![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEdv_aKWtS9YzdJ8BPTrORTmpDt2fpgCQY3S5gsS_gONasERPFcs0HCNP8h0KZrpJ8AnfJbiYFxHFMPjBXCa8ZaBlncp-E6FmTkdosWwTw7KM276AcdZUqj9QZB-l7I-_r__N3/s400/Garden+5-12-09_02.jpg)
I haven’t started vegetables from seed in many years.
Local nurseries have inexpensive plants ready for the garden. A good neighbor has a large vegetable garden and shares his produce all summer. Local growers have great vegetables at nearby farmer’s markets.
I turned the vegetable bed into a flower garden years ago. I only grow a few vegetables in the flower garden now.
But this year, a gift of grow lights and free pepper seeds came as a challeng
e.
Never one to dodge a challenge, I planted a few ‘Early Sensation’ pepper seeds on March 11. I used dampened seed starting mix, slid the container into a plastic bag and put them on a radiator cover for warmth. When the plastic became too wet I opened the bag
to let it dry.
The seeds germinated in a week or two. I removed them from plastic bag and put them under the lights. I watered them with a spray bottle at first. As they got a little bigger, I used a weak fish emulsion fertilizer about once a week.
When the plants had four sets of true leaves, I carefully
planted them in their own peat pots using potting soil/perlite/peat moss mixture (3-1-1/2).
Now, the plants are outside hardening off. I’ll plant them in the garden in the next few days. The seed packet says 73 days to harvest. I made a note to fill in the end of this story then.
Local nurseries have inexpensive plants ready for the garden. A good neighbor has a large vegetable garden and shares his produce all summer. Local growers have great vegetables at nearby farmer’s markets.
I turned the vegetable bed into a flower garden years ago. I only grow a few vegetables in the flower garden now.
But this year, a gift of grow lights and free pepper seeds came as a challeng
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDkLIn4jrOd8gZiGlivkWIR-S4_1l80N5KUut7NISTjpVSk9kxywPRrPOk9Ufw-cnHiyx4cF-4x4j1VCVUaq8ujaLNJHhY247GVawznOmv269_9JLj3eaw4USYwwo-n5aIOLX1/s200/Garden+3-11-09_03.jpg)
Never one to dodge a challenge, I planted a few ‘Early Sensation’ pepper seeds on March 11. I used dampened seed starting mix, slid the container into a plastic bag and put them on a radiator cover for warmth. When the plastic became too wet I opened the bag
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_H7cji3yS46vTbBoVtpBylk4LqkcmnZdOEqHe2aEzTjYXOJxub4nLa5hR0gMv6xmCKd2B_iJW5EXSBNaf3OTMjjVYnDTPklpSTHNQuZkXJAKGkjcxpKZ02LOyQS-nTh5NpgJp/s200/Easter+4-14-09_04.jpg)
The seeds germinated in a week or two. I removed them from plastic bag and put them under the lights. I watered them with a spray bottle at first. As they got a little bigger, I used a weak fish emulsion fertilizer about once a week.
When the plants had four sets of true leaves, I carefully
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqGKytXumgZDR9HozIjgaVhd8FgQu2r-Zm8brllrRMZnUiQq8D8fPk8wLVpaKSbDQ08PgjOln3-DeQUY4w_GBasJMfW2JaY1ZczkKspngKArsCxOUcttG0T0pxUsLLOT2JXLka/s200/Garden+5-4-09_07.jpg)
Now, the plants are outside hardening off. I’ll plant them in the garden in the next few days. The seed packet says 73 days to harvest. I made a note to fill in the end of this story then.
.
I rose to the challenge and now I'll taste the fruits of my labor if the rabbits don't get them first.
Would I do it again? Probably not. Growing from seeds requires daily attention.
Local nurseries have inexpensive plants ready for the garden. A good neighbor has a large vegetable garden and shares his produce all summer. Local growers have great vegetables at nearby farmer’s markets.
.
(More information from Purdue University Extension, “Starting Seeds Indoors”.)
.
Would I do it again? Probably not. Growing from seeds requires daily attention.
Local nurseries have inexpensive plants ready for the garden. A good neighbor has a large vegetable garden and shares his produce all summer. Local growers have great vegetables at nearby farmer’s markets.
.
(More information from Purdue University Extension, “Starting Seeds Indoors”.)
.
2 comments:
Wow, you're lucky to get ready-to-plant veggie seedlings and a generous neighbor! Good luck with the challenge!
CS,
Yes, I am lucky.
We have had a lot of rain this spring. I finally got the peppers in the ground today. I put a fence to keep the rabbits out. I hope it works!
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