Seedlings!

I planted seeds last Sunday...and they started coming up on Friday! I've always kept my seedlings in the bedroom window which gets a fair amount of sun but I've often felt a little more light would work wonders getting them up and running. I've been meaning to think of a way to put a light over them but didn't have anywhere to hang a shop light (California homes not usually having basements and not wanting them out in the cold garage). So yesterday the panic set in...the seedlings have sprouted and there was still no light. So I went off to the hardware store and came back with an 18 inch under-the-counter light and a plant bulb. Using a few pieces of redwood 1x2 left over from a trellis project I rigged up a workable stand. And what is planted under the lights?



Tomatoes...
San Marzano
Mule Team
Costoluto Genovese
Brandywine
Super Sweet 100
Sungold Cherry
Peppers...
De Padrone
Quadrato d'Asti Rosso
Ariane (orange)
Super Heavyweight (yellow)
Eggplant...
Beauty Hybrid
Black Opal
Cucumber...
Sweet Slice
Miniature White
Diva
Zucchini...
Ambassador
Zucchetta Trombolina
Basil Genovese
Italian Parsley
Cottage Pinks Mix
Portulaca
I might direct sow seeds of the cukes and zucchini later, as well as more basil. But this way I can get a jump on a possible early harvest.
Another project that got done was direct sowing lettuce (Jericho Romaine) and anise (pimpinella anisum) seeds in the garden. For this I used an old wooden ceiling light frame, sowing the seeds inside so that I could cover the frame with bird netting. Otherwise the sparrows would think there was a new salad bar in town. I also got in the last planting of beets (Red Ace for this batch) that should mature before it's too hot for them. Tomorrow the day care kids will direct sow radishes and possibly one more batch of carrots that should also mature before the heat finishes them off.