardening off, water problems, nutrient problems, or just the cold we had last week...what a disaster! Pea shoots and lettuce shoots are coming through but everything else is being very slow with these temperatures.
I've not been as impressed with the Baker Creek Seeds this year. I got a big selection tin from my sister, and I think perhaps there were some really old seeds in there. A couple of packets have grown nothing but mould, and germination rates (inside on the heat mat, so not temperature dependent) have been nowhere near as high.
Yeah, its been pretty chilly for the toms. Do you think they'll pull through? I covered the potatoes and peas two nights last week.
I've had problems with two other brands of seeds as well - both this year's. Had better luck with leftovers from last year, but still very poor germination rates all around. I've even tried two different soil types - one I mixed myself, followed by an organic seed starting mix from the store. Same bad luck with both. Otherwise I'm doing everything the same as past years. My toms are still too small to go out, so you're already way ahead of me.
This weekend I bought some bell pepper plants at a nursery. After 2 months of trying on my own, I've had just two pepper germinations from seed (last week!). I managed just enough tomato plants for my own needs, but resorted to microsurgery separation of plants in the same pot to save starts since there are so few. I think I've managed 12 viable plants (mix of three varieties). Some took 4 weeks to germinate! The scallion and basil seeds from last year have done just fine this year...the only bright spot. Also some hybrid cantaloupe seeds from this year came right up, as did all the snow and sweet peas which were direct-sown outside. The larger seeds seem to be ok at least.
Bad news this morning though. A raccoon killed 3 of my four fish last night, and wrecked the hyacinth plant I bought just 48 hours ago. Also pulled up the UV filter and it may be shot after cavitating all night. I nurtured those fish through two winters and they were looking great - tripled in size since I got them. All gone in an instant. The one goldfish left is missing quite a few scales. Poor guy :( I'd really hate to put wire mesh over the decorative pond, but it may come to that.
I found two of the carcases and one raccoon turd on the rocks next to the pond. There's still a chance the third fish survived and was in the hide this morning, since I never found the third body. The coon only ate the heads.
Fish heads, fish heads,
lots of lovely fish heads,
Fish heads, fish heads,
eat them up - yum!
In the morning, lots of lovely fish heads,
In the eve-a-ning, swimming in the stew.
My poor fishies (not for the squeamish). No sign of the third one :(
Gee, AP can be a downer sometimes!
Don't know quite what to say about those poor fish! Racoons can be nasty pieces of work. Imagine just eating the heads? That's kind of a cat thing to do.
Warmest day of the year yet - let's see if it helps my floundering tomatoes.