I am back!!

So i went into hibernation during winters......there was lots i could have grown but i didnt know what to grow. Have educated myself and ready for next winter. But as of now, its time to look forward to spring... preparations started indoors by early January.
I read a lot and learnt a lot during past few months...i didnt want to miss on this spring. So here i am jotting down all that i have done till date for my spring/summer preparation.

• Did a little winter-sowing, but i doubt it will work here or i need it here in Sacramento - there has been just one day of little snow.

WINTER SOWING - I HAVE NO HOPES!!

• Bought three wrought iron window boxes: $17 each , 7 packet of seeds and Gardner's potting soil.

• Seed starter pots from Dollar Tree...the small ones were 10 for just $1
  
• Bougth Freesias bulbs from Walmart for $5 (20bulbs)
• Planted Freesias bulbs on 10 Jan'10 in corner of one of the window box(4 bulbs in Gardner's potting soil) and one old white color Dollar tree dustbin (5 bulbs in Sta green potting mix)
  
• I planted seeds in my old STA green potting mix & Black magic potting mix(Biglots!$0.95) on 12 January

• 15th Jan '10 the S showed me Roma tomato seedling popping up...till that time i had no light arrangement for the seedlings to grow but this crazy seedling grew 2 inches in one and a half day... so i felt the need for Light System.

CRAZY ROMA SEEDLING

• Have always been against using lights to grow plants ... what the fun plus it costs$$ ..but finally convinced myself- anything for something i enjoy doing! So i made a micro mini light/greenhouse - whatever you name it but it did help my seeds to grow into healthy seedlings. But this was after trying three different types of CHEAp setups.

SETTING :1 SETTING : 2 SETTING : 3

• FINAL SETUP:

• Few days later Petunia Dwarf and Lobelia popped up.... the germination in both type of mixes was at the same time.

LOBELIA & PETUNIA DWARF : 9 DAYS AFTER SOWING SEEDS

• Next in line were Wave petunia & Jelly Bean Tomatoes....well this is all i had planted and all my seeds germinated except for one Wave petunia pot showing no sighns of germination...this was the one with Stagreen potting mix... i think the problem was with the seed...i trust Sta-Green.

JELLY BEAN SEEDLING

• After a few days i noticed the seedlings in potting mix are growing faster and healthy that black magic potting mix.... u did it again Biglots... have already buying anything from u!

NO MORE POTTING MIX FROM BIGLOTS... NO LIFE IN THE POT ON LEFTSIDE






Its been nearly 20 days and my seedlings have been growing well. On 2nd Feb i planted more seeds, this time in potting soil & Sta Green potting mix. Have also added Bell pepper & Rosemary to the list. Did not plant Lobelia again...already have lot of them and i think i am late for it now. Will try to throw a few seeds in march itself.

HEALTHY PETUNIA DWARF




JELLY BEAN TOMATO SEEDLING:




ROMA TOMATO NEEDS SUPPORT ALREADY!