Playing God by Twilight
May 19th, 2008 by Laura
Starting plants from seed is not for the faint of heart. Or at least that’s what I was pondering tonight while I potted up 16 broccoli, 16 Brussels sprouts, 32 lettuce and 8 peppers.
There’s something just a bit twisted about thinning seedlings that you purposely started. About choosing which get to live and which die. And that decision is somewhat arbitrary. Sometimes it’s obvious which one to keep - the straighter stem, more leaves, bigger leaves. Other times it’s just a matter of picking one and snipping the others.
Of course those are just the thoughts that went through my head while I spent an hour plus doing all that potting up. Could have just been the intoxicating smell of fish fertilizer that got me philosophizing.
Elsewhere things are really popping in the garden, even since I took the photos below. Just since yesterday the peas and bush beans have jumped up an inch or two.
The radishes peaking their heads out.
Asparagus making it’s first appearance.
Potatoes! My mom is now laughing at me as I had to admit to her the other day that last week I dug one up because I was worried that they weren’t up yet. They haven’t all poked up, but I think they’re coming…
You’re not alone in the “digging up to see if it’s sprouted” category. I did the same thing with my potatoes - thought the voles might’ve gotten them. I, er, also tried to see if the cukes I direct seeded sprouted as well….
Thinning plants is SO HARD! We nurture them, trying to get something to sprout, and then have to hack down our “babies” while still in their youth. Last year I thinned out the carrots for the first time and got beautiful carrots (for the first time), so I know better, but it doesn’t make it any easier.
I gasped when I saw the photo of the asparagus. It’s stunning that you have just moved in, yesterday, wasn’t it?, and you have asparagus popping out of the ground.
I wish my asparagus was as high as yours - I really need to weed that new bed, but I staggered the plants a lot & can’t ‘quite’ remember where they’re planted. Some grass-like things are poking up, but I don’t know if that them… The short row of red potatoes I planted (little round, sprouted ‘tots’ left over from last years harvest) are just starting to come up - about half as tall as yours. Amazing what a couple of days of sunshine & warm temps have done for the gardens!!
Carla
I have a hard time thinning too! Broccoli sprouts are good in salads though!
I love your photos, especially of the asparagus. Such beautiful detail.
How exciting that your ‘babies’ are growing so well!
I dug some potatoes too!
I’m planting in tires this year. It is an interesting experience. I simply must start some asparagus next year!
Right before I saw this post, I was out digging around in the potato tub, looking for signs of growth. I think everyone panics at about the same point in potato development.