It's such a miracle how a tiny seed, sometimes no bigger than a speck of dust, gets sown and watered and it springs to life. It never ceases to amaze and excite me when I see that the seeds I've sown have germinated, so I'm very happy at the moment as all five pepper seeds that I sowed have germinated, and the onions are just nudging their way through the compost. Speaking of onions, as well as growing them from seed this year, I'm also going to grow some from sets. I don't need a whole bag full, so I used to buy them loose from the local nursery, but it closed down last year. I'm missing it so much as I used it all the time and I haven't found another good nursery, which is local to me, to take it's place. I asked at the allotment shop if they sold them loose, but they've stopped selling them altogether because of poor quality, but they did tell me where I could get some from, so I'll be having a trip there this weekend.
The potatoes I ordered from the allotment shop have now been delivered, as have the seeds I placed an order for last year, but I haven't collected either yet. That's another job for me this weekend. It'll be quite a surprise actually, because I can't remember which seeds I ordered, I didn't keep a copy. I know that the potatoes I ordered are Arran Pilot, a variety I tried for the first time last year and liked so much that I decided to grow them again this year.
We had snow again yesterday. There was actually quite a covering, so it's surprising that it's all gone now already. I'm not complaining though, I'm glad that it hasn't hung around. Take a look at my
Through The Keyhole blog to see who visited me in the snow.
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I might sow my pepper seeds tonight instead of the weekend. I have a feeling I will be by myself so I will make myself useful.
ReplyDeleteIt'll free up more time at the weekend too, so you might even get to spend more time in the garden if the weather's fine. I'm not holding my breath though.
DeleteOh brilliant! I think it's a great idea not to keep a note of the seeds you ordered - I love a surprise! I just hope you can remember why you ordered whatever they turn out to be.
ReplyDeleteIt has snowed here every day lately. It was pretty deep last night, but rain today has cleared most of it away and the fields are suddenly waterlogged. It's frustrating. We need to get pretty heavy plant onto the field to start trenching for the ground source heat pump - not to mention all the planting we need to do. Still, the sight of your seedling peeping through the soil has lifted my spirits!
I can remember I ordered some squash, but I can't remember the varieties, and the rest are a mystery. It's so frustrating seeing all the snow and rain we're getting, when the ground is so wet already. It's going to be a long time before it all dries out.
DeleteGreat to see your pepper seeds have germinated, I haven't seen anything of mine yet.
ReplyDeleteI started them off in a heated propagator, so the heat will have encouraged them to germinate a bit faster. The onions were sown in to modules without a propagator. I've kept them on the windowsill, but they'll go outside in the greenhouse once it warms up a little.
DeleteI find it amazing how life springs from a seed. It's something you never tire of seeing. I'm also astonished when I see flowers a large as foxgloves spring from such tiny seeds.xxxxx
ReplyDeleteIt truly is amazing. You really wouldn't think that such a tiny seed has the ability to produce such large plants.
DeleteSeeds to plants never cease to amaze me.
ReplyDeleteDespite the snow we're gradually getting towards the start line for a new season. Flighty xx
I can't believe just what's packed inside that little seed just waiting to grow, a true miracle. It won't be long now until the new season starts.
DeleteI think it's wonderful how a seed can lie dormant for year, but wake up within just a few days when the conditions are right.
ReplyDeleteI'm holding off a bit longer with my seed-sowing. I normally sow tomatoes and chillis at this time of year, but in 2012 I had such a job keeping them in anything like decent condition that I am determined not to sow until a bit later on. And I think I might be getting a Growlight house for my Birthday next month! :)
That's right, poppies come to mind when you say this, and how they all flowered in the battlefields, lying dormant for many years until they were disturbed. I think you're very wise waiting to sow your seeds. I'm hoping that my peppers don't grow too leggy, but I really want them to have a long growing season to give them every chance of ripening. I can't wait to hear all about your Growlights, I really wish I had room in the house.
DeleteI love the feeling when you see the first seeds germinate, I never tire of it year after year. We had more snow here too I'm getting fed up of it now and ready for spring to come our way. I've not sowed any seeds yet, but I don't think I can wait much longer!
ReplyDeleteIt's always an exciting time when the first seeds of the year germinate. I'm hoping that we've seen the last of the snow now, but you never know, we had snow quite late last year. I'll be sowing more seeds soon now that I've started.
DeleteYou're right Jo it is a little miracle that never fails to amaze. I think the weather is going to get a bit warmer - maybe we can all get a bit done outdoors for a change.
ReplyDeleteI hope you're right, I could do with some warmer weather, though I think the ground will be too wet for some time to come for me to get any serious work done on the allotment. It'll need a good period of dry weather in order to dry out.
DeleteOh how exciting Jo :) My peppers only went in last weekend so no signs of germination yet whilst tomato seeds are still in their packets. You are lucky to have an allotment shop - there must be some eager volunteers about. Is it a big site? We had snow on Wednesday too but there was a definite and welcome hint of spring in the air yesterday.
ReplyDeleteMy allotment site only has six two third size plots, a couple of these are split in half, but there are four sites in our area, a couple of which are quite big, and all sites belong to the same association. It was a much brighter day here too yesterday, and it's actually sunny today. Dare I hope for a decent weekend?
DeleteIt's always exciting to see seeds germinating, and once up they seem to grow quite quickly.
ReplyDeleteSeeds can sometimes take quite a while to put in an appearance, but it's true that they can romp away once they get going. My peppers seem to have shot up overnight.
DeleteI know what you mean about seeds. There is something so magical about it and it doesn't matter how many times I do it I still get excited when I see them germinate. It's so sad your local nursery shut. It's like any good shop that you get used to. When it goes you really do miss it. We used to have a favourite cafe that served such amazing food and was run by a lovely young couple but it closed and we really miss it. Hoping you've had some of the lovely sunshine this weekend and lets hope that is the last of the snow. :)
ReplyDeleteI think all gardeners experience that same magic when a seed germinates, it's what keeps us going year after year. I'm so sad about my local nursery closing down. The owners retired, but didn't sell as they wanted to continue living there. It's been a lovely sunny weekend, but it's been rather busy here so I haven't been able to make the most of it, unfortunately.
DeleteI know the seed-order-forgetting syndrome! Makes it more exciting when they do arrive, tho.
ReplyDeleteI was quite excited about what I'd ordered, a bit like getting a lucky dip.
DeleteGreat news about your peppers! I've had no time to sow mine yet but really want to get them done asap! Shame about the loose onion sets.
ReplyDeleteMy peppers really need to be potted on now, it's just finding a bit of time to do it. I must get round to it this weekend.
DeleteHello Jo, The seeds I ordered arrived just before I left PA for England and I am busy planning my 2013 garden. This is such an exciting time, but I start to panic that I wont have my seeds started in time. I haven't found a good place to buy onion sets, either. Think spring! P. x
ReplyDeleteI'm sure all your seeds will catch up in time. It's sometimes the ones which are sown too early which don't do as well as the later sown ones. It won't be long until spring's here now.
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