Potential

I have two favorite times during indoor seed germination season -- which is now for me. My first is possibly obvious, but it's when the seedling breaks the "soil" surface and you get your first glimpse of green, confirmation that the seed did still contain life.

The second favorite time is when the first true leaves start to appear, and the tiny plants start to take on their mature characteristics. That time is now for most of my seedlings!

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After this it all happens so fast, with these puny seedlings rocketing toward being cramped, the growing table becoming an overgrown tangle in just a few weeks. So much potential in such little plants!

So I enjoy them while they're still so small.

All of the cabbages (brassicas) look pretty much identical at this stage:

Some cells get thinned to a single occupant, but cilantro (coriander) apparently doesn't mind being crowded so I leave everybody alone:

Some seeds haven't germinated yet...

...but I know they're doing something under there, because the presoaked seeds were swollen. I'm interested to see what these little guys look like when they emerge, as I haven't grown them from seed before. Exciting!

Seeds that can be tricky to get to germinate are especially rewarding when they appear just a few days after sowing:

I was determined to grow chocolate flower (Berlandiera lyrata) again this year, as it has been a few years since I did and I missed it -- so happy to see pretty much every seed germinate!

I'm not sure if I get more enjoyment out of seeing the seedlings of things I have not yet grown before emerge, or seeing old familiar friends again...

Probably the new things, like this "black" cotton. Can't wait to see this one when it's bigger!

In the next week or so I'll be moving the cold-weather seedlings outdoors and will start more perennial seeds under the lights.

This is the time of year when I really wish I had a huge greenhouse. I'd fill table after table with flats of seed-starting mix, and spend hours each day examining each tray for signs of growth.


How are your seedlings doing?

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