Post by MikeM on Sept 22, 2009 9:25:19 GMT -5
Just thought I'd give a quick mass-update -- so many people who sent me seed that I feel I should at least try and keep you all in the picture as to what's happening with them!
Tomatoes:
28 varieties. I started with sowing 20, then discovered another envelope that Val had sent
Couldn't resist. Don't know where I'll put them all -- I'll have to enlist the help of some neighbours. Most of the Tomatoes are well up (in seed trays) -- the only variety that's struggling/not doing too well is the OSU Blue (and Ida Gold from my own seed -- not sure what the story is with them.) Monk and Giant Pink seem particularly precocious about putting out their true leaves.
Chillis:
20 Varieties. I sowed one tray extra early, and kept it in the sunniest room in the house, hoping for some extra-early germination, but it hasn't worked out very well. Seed trays with 2nd sowings outside are doing much better.
A handful of Chilli plants that I sowed in about April and overwintered in the house are thriving. The experiment (well... it wasn't really much of a gamble, was it?) proved a complete success. One of the varieties "Tschanad" is already flowering! They've all been planted out, and seem to be adjusting to their new homes well. It'll be nice to have Tabasco again, and I'm looking forward to playing some crossing-games with Purple Jalapeno once I've built up my seed stocks.
Beans:
"Hunter" from Telsing were sown at the same time as some Rattlesnake; were a little slower in coming up, but seem to be catching-up nicely. First batch will be kept for seed.
I suppose I should count the Chickpeas as "beans"... Kabouli Black are doing well -- what beautiful flowers! -- though quite a bit slower than the other 2 varieties to form pods. A "standard white" chickpea (sown from health-store bought; from Turkey) had (not unexpectedly) very poor germination, but the 8 or 10 plants that made it through winter are podding well. "Winnifreds" are doing very well, indeed! Haven't planted the large white beans that Ray sent, yet; I'll wait for the soil to warm a bit more, first.
Spelt that Patrick sent is thriving, and just starting to form spikes. Planted in 2 separate batches; interestingly the more densely planted batch seems to be doing better. (All other factors are identical.)
A Thousand Thanks to all who so kindly sent me seed!
One thing I have noticed (or perhaps imagined!): seed I have received from the Northern hemisphere -- whether from other HG denizens or from seed-supply companies -- seems, in general, to suffer from less-than-spectacular germination. Could this be a case of running foul of dormancy or ripening requirements, do you think? Mostly (I believe) I'm getting fresh seed harvested in the Northern Summer, and almost immediately planting it in the Southern Spring. I don't believe my seed-tray/bed management is so very poor... other things do just fine. So all I can think of is that the hemisphere switch doesn't suit them (for whatever reasons.) Where I can I've kept some seed back so that I can try it again next year when it will be fully mature. Has anybody in the North noticed anything similar with seed sent from the South?
Tomatoes:
28 varieties. I started with sowing 20, then discovered another envelope that Val had sent
Couldn't resist. Don't know where I'll put them all -- I'll have to enlist the help of some neighbours. Most of the Tomatoes are well up (in seed trays) -- the only variety that's struggling/not doing too well is the OSU Blue (and Ida Gold from my own seed -- not sure what the story is with them.) Monk and Giant Pink seem particularly precocious about putting out their true leaves. Chillis:
20 Varieties. I sowed one tray extra early, and kept it in the sunniest room in the house, hoping for some extra-early germination, but it hasn't worked out very well. Seed trays with 2nd sowings outside are doing much better.
A handful of Chilli plants that I sowed in about April and overwintered in the house are thriving. The experiment (well... it wasn't really much of a gamble, was it?) proved a complete success. One of the varieties "Tschanad" is already flowering! They've all been planted out, and seem to be adjusting to their new homes well. It'll be nice to have Tabasco again, and I'm looking forward to playing some crossing-games with Purple Jalapeno once I've built up my seed stocks.
Beans:
"Hunter" from Telsing were sown at the same time as some Rattlesnake; were a little slower in coming up, but seem to be catching-up nicely. First batch will be kept for seed.
I suppose I should count the Chickpeas as "beans"... Kabouli Black are doing well -- what beautiful flowers! -- though quite a bit slower than the other 2 varieties to form pods. A "standard white" chickpea (sown from health-store bought; from Turkey) had (not unexpectedly) very poor germination, but the 8 or 10 plants that made it through winter are podding well. "Winnifreds" are doing very well, indeed! Haven't planted the large white beans that Ray sent, yet; I'll wait for the soil to warm a bit more, first.
Spelt that Patrick sent is thriving, and just starting to form spikes. Planted in 2 separate batches; interestingly the more densely planted batch seems to be doing better. (All other factors are identical.)
A Thousand Thanks to all who so kindly sent me seed!
One thing I have noticed (or perhaps imagined!): seed I have received from the Northern hemisphere -- whether from other HG denizens or from seed-supply companies -- seems, in general, to suffer from less-than-spectacular germination. Could this be a case of running foul of dormancy or ripening requirements, do you think? Mostly (I believe) I'm getting fresh seed harvested in the Northern Summer, and almost immediately planting it in the Southern Spring. I don't believe my seed-tray/bed management is so very poor... other things do just fine. So all I can think of is that the hemisphere switch doesn't suit them (for whatever reasons.) Where I can I've kept some seed back so that I can try it again next year when it will be fully mature. Has anybody in the North noticed anything similar with seed sent from the South?
Thanks for the ideas, Patrick!
)
