Tomatoes Almost Here!

I'm getting excited because my Tiny Tim Tomatoes are doing well and I've already got one that should be ripe in a few days!  I wanted to test out this variety and was interested in seeing how well it would grow under lights.  It's done really well and the pot is filled with roots.  I tried putting more plants in the pot than it could handle but I ended up with one large plant, a medium, and about 4 tiny ones.  I was hoping it would slow their growth and keep them from hitting the lights.  I ended up just leaving the largest two and they've grown into the lights anyways.  Just a few more days...

I seem to be having some weird image issues.  I think it has to do with Picasa Web Albums.  There should be two images below.  If you don't see them just let me know.

Update:  The issue seems to be resolved.  Yeah!

First Tomato and Brugmansia (45 Days)

I noticed yesterday that Tomatoes are actually beginning to form on my Tiny Tim plants.  I pollinated them with a beard trimmer as suggested by Kenneth.  Apparently the vibration is enough to release and spread the pollen within the flower.  I was worried that it didn't work, but the little green ball I saw this morning tells me otherwise!  It's hard to see but right at the centre of the picture.  Yeah, super early spring veggies!

The Brugmansia are also doing very well.  They're already hitting the lights with their very large leaves.  The stems are budding with growth and the first few branches are beginning to start.  Now I probably should have transplanted them into their own pots a while ago.  I'll make sure to do that this weekend after I apply to a few more jobs.  Does anyone have transplant tips?  The roots are really intertwined.

I'm going to send in a second application to the job that I'm really excited for just to add some things.  I'm concerned they won't want to hire me because I might have to fly there for an interview (I'm hoping skype is fine but worst case I might be able to pay for a flight).  I also haven't included any renders of buildings so I'll probably do a new one on Thursday.  Wish me luck!

Under the Lights

I'll probably be starting some more seeds in the next few days so I figured it was time for an update on what I already have growing from seed.

Above you can see a crowded corner.  In the back are my Tiny Tim Tomatoes.  The largest one already has flower stalks and they started opening today.  I'm super excited to have indoor-extra-early tomatoes!  On the right you can see the Brugmansia (37 Days since sowing).  They're growing very well and I think the two plants already need to be separated.  There is a third tiny one but it probably won't grow very much until the others are removed because of the constant shade.  I love the toothed leaves! 

In the front you can see a little Lantana that was started from seed.  It keeps drying out so it doesn't look to happy right now.  The Purple Orach has been growing very slowly.  I don't know if this is typical because I've never grown it before.

Above you can see 9 Datura "Purple Blackcurrent Swirl".  Only one didn't germinate so it was a good batch of seeds.  They are growing extremely quickly and already have long roots out of the bottom.  I think I need to transplant them soon because they are definitely overshadowing each other.

Finally you can see a picture of the leeks (with Adenium behind).  Many are touching the fluorescent tubes so I think I might have to give them a bit of a hair cut.  Does half the height seem reasonable?

Seedling Update

It's been about a week since my last seedling update.  I'll mention the Lithops and Conophytum in a separate post.  I'm also thinking about going through all my posts and checking all the plant names and nicely italicizing them.  The idea to do this began with a simple annoyance - the 's' on the end of Lithops.  I blame Kenneth.  See the post and comments here.

First off we have the Tiny Tim Tomatoes.  They only grow to 45cm in height and are just over half way there.  So I guess they're not really seedlings any more.  I tried to tell them but they seemed offended so I figured alright, whatever you say.  I should thin them, but I'm trying to keep them smaller so they'll fit under the light.  That being said I'm still planning to remove all but two or three.  I might have to do some pinching.  Hopefully I'll start getting flowers relatively soon so I can have winter tomatoes!

Next up is the Brugmansia.  They have started to put out their first 'real' leaves so I'm very proud.  That tiny one is the one that I had to perform open seed surgery on.  The plant was damaged a little when I tried to remove the seed capsule but I think it will be alright.  If not, two plants is alright but I always like to have a back up.  It's been about 28 days since sowing.

Finally here are the Datura with some leeks in the background.  Only one of the ten Datura seeds hasn't sprouted so I'm quite impressed.  I'll just move one of the plants in the furthest cell to the empty one.  The leeks have been doing very well.  I accidentally let them dry out a little but they seem unphased.

Veggie and Brugmansia (23 Days) Seedlings

Latest seedling updates from the exciting plant village of Growlightia!

Some of the Brugmansia leaves have a white colour, is this normal?  I know I should remove the seed shell on the third one but I'm afraid of hurting it (of course it looks really really sad).  When should I move them to their own pots?  It's been about 23 days since sowing.

EDIT:  I felt bad and performed emergency open seed surgery.  It's in stable condition but there was some damage to the surrounding tissue.  Nelly will probably pull through but any and all support is greatly appreciated. 

I've never grown Leeks before.  The germination rate seems to be in excess of 85% so far.  Should I thin them to one per cell or is it fine to grow a few together?

Everyone want to call this 'Purple Spinach' but it's not related to spinach and that really bothers me.  It should be called Purple Orach so that is how I will refer to it.  I'm going to plant the seeds outside in the spring but was really curious about them so started a few early.

I thought they were unhealthily lanky but I searched for some images of seedlings and the few that I saw looked like this.  Really odd.  I'll keep an eye on them but I'm less concerned.  All the seeds sprouted but one is green.  I secretly hate that one.

Here are the Tiny Tim Tomatoes at about 3 weeks old.  I've removed three or four seedlings already.  I'll probably end up leaving three plants in the pot.  One of them decided to be yellowy-white.  Could this be a light or fertilizer thing?  I'm must wondering because of the Brugmansia.  I put a garlic clove in the middle because... *cough*

Supposedly I'll get the first fruit in three weeks.  I think I need to step up the fertilizer and maybe toss in some more dirt so they can form more roots.

Tomato & Brugmansia (7 Days)

Just a quick upate.  Two of the Brugmansia seeds are mostly sprouted and a third is starting which is hard to see.  There are 5 in total.  They don't seem to be pushing themselves out of the soil.  I tried giving them a little wiggle and their roots are definitely holding well.  I keep an eye out though.  I think the pot needed some more soil...

UPDATE:  The centre one is now vertical with the two seed leaves separated.  There is still a seed case attached to one leaf though.

The tomatoes are growing slowly but starting to pick up.  There seems to be a 'super dwarf'.  It sprouted at the same time as the others and although it is growing a little slower, everything seems to be smaller than the other sprouts.  I'll watch this one carefully and save it if it seems like it's more than just a runt.  I'll probably plant those Conophytum and Lithops seeds tomorrow.  I'm super excited!

Brugmansia Sprouting(ish) (3 Days)

My Brugmansia are sprouting!!  Well at least the one in the centre.  Kind of.  It's more just a root but that means it's alive so I'm super excited!  I'll be sure to update when it has it's first set of leaves.

 

Tomato "Tiny Tim" - No leaf miners on the new leaves!  Yeah!!

Tomatoes & Lantana

Just a quick update.  Some of the Lantana that I started from seed in the fall/beginning of winter have already started to flower!  They took a long time to germinate but have been growing for about two months (kind of slow).  It's really nice to have a tiny plant flower in the middle of winter and I'm delighted that I get to see it every time I check my seeds and seedlings.

Update:  My tomato seedlings have leaf borers!  Leaf borers!  They have two seed leaves and they have leaf borers!  The gardening gods have an odd sense of humour.

 I've also sown some Tiny Tim Tomatoes.  Within a month and a half we should have our first fruit (we'll probably have to pollinate by hand though).  But for now they're just tiny, adorable little seedlings!  I'll probably plant a few more things this weekend, but won't be starting too much until my week off (15th to 20th, Yeah!).  No signs of life from the Ficus auriculata or Brugmansia yet.