Empty Nest Syndrome

I wrote a little while ago about finding a bunch of eggs and thinking I had a broody hen or two. You can read about that here. Well, Mocha sat on the eggs for two days and I thought everything was hunky-dory. On the third day, she got off the nest and started pacing by the fence to get out. She kept it up all day so that night I let her go back to the main coop. I figured if the eggs were cooled for 24 hours, they were toast anyhow. Out of the eight eggs, I was able to use 3 or 4 in baking, they passed the water test. The others were iffy so I didn't used them. Out of the eight, seven had no sign starting life. One had a little cobwebby blood threads may-be a quarter inch long. A disappointment for sure, but valuable lessons learned and I know much more about broodiness, half -broodiness and stubbornness passing as broodiness.

Seedlings, the Good, the Bad and the Utter Failures

I have planted everything I wanted to start early indoors. It's been an experience, to say the least. Surprises abound and hopes dash against the reality of trying to push Nature. The best success so far as been the tomatoes I saved from seed. I didn't think I'd have much luck with them but after a straggly start, they are strong, upright and bushy. The ones I transplanted into juice containers are doing well, so are the ones I didn't transplant so I know now I don't have to transplant to make them less straggly. The celery is slow, as expected. But I am seeing the first real leaves on them now, lacy scalloped leaves just delicately edging the dark earth with green. The herbs, basil, cilantro, summer savory and parsley are all going at their own time table and looking good. Basil, of course, was out of the starting gate first. Bursting through and stretching as fast and long it could. I've always found basil to be such a joyful plant. There's just something about basil that light and happy. I planted a mix of basil seeds so along with the little green sprouts, I also have purple. Nice little surprise. The cucumber seeds I bought are doing well, if not a little leggy right now. A sturdy seedling, stout and squat, I'm hoping with a little more light, they'll outgrow their stretch.

The green/red pepper seeds I saved did nothing, nor did the cucumber seeds I kept. Turns out they needed to be saved differently that I did, which was basically sitting them on a plate till they dried. Cucumber seeds have to be saved pretty much the same way as I did the tomatoes. Pepper seeds shouldn't be collected until the pepper is as close to the rotting stage as possible. For fun, I bought an early hybrid small watermelon seed to try. Only three sprouted and then two died. I'm guessing I did something wrong there, too.

We're hoping to get the cold frames built this weekend then I can start hardening off the plants. I've already started raking and putting on compost on the garden, waking it up so I put my dreams into action.