Baby Plants Are Cute!
March 19, 2008
They’re growing! I have baby tomato plants!
After planting my little saved seeds, I hovered over that tray of little pots like a mother bird. I was fully aware that they would take days and days to germinate, if they were even viable, and for some reason, maybe since this was my first attempt at seed saving, I was totally and irrefutably paranoid that all of the seeds would turn out to be dead. I could have tested them, of course, but it wouldn’t have made me feel any better had they actually been duds, and if not, then I would just have to do more work and plant them at that point in time anyway. Better to just jump in head first, I say.
So from that first day, I checked them and checked them, a few times a day, to see if anything had happened yet. How about now? Maybe now? Anything yet? Nothing? Comeonsproutlittleguys! Then about 5 days post planting I asked the internets how long tomato seeds generally need to germinate and the internets told me 10-14 days. Well, ok then. So I tried to be a little more patient.
Seriously, 7 days after I planted them, they started sprouting. With a vengeance. Early, even, according to normal germination time! The Husband noticed it first, little curved stems peeking through the dirt, and within 24 hours they had shot up like rockets. Only a few of the 30something seeds that I planted haven’t done anything yet, and since it’s still only been 10 days since planting, I suppose I will give them a little more time.
Now I’m crossing my fingers that the cats don’t eat them, and that they make it past this tender stage to become healthy teenage plants so that I can save that money for buying other things. Like tulips. And herb plants.
Also, I found them! The first shoots of spring. Now I know where they happen, where to look for them when I am feeling the winter hangover that is March. I just love how bulbs force their way, matted leaves be damned. These spikes look like hyacinth, but I suppose they could be something else, too. Spring will come. Oh yes it will.
My name is Tracy Harris. 
March 19, 2008 at 8:55 pm
so cute and full of promise! Those look a lot like hyacinths. My favorite. I can’t grow them here, so I expect beautiful photos of yours.
March 19, 2008 at 10:08 pm
woo hoo! i’ve never tried saving seeds, i’m impressed!
i’ve got 4 little pots of seedlings sitting right here by my computer. well, 4 pots, but the coneflower hasn’t come up. 3 out of 4 ain’t bad, right?
March 19, 2008 at 10:53 pm
good luck with your great little plants. such a great reminder. i hope i’m too late to plant my seeds. or should i say i hope it’s not to late for h-kun to plant the seeds. he’s the balcony gardener around here. keep enjoying the beginning of spring!
March 19, 2008 at 11:54 pm
I have never seen bulb shoots break right through fallen leaves that way. Persistence really pays off in their case.
March 20, 2008 at 5:23 am
hooray for your tomatoes! it’ll be summer before we know it.
March 20, 2008 at 6:18 am
What cute little plants you have there. Wish I could have a garden… darned Deer.
March 20, 2008 at 6:35 am
exciting to see those shoots - they look great.
and yes, be careful of your cats and your plants. i had a bunch of beautiful hollyhocks that I was growing and one day I accidentally left the porch door open. within minutes my cat had dug through the entire pot like litter and i only got one hollyhock that survived the massacre.
cats like to dig. lol.
March 20, 2008 at 6:57 am
i have got to get some seeds in dirt. they’re just sitting here, in a bag, waiting for us to plant them. i want little green sprouts like you have!
(and the hyacinth picture. wow.)
March 20, 2008 at 7:22 am
I love it! They’re beautiful - all of them. You are such a talented person and we were so fortunate to have you join our family.
I’ll look forward to seeing the tomatoes this summer.
March 20, 2008 at 5:38 pm
Yes, little baby plants ARE cute, huh! We’re planning on sprouting our own tomato plants here, too. We just haven’t planted the seeds yet!
March 21, 2008 at 7:56 am
Good luck with your tomato plants. Too bad those shoots are now covered in snow!
March 24, 2008 at 9:35 pm
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