Starting Pansy From Seed

Broccoli Di Cicco 

Yesterday I was transferring my Broccoli Di Cicco starts to their paper pots, and I noticed the length and thickness of this root which was only 9 days old. It just amazes me! 

I have been busy starting all my cole crops /spring seedlings indoors under lights. I have a variety of flowers and vegetables started. There are 3 shelves filled with seedlings that will go outside towards the end of March. I start them in small blocks and then transfer them to paper pots, which will go directly into the garden. I  found it relatively easy last year, but sometimes you have to make sure the paper pots are buried below the soil line. Do not make newspaper pots too thick. I found the roots work through the newspaper, and there is no need for all those extra pots to put in a land fill. Succession planting is a bit messy with all the seedlings you introduce throughout the season.

This year I have 3 shelves of plants.. These are my pansy seedlings that were started in January. They will be ready to go outside in March. I planted Historical Pansy, Swiss Giants, Johnny Jump Ups and Angel Amber Kissz(F1). The Historical Pansy was a bit slow to germinate this year and were the last viola to be put in  paper pots.

 A month ago they were the size of a pin head.....

 They produce the most dainty leaves...

 This is September. She loves to hang out when I'm feeding the seedlings their organic  fish + seaweed fertilizer!
For more detailed information to how I start  my pansy seedlings you can refer to my Palm Rae Potager Plants blog post which I keep adding to this season. I started these in January 2012. I wanted them blooming in spring so I needed to start them earlier then many of my other flowers. They need about 14-16 weeks from seedlings to bloom. I have more information on starting pansy at the below link...
I have more detailed information on Palm Rae Potager Plants. I am still working on this site to fill in about growing from seed most of our plants. Go to this page for more information on Growing Pansy from seed.

http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=3068862925955490204#editor/target=post;postID=3670441033446582773

Snow

Potager Angel was carrying snow today....

We have had a mild winter and remarkably  little snow,that all changed last night. I've been busy starting all my cole crops for spring inside just assuming there would not be a snow storm anytime soon. It  rained all day yesterday and decided to snow late in the night. This snow was extremely heavy.

It was so heavy it leveled all the 6-7 foot grasses which were standing tall.I'm not too eager to cut them all down this spring. We leave them up, so the animals have places to hide during the winter and add winter interest.

The 8 foot tall grasses that screened the Red Umbrella Garden are all on the ground....

I have Faith spring will be here soon....

We have to trim this Ornamental Cherry tree in our courtyard. It is getting too spacious and shading some of our plants, which need sun. It will flower in early spring and fill the area with magnificent scent.

Here is my project for this spring. I'm taking the bushes out near the road. I'm worried the deer will try to eat what I plant, but I'm eager to remove some of the old bushes.

She was framed in snow....

Purple of Sicily Cauliflower

They  germinated pretty well and are now ready for their paper pot home till they are placed out in the garden this spring. I started these a bit earlier to see if they did not bolt as soon as they did last year. We have been experiencing a mild winter, as spring is around the corner. Cauliflower likes the cooler weather. The ones I grew last spring were beautiful and delicious,too!

The root is pretty long and healthy. Pretty amazing since they are just 10 days old!

I found the newspaper pot works well since their roots do not have to be disturbed again....can't wait for purple vegetables!

Spring Iris 2011

I am busy today starting flowers, vegetables and herbs from seeds. I am eager to see 

what I planted last fall for spring bulbs. I did plant many antique/heirloom bulbs. I am eager to smell them since they are suppose to be quite fragrant!

Orange Zinnia 2011 

I have a mix I'm designing for Palm Rae Potager of Orange Zinnias. I will mix my zinnia seed from 2011 with some new orange zinnia. I am eager to see what color combination I have in the Potager this year.

Lord Baltimore Hibiscus

I split this plant last summer into 3 plants. It will be interesting to see how they develop. I did have growth on two of the three mid summer. This plant does not start growing till late spring early summer. I just love the large red blossoms and they are quite exotic!

Summer Flowers Snow is Falling....

Very old bush, I hope it returns this spring....

 orange and purple...love the combination....

A river of plants........

Sweet flowers....

I love the fresh mint smell of purple spring flowers....

They give a great show every year....I can't wait...it will be here soon,  the 2012 show....

Canary Swiss Chard

Canary Swiss Chard

This was planted in 2011-it survived our winter and is growing with spring bulbs in 2012!

I decided to review each vegetable plant for season 2012 in Palm Rae Potager. If my goal is to have a sustainable garden, I have to be able to save my own seed for the next season. I also have to grow species that will not cross in the garden. I have to spend time checking each and every plant for creating a sustainable garden. I was debating about Beets and Swiss Chard. They are from the same Family, Genus and Species. Swiss Chard is part of the Family-Chenopodiaceae, Genus-Beta, Species-Vulgaris and Cultivar-Canary. I made the decision on which vegetable in the Species -Vulgaris would give me the most nutritional punch for Palm Rae Potager. Swiss Chard won hands down to beets ( for my own personal health goals), but we will still purchase Beets from our local Farmer Market. You can check nutritonal value of Swiss Chard a this site.

http://whfoods.org/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=16

Tatsoi Survived the winter, too! 

The biggest decision I have to make is over the Bassicaceae Family. There are so many that I enjoy growing and eating. This will not be easy....Tatsoi is from the Family-Brassicaceae, Genus-Brassica, Species-Rapa.

 February-- sleepy elephant in Palm Rae Potager 

I was trying my new filter and it does pick up the orange and reds better...

This little fairy is waking up from a mild winter.....

Sunday Afternoon Thinking of flowers....

Daffodils 2010 

This year I'm eager to see the heirloom daffodils I planted this past fall. They are more fragrant.

2010 lily

I moved many of the flowers, who knows where this lily is now....

Alaska Mix Nasturtium

I just love the leaves on this nasturtium

Fall Mums 2011 

How did I miss this color last fall! I shot this picture but can't remember which mum and where it is in the garden... 

Jimmy Nardello Sweet Peppers

and also food from Palm Rae Potager......it won't be long....

Gulls at the Marina in Winter

It was a beautiful Winter Day at the Marina. A bit cold, but very pretty with all the winter colors.

Backwaters of the Mississippi River

Arriving at 2pm everyone is feeding. I snapped the shot and noticed the Bald Eagle hanging out with the gulls.

 A meeting of the minds!

They were enjoying the wind.....

Mississippi Beaches are pretty in the middle of winter....

When I have time, I like to search for fossils...amazing rocks tell a story......

Growing Pansy from Seed

I have to get my pansy seedlings into paper pots. They are getting too large and anymore time in this pot they will grow too spindly.

Here, are my basic tools. I do find that my hands work the best at times. The seedlings are particularly tiny, and if you are gentle they transplant pretty well. I have never had any problems. Just be gentle.

It always amazes me how developed their root system is when they are just seedlings. These are only 14 days old. I read somewhere that a seed contains everything the young seedling needs to develop. It is not anything that we can provide for the young seedling. That is amazing!

They are all in their new home before they are placed outside in early spring. Pansy flowers can handle the chilly temperatures of spring. They will not bloom in the heat of summer. I plan on shearing them off before the hot weather. I will place my pansy plants in a protected area that will be a bit shady and cooler. Last year I did have some that survived and started setting buds in late fall. I changed some planting areas, so they were discarded. This year, I plan on keeping them to see if they will make it through till fall and bloom.

.You will notice that the top corner I did not have good germination. I found last year it was best to compost the left over soil. I tried to reuse it, and I ended up with seedlings in other pots, which was a bit confusing.

After I'm done planting I compost used dirt (which was not that much)with coffee grounds, tea bags and daily vegetable scraps.

First batch of pansy for Palm Rae Potager are under lights. I look forward to see what colors bloom this spring.

All that is needed now is my ultimate instrument, a good spray bottle which will be daily used several times for the young seedlings

For more information please look at Palm Rae Potager Plants post about Growing Pansy from Seeds. I am still working on this blog site about all the plants grown from seed.

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