My week in sowing 5 - Seedling success

I haven't taken any pictures of my seedlings because lets face it, they are
not exactly at a visually stimulating stage and one seedling looks much like
another.  Instead here are some spring crocus from my garden to brighten
up this wordy post 

If I was just to keep this to a little run down of what I have sown this week, it would be short.  This short.  I didn't sow anything this weekend as I was out and about socialising.  A girl can't always be chained to the garden after all.  Instead this is a progress report.  I have little pots of soil coming out of my ears, a week off sowing is not a bad thing as I wouldn't have anywhere to put them.  Something eventually had to come up, but like watched kettles, its all been a bit frustrating.  Finally though, things are beginning to move so here instead is a little run down on what has put a green snout above soil in the last two weeks.

Sweet Peas - My first batch were really getting to the point where I couldn't ignore that they were desperate for something to climb up.  I had arrived at that point which I had been trying to ignore: it was time to fill the giant pot.  I hate this job, digging out compost from the bag is quite possibly the dullest job there is in the garden.  And thats without attacking the compost maker we have at the bottom of the garden.  Sweet Peas enjoy a bit of nutrients, so I attacked the compacted bottom with a trowel to give my seedlings the best possible conditions.  The pot was bottomless and consumed so much soil, but eventually it was filled and my peas are in and seem fairly happy.  I will do a further sweet pea update in due course.

My second batch are short, stubby and just the way I want them.  They are coming on beautifully,  and since being put into the 'coldframe' two more have even popped out to bolster my numbers.  They look so happy I have got all mean with them and evicted them from the cold frame to freeze outside.  No sign of my most recent batch yet, but then thats to be expected.

Cucumbers - Two seedlings popped out in record time, much to my joy.  The packet said germination occurs in 7-21 days, but these two were out in just six.  One the one hand: yay! cucumber seedling success.  On the other hand: here we go again with the debacle that is growing cucumbers from seed.  I had those seedlings whipped out into the colder garage the moment I spotted them, hopefully they will enjoy their slightly less comfortable surroundings.  So far, so good, but I still expect tears at some point.  No sign of any of the others.

Stocks - I find stocks fairly reliable germinators, and this years batch have not disappointed.  They popped up two weeks ago but have only just reached a decent enough size to go into the cold frame.  I would ideally like more than have currently sprung into action, so stocks have been added to my list of seeds to do a second batch of.

Snapdragons - One pot of these have sprouted, but the other has not.  This is probably due to me watering one pot and not the other.  I am struggling to keep all my garage pots adequately watered. I have to swap them about as I can only water the ones sat in the washing up bowl.  The seedlings are positively miniature, this may be perfectly normal, but not having grown them before I wouldn't know.  I haven't evicted these yet as they just seem too small and vulnerable.

Sunflowers - Both my velvet queen seedlings are appeared, but only one sunburst mixed so far.  These are lovely robust seedlings, they don't mess about, up and out and getting on with it.  Lets hope they are robust because they are also in the garage.

So far so good I think.  I would like to see a bit more movement from my aquilegias which are hogging a lot of vital space at the moment, but this may be my own fault due to the watering situation.  Lots more sowing to be done this weekend, and a nice clear schedule to get on with it.  If it rains I will be annoyed, but as its Easter weekend this can only be expected.  There is about to be a huge yellow explosion in my garden of narcissi so lots of pretty pics soon.