Seedlings set free

With all of the days this week until Friday forecast to be mild, I took a chance on my edible seedlings yesterday. Before I get into that though, let's take a look at them.

If you're like me you can't resist checking on your seedlings several times each day. I'm not sure what I expect to see, but I feel compelled to investigate, scrutinize.

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It's only been 10 days since I posted about them last, but they've grown so much! Here's what they looked like only a week and a half ago:

Amazing! I know I see this happen every year, but I'm still surprised at how quickly most plants grow!

Let's take a closer look at what I'm growing as far as cool-weather edibles. There's cilantro (coriander):

Chinese kale ("Gailan" according to the seed packet) is new for me this year, but I'm excited about it:

My extra-dwarf pak choi is new too:

And although I grow beets every year, this is the first year for this variety called "Shiraz tall top", known for its extra-leafy growth -- and I love beet leaves!

So, back to my initial comments about the weather. Forecasts are around 70ºF (21ºC) every day with lows 45ºF-60ºF (8ºC-16ºC), mostly cloudy except for one morning, and chance of rain later in the week. It sounds like perfect weather for getting these seedlings into the ground!

I know I should be hardening these guys off, gradually exposing them to sun, wind, and cool air. The warmer weather should lessen the impact, as will the lack of direct sun. By the time the colder air returns this weekend (highs of 55ºF/13ºC, lows around 35ºF/2ºC), these guys should be settled in. At least that's what I'm hoping, as I don't have much choice in the matter as my schedule is not particularly garden-friendly right now.

Plus I've already done it.

Everything went into the ground except the cilantro, which I'll probably repot and keep indoors a bit longer as I don't have a good plan of where to put them right now.

The beet seedlings looked so small and vulnerable that I covered them with bird netting:

The grackles have made a return, apparently nesting in some of the bamboos. I'm quite sure that these birds will eat the smaller seedlings, so I'm taking no chances!

Although it's not very impressive, here's a look at the veggie beds right now:

The beds are pretty much full, partly because I planted a few rows of garlic here that I forgot about, and partly because there's really not that much space! I now have growing here the following edibles:

• Pak choi
• Chinese kale
• Kale
• Lettuce (if it ever starts growing and squirrels don't dig it all up!)
• Beets
• Garlic
• Chives
• Garlic chives
• Greek oregano

I'm quite pleased that I've gotten these into the ground, and think I'll cram a row of peas in there somewhere today...

Now there's room to start more perennial seeds indoors!


Is anything happening with your spring garden yet?

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