WAITING ON THE WEATHER

THE SEEDLINGS ARE READY

Over the past 8 weeks the lisianthus have grown steadily in the grow tent, tiny leaves giving way to fuller plugs that now fill their trays.

Close-up of healthy lisianthus seedlings growing in plug trays.

Each morning I check on them the same way. A quick look for anything unusual. The same old routine. Lights on for 16 hours, off the rest. Water if the soil looks or feels light. I like to let them dry a bit in between. Fertilizer once a week to keep them moving along. The tent door I kept open 24/7 for airflow, keeping the temperature close to 65°. Just the house temperature.

Nothing dramatic.

Close-up of mature lisianthus seedlings in plug trays showing multiple sets of true leaves.

Last week I moved them out to the greenhouse.

It isn’t heated. The days have been warm enough to harden them off. A few nights dipped into the mid-30s and they are thriving with the change. Even the runts of the trays are starting to catch up.

Rows of lisianthus seedlings growing in plug trays inside an unheated greenhouse, hardening off before field planting.

IN THE FIELD

The rows are weeded and waiting. Low tunnels are set with frost cloth so that when the lisianthus finally move in, they’ll have protection from whatever early spring decides to bring (like this current cold snap).

The next 3 nights will dip into the mid-20s. I had planned to plant them this past weekend but fresh transplants meeting 20-degree weather didn’t sit right.

So we wait a few more days.

Edged garden beds covered with low tunnels and frost cloth to protect early spring flower plantings from cold weather.

Till next time,
- C
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From Seed To Seedling