More Seeds.

Yesterday I started a 6-pack of Coleus, and one of Creeping Thyme.  I now have 6 6-packs, and really under the 2 bulb light, I have room for 4.  The Coleus and the Thyme aren't going to germinate that quickly, I think.  The Coleus says 12-21 days, and the Thyme says 14-21 days.  I've found that I get germination faster than the packet says.  The Kale and Radicchio showed in like, 3 days.  So maybe I'm wrong, maybe these next things will be up in a week.

Right now, my light situation is kind of stupid.  I cannot find the goddamn hooks I used last year.  I know they're in the house somewhere.  Most likely I put them in some little drawer or little box and thought, "I'll put these here, so that I will have them when I start seeds in the Spring."  (Haha, it's January, that doesn't come close to counting as "Spring."  More like, "I'll start seeds in the first quarter.")  I think I need to buy new hooks, which is maddening, because I know I'll find these old hooks shortly after I do that.

I ordered a 4 bulb, 2 foot grow light, and supposedly I'll get it delivered middle of this week.  That way I can get everything set up before I go away the following week.  I'll put the 6 trays under the big light.

The 2 bulb light I might just put back on the curtain rod in the living room, where it will keep the Hibiscus and Jalapeno from getting too light-deprived.  I don't know if it's a bad idea to give them pretty poor light for a few weeks, and then turn on a grow light on them for a week.  The Hibiscus hasn't really stopped growing; it's grown another 6 inches with at least 10 new leaves and looks like it's putting out a few more soon.  The Jalapeno hasn't looked happy for a long time, so I don't think more light could possibly hurt.

Anyway.  The Kale seedlings are already showing a few "true leaves."  It's a really obvious distinction, as the seed leaves are these soft, smooth, round things and the Kale leaves are pointy and textured.  The books and stuff say to transplant seedlings once they have two sets of true leaves.  I think I'd rather let them grow in these containers until they're actually pretty big.  I found last year that I could easily pull out the clump of dirt, check the root situation, and put it back in if I wanted.  I think it will be about a month before I really need to do that.

The other thing I need to think about is plant height.  The Kale will get to be, like, 4 inches tall.  The Coleus and the Creeping Thyme will probably still just be a few tiny leaves.  So I should be able to use one light for the just-starting plants, and keep it close to the surface, and the other light I can put a little higher.

I have way more seeds that I should.  For one thing, I bought seeds I didn't need to buy, because I had them from last year and they obviously are fine, I think I got like, 80% germination.  I'm packing the unopened new ones in a plastic bag so they'll stay good for another year.

So what's next to start?  I'm strongly considering growing Snapdragons this year.  They're an annual that will bloom really well in the spring, when I don't have a lot else going on.  I think that's the next thing to start, probably not for another 2 weeks or so.  (So, like, January 31st.)  And, I guess if everything works out, I can transplant them April 1st or so.  I got some red-yellow-pinky mix, I'm hoping it will look nice with the Tulips...