It's Gonna Be An Interesting Summer
Apr. 7th, 2013 09:16 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
bluesgardenAmongst a certain collection of people, in relation to Person of Interest, there has developed the catchphrase, "Hey, remember that time Harold panicked and stole a baby?!" Which has been on repeat in my brain because I've been feeling a certain kinship with Harold today, although my panic was considerably more vegetable related than infantile, and the reasons were 100% less life threatening. Ridiculous situations created by momentary panic, is the point. Mine would go more like, "Hey, remember that time Blue panicked and planted 492 tomato and pepper seeds?!"
The worst part is, having regained my senses, I still have every intention of starting more tomatoes tomorrow. Assuming I can get up to Toledo for different seed varieties than what was available locally (without Jack destroying anything from inside his crate while I'm gone*).
Why? Because they are seeds, not babies, and I can thin them out later but I can't start more two weeks from now and have them be a decent size when I need them. Or maybe I could! Maybe they'd be fine! Maybe I could buy seedlings someone else started in a few weeks! Which, granted, is how my own plants contracted a blight the year before last, so let's not and say we did. The seed packets were on sale for less than $1 and they take up a bit of tray space that I have going empty at the moment anyway. It's a lot easier to hedge my bets this way if it means less worry and more options a month from now.
Seedlings are not actually a commitment to full size plants and if I am going to sell some (vegetables) at the flea market over the summer, I need more varieties of tomato than I actually planned for back in January. Depending on how their growth goes, I may still try selling some seedlings in the next couple of months, too, but that seems unlikely. At this point. Ask me next week, the answer may change.
Added to the roster because they're what was available:
Quarter Century
Bloody Butcher (This actually was on my list to try at one point, so there's that.)
Brandywine Red (I haven't had good results with Brandywine in the past, but apparently I'm trying it again.)
Matina
Big Boy
Early Girl
Jelly Bean
Supersweet 100
Beefmaster
The last 5 on the list are Ferry-Morse seed and I will note that the number of seeds listed on the packet did not actually reflect what was in the packet. There were all pelleted seed (the only option for those varieties), which would normally be a good thing as far as germination goes (and, I would think, protecting seed from the more demanding conditions of retail sales), but it also made it really apparent that their seed counting machine needs some work. The packets that stated they had 12 seeds had anywhere from 6 to 18 seeds, while the one that said 20 seeds actually had... 8.
It did also appear to be a lower end packaging design than their usual and the price is slightly lower - $1.99+ versus $1.59 for mine - but they're all still pelleted and I find it hard to believe it's actually different seed. Regardless, if the front of the packet says 12 seeds or 20 seeds, then that's what you expect inside. Or at least a closer approximation. All the packets happened to be on sale for 1/2 price, so I can't complain too much, but it certainly didn't impress me from a business perspective.
* Yes, the tray started out inside the crate, under the blanket and padding. The piece of mail shown and a few others were on top the quilt. He has been much better behaved than this on all other occasions - D had the seriously poor judgment to get a very well rested Jack very excited by letting him sniff a small rabbit, take him on a 5 minute amble outside, and then stick him in his crate for 2 hours. Blue was Not Pleased.
On the other hand, I went to town today and returned to find River running loose because I left the gate open to the outside pup's pen as well as the dog door. And that was on top of this morning, when I was trying to give Jack some fresh air by tying him out with his leash and harness, only to turn around 5 minutes later and discover he'd wriggled out of said harness and was off wandering around. YOU'D THINK WE WERE NEW AT THIS.
The worst part is, having regained my senses, I still have every intention of starting more tomatoes tomorrow. Assuming I can get up to Toledo for different seed varieties than what was available locally (without Jack destroying anything from inside his crate while I'm gone*).
Why? Because they are seeds, not babies, and I can thin them out later but I can't start more two weeks from now and have them be a decent size when I need them. Or maybe I could! Maybe they'd be fine! Maybe I could buy seedlings someone else started in a few weeks! Which, granted, is how my own plants contracted a blight the year before last, so let's not and say we did. The seed packets were on sale for less than $1 and they take up a bit of tray space that I have going empty at the moment anyway. It's a lot easier to hedge my bets this way if it means less worry and more options a month from now.
Seedlings are not actually a commitment to full size plants and if I am going to sell some (vegetables) at the flea market over the summer, I need more varieties of tomato than I actually planned for back in January. Depending on how their growth goes, I may still try selling some seedlings in the next couple of months, too, but that seems unlikely. At this point. Ask me next week, the answer may change.
Added to the roster because they're what was available:
Quarter Century
Bloody Butcher (This actually was on my list to try at one point, so there's that.)
Brandywine Red (I haven't had good results with Brandywine in the past, but apparently I'm trying it again.)
Matina
Big Boy
Early Girl
Jelly Bean
Supersweet 100
Beefmaster
The last 5 on the list are Ferry-Morse seed and I will note that the number of seeds listed on the packet did not actually reflect what was in the packet. There were all pelleted seed (the only option for those varieties), which would normally be a good thing as far as germination goes (and, I would think, protecting seed from the more demanding conditions of retail sales), but it also made it really apparent that their seed counting machine needs some work. The packets that stated they had 12 seeds had anywhere from 6 to 18 seeds, while the one that said 20 seeds actually had... 8.
It did also appear to be a lower end packaging design than their usual and the price is slightly lower - $1.99+ versus $1.59 for mine - but they're all still pelleted and I find it hard to believe it's actually different seed. Regardless, if the front of the packet says 12 seeds or 20 seeds, then that's what you expect inside. Or at least a closer approximation. All the packets happened to be on sale for 1/2 price, so I can't complain too much, but it certainly didn't impress me from a business perspective.
* Yes, the tray started out inside the crate, under the blanket and padding. The piece of mail shown and a few others were on top the quilt. He has been much better behaved than this on all other occasions - D had the seriously poor judgment to get a very well rested Jack very excited by letting him sniff a small rabbit, take him on a 5 minute amble outside, and then stick him in his crate for 2 hours. Blue was Not Pleased.
On the other hand, I went to town today and returned to find River running loose because I left the gate open to the outside pup's pen as well as the dog door. And that was on top of this morning, when I was trying to give Jack some fresh air by tying him out with his leash and harness, only to turn around 5 minutes later and discover he'd wriggled out of said harness and was off wandering around. YOU'D THINK WE WERE NEW AT THIS.
