Okay, so it was actually herbs that got started, not a party, but I'm just as happy. About a month ago, on March 16, I got out my starter trays, Jiffy pellets, and seed envelopes and got to work.
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| I like having a plan. |
First off, I gave my starter trays a nice bleach bath. There's no reason to not begin with everything freshly disinfected.
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| We don't need any dormant funk messing things up. |
I love the Jiffy peat pellets. Since I found them, I've used them exclusively to get my seedlings started. All you have to do is soak them in some warm water then slip them into the starter tray. Easy-peasy.
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| Jiffy pellets taking a swim. |
While I feel like I can identify most herbs by sight now, it's always a good idea to record what seeds are planted where. In this case, I did two cells each for the herbs as well as eight for peppers and four additional for some wild native plant seeds. Then, the covered trays were placed lovingly under the grow light to enjoy fourteen hours of artificial sunlight each day thanks to the convenient timer.
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| Now do your duty! |
Just four days later, the first dill seedlings emerged.
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| Dill! |
The dill was quickly followed by basil and asters the next day. Three days after that, the thyme, rosemary, lavender, catnip, and peppers emerged. The parsley was the final green sprout to show up on March 26.
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| Thyme, parsley, basil, rosemary, and catnip up front on April 13. |
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| Lavender and dill on April 13. |
As my little seedlings are enjoying the steady, calm weather inside the house, I'm making plans for their lives outside. I started my patio herb garden last summer with just two pots of herbs. Over the winter and spring, I've been collecting more pots.
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| Such pretty examples of international commerce. |
Home Goods and T.J. Maxx have proven to be the best places to get reasonably-priced, pretty pots. I've added a lovely orange pot shaped like a tulip ($19.99, made in Vietnam), one with a painted floral design ($14.99, made in Spain), one with a raised feather pattern (14.99, made in Vietnam), a simple pale blue one ($16.99, made in Spain) , and a white one with partridges and pears ($16.99, made in China) to my collection.
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| I think my basil will be in this pot. |
We've still got a least a month before the seedlings end out all together outside on the patio. For now, the chives are on their own out in the world. Well, they're not entirely alone. They have the daffodils for company.
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| The chives seem happy enough with their yellow friends. |
And the occasional rabbit comes by for a visit now and then.
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| I wonder if this is one of last years' munchkins? |
