The Learning Curve (Reflection)

My vegetable gardening learning curve is currently operating on a diagonal. It's only the beginning of June and I've already learned so much, at this point, most of my new knowledge is about seedling growing, the planting process and garden set-up. The learning curve will probably go down (but certainly not hit the horizontal) and then spike again come harvest.

There is so much to reflect on at this point, but I'd like to take this post to reflect on starting vegetables from seed.

This is the first time I've started seedlings. Living in a Zone 5/6 climate, the growing season is very short. I picked a great year to pretend to be an experienced gardener because Maine had a terrific Spring. The snow (or what little we had) melted early, never came back and the sun was out a lot. The last frost date (May 15) was accurate for our area too.

Last Spring we had so much rain it rotted anything that was planted in the ground. Now, granted, there is still an opportunity for that to occur, but as of now, we've had ridiculous gardening weather.

So, the seedlings:
Peppers: I wouldn't change a thing. I planted two seeds per round (2" diameter).
Celery: Fewer seeds per round and I might use slightly larger than 2" diameter trays.
Leeks: Fewer seeds (or thin!), 2" diameter trays were good. Start earlier
Onion: More seeds, start earlier, in 6x6" square trays (this is what the commercial greenhouses do).
Fennel: larger containers, start earlier
Pumpkins: one seed/per container
watermelon: one seed per container
zucchini and squashes: start later (no more than four weeks before planting
cucumbers: different tray from squash as the squash grows fast and shades the cuces.
Oregano/thyme: start MUCH sooner. Begin growing in early april
Basil: fewer seeds per tray
Chives: start sooner (mid-april)
Parsley/cilantro: fewer seeds, larger containers, start sooner (end of april)

I want to thank everyone reading for reading this silly little journal of mine.

Happy growing and eating,
--Annie