Future Food and Flowers.

I have had these lights set up for awhile now. I'm growing artichokes again this year. Mine failed last year when I tried to germinate year old seed, so this year I started all the seeds I had. I grew them the year before and managed to grow one good artichoke. The bed I had prepared and planted them in was fair too damp, we no longer use it and have seeded it over with grass mix. I also started celery and celeriac, peppers, asparagus, ground cherries, leeks, shallots and lots of petunias. I saved my own petunia seeds last year and had no problems germinating them. They're easy to look after and grow, their beautiful flowers last all summer and they are available in all kinds of varieties and colors.  When saving your own petunia seed the color the flowers end up being may be a surprise as they may not be true to the plant they came off of. A petunia surprise is never a problem, I've yet to see a color I haven't enjoyed.  I grow them for gifts, to fill in my flower beds and pots, attract beneficial insects and for my hanging baskets. They can cost enough when you buy them from the nursery and starting your own is so easy. If you already have your lights on for something else, you may as well add some petunias to the mix. Just remember to keep potting them, and all your other seedlings, up into larger pots to encourage growth and root development. I generally do the first potting up when seedlings grow their first true leaves. The artichokes are the only plants I won't have to transplant, as they do not enjoy having their roots disturbed. For that reason they are started in jiffy pots and fertilized regularly to encourage growth.  I have been using SeaBoost liquid seaweed fertilizer. The artichokes need to be exposed to a snap of cool weather, usually in May, to trick them into thinking they have gone through a winter season. This makes them produce artichokes in the same year they were started. I can almost taste the artichokes, steamed and dipped in melted butter now.  

In the cold frame.

I have planted some new seeds in the cold frame, and some planted in the late fall/early winter months are now germinating. This kale, spinach and bok choy were smaller going into the winter months, although they are making up for it now. After a few sunny days these have all produced new leaves and are starting to grow again. There's also mache, arugula, cilantro and swiss chard, not pictured here, that made it through the freeze and are continuing to grow again. 

I've been busy planting new seeds in my cold frame and indoors for moving outdoors after the risk of frost passes. Things are sprouting up in my cold frame, especially seeds I had sown in the late fall/early winter months.  I'm still sprouting seeds indoors to make sure we have some greens during these months. Here's mung bean sprouts in the jar and broccoli seed sprouts in the soil tray, two of my favorites for sprouting indoors. So tasty!