Sari's Garden 2008

[svalli]

I have finally started the season 2008 by planting first seeds. I used Burpee's coir pellets as starting medium. I have used the Jiffy peat pellets before and did not notice that these are made out of coir until I soaked the first ones and noticed that they do not expand as much as the peat pellets do. Some people claim that peat should not be used for starting peppers, but I have not read anything about coir.

First seeds were planted on the leap day and some more today. The seed trays are on the bathroom floor, which is heated, so they stay at almost constant 29°C. I'm hoping to see some signs of life in the annuums by the end of this week. If this method does not work, I'll start the seeds inside coffee filters like I used to do.

The first ones to go for germination are:

C. chinenses
Bode Roxa
Biquinho
Trinidad Perfume
Sweet Datil
Amazon Chile Roma
Aji Brown

C. baccatums
Aji Orange
Kaleidoskop
Peru Yellow
PI 439359-BB
PI 441551
Rain Forest

C. annuums
Black Pearl
Explosive Ember
Riot
Starburst

Looking at the list, it is easy to notice, that I have selected varieties based on good taste, mild heat or decorative use. I do not really need any macho peppers; I want varieties, which I can use bigger quantities when cooking and not just a dash to give heat to the food.

The annuums for consumption will get started later. Now I started the ornamentals, which I want to be ready for pots on the balcony and on the patio when the weather permits planting flowers outside.

I planted also 3 stevia seeds. I heard that they are difficult to germinate, so lets see, if I can get at least one plant of the 10 seeds in the seed packet.

[Nuthead]

Sounds like a great start. Have you allready moved back to Finland or....??!?

[svalli]

I checked the seed trays today and found that two Black Pearl seeds and one Stevia had germinated. The Black Pearls are no surprise to be the first ones, since the seeds are the freshest from last fall's harvest, but germination in just four days is quite good. The one germinated Stevia out of three seeds after just four days is really surprising, especially after reading the comments about difficult germination.

Now I have to quickly think about light system. I moved the germinated ones under a fluorescent cabinet light, so I should be OK for the moment, but I have to figure something for the bigger plant quantities.  The laundry room has a window and a sink so it could be perfect place to keep the seedlings, but I will need some supplemental fluorescent lights, because there is not enough direct sunlight to that window.

Sounds like a great start. Have you allready moved back to Finland or....??!?

Thanks! Our home is now in Vaasa Finland.

[axo]

That stevia is quite interesting plant,i think i try to grow it too...

[svalli]

Moving is taking most of my free time, so I'm not in schedule with my seed starting. Our last ocean container finally arrived on Friday and our house is again full of boxes. Last night I took a break in the unpacking and put some sweet and hot annuum seeds into the coir pellets.

Selection includes:
Biker Billy Hybrid
Fooled You Hybrid
Bulgarian Carrot
Mariachi Hybrid
Nu Mex Joe E. Parker
Guajillo
Puya
Beaver Dam
Giant Marconi Hybrid
Golden Marconi
Purple Marconi
Giant Szegedi
Corno di Toro Red
Margaret's

Guajillo and Puya seeds are from prepackaged dried pods from Mexico, so I can not be sure how they were dried and if the seeds will germinate.

[annesurfs]

Hi Svalli,

welcome back to Finland!  

You are growing lots of interesting chilies, may I suggest you isolate some of them to get seeds to sell or swap?

Also, which tomatoes are you going to grow this year?

I live in growth zone II/III and do not have a green-house. So, I am laways eager to hear which tomatoes are good for growing outdoors!

Anne

[svalli]

Thanks Anne!

Some of the seeds have not yet germinated, so my growing selection may not end up being so interesting. I will save seeds and should try bagging or somehow isolating the blossoms, but isolating the plants may not be so easy on a tiny city lot.

I have not yet decided about the tomato selection. It is extremely difficult to select just handful of almost 100 tomato varieties, which I have in my seed collection. I do have a greenhouse kit, but I am not sure, if we will build it this spring. My MIL has two greenhouses, so I will grow some plants for her too and maybe she will let me use her greenhouses.

I should also start all sorts of other veggies and flowers. It is just so hard to figure out what to grow and when to start the seeds.

My only two stevia seedlings died, so I may not have my own sweetener this summer. I do still have seeds, but have not started new ones.