You Grow Girl™

When I came back from my trip I was shocked at how big and strong many of my seedlings had gotten! Instead of the death and despair that I was expecting, they were actually healthy and happy looking. Most notably the yellow pear tomatoes. I ordered the seeds from Seed Savers, a great source for Heirloom veggie, fruit, and flower seeds. Planted sometime around the end of March, I followed the advice given 'here' and planted about 80% of the stem. WOW! They went from semi-leggy to monster stalk in about three weeks!
Before, hardening off on the windowsill

3 weeks later! Yowza! mama jamma stalks!

The other Seed Saver seed growing, is Lemon Cucumber. I love cucumbers and have really only tried two varieties thus far: regular and pickling, so I am excited about this foray into new cucumber territory. These seedlings, they experienced a bit of tough love, and made it through okay. Cucumbers are somewhat finicky plants, and do not tolerate cold weather at all. I learned that with my early crop, see 'here', sheesh, what a disaster! As soon as it gets to cold, the laeves on a cucumber vine get all dry and crunchy, it's as if the water in it's veins have frozen. So anywho, these 'special' cucumbers were put out on a 68 degree day, and the temp has dipped to 50 degrees and back up to 85 and then down again to 48 a jillion times since I put them out 'for good'. Unlike their burpee cousins, the seed savers pulled through. A little 'weathered', (ha! a double entendre!) but they made it. I CERTAINLY will be enjoying yellow softball cucumbers by the end of summer!
Weathered Lemon Cucumber Seedlings and Another Strong Yellow Pear

Also in that picture is the cilantro that I started in January under the grow lights. In February I placed it in a non-drafty window sill and did'nt pay to much attention to it... needless to say it has been flowering ever since. Oh well, I LOVE coriander, so it's not a complete loss...
This weekend, after reading this 'post' I decided to do some repotting.
from left to right: 2 bambino eggplantlets (purchased), stringless green bean (from seed), chive (from seed), and finally, lemon balm. I hope the Lemon balm does'nt take over the container...

Also, I repotted lots of other little guys:
pickling cucumbers, more frickin' eggplant (love it!, love it!, Love it!!), flat parsley, among others.

I also purchased the following seedlings this weekend from the "Good Earth" organic and heirloom nursery in Cranston, RI:

moon and stars melon

fern leaf lavender

and a mystery squash, or perhaps cucumber
I hope it's cucumber...

One last thing: I absolutely must testify to the almighty powers of chicken shit and Neptunes Harvest fish fertilizer. I folar fed all my plants with the droppings, and then sprayed the smelly fish juice on my plant's leaves, the results were astounding! All of the purple and yellowish seedlings turned green, and the bigger plants just picked right up. If you are going to by any products this season, buy these!

I end this with a promise to myself to finally plant some okra for my boyfriend, some poppies and sunflowers for Marissa, and some sugar baby watermelon for me.