Growing from seed has lots of pro's & cons. The biggest pro is it's MUCH cheaper! The biggest con' is what I call the waiting game. That's the time between sowing and sprouting. When you check the seed flat daily 'just in case', Anxiously waiting for some sign of life! Because not all seeds sprout, it's the period of time where you think "did I do everything right"? Did I remember to put the seeds in? Were the seeds viable? Are they too hot? too cold? too wet? too dry? Is there enough light? Too much light? Why aren't they sprouting yet? Honestly it's all I can do some days NOT to look every time I walk past the seed flats.
But then you'll catch it... the little glimmer of hope. Maybe it'll be a tiny shoot, or the compost ruffed up where the shoots are trying to burst forth, or you'll wake up one morning to find a 2" zucchini bursting out of it's pot already and invading the next spot over and already sending roots out all over (and then have to re-pot the darn things asap!). The waiting game stage 1 is over and from then on, it's all systems go. You're thinning, transplanting and repotting till the next round begins.
But you don't completely stop waiting and worrying! No! Now you enter stage 2, wait and worry over why the tomatoes sprouted but the peppers didn't? Are they going to? The whole light/dark/wet/dry conversation sparks again. You consider having a little dig in the compost just to 'check' there are seeds in there, cos surely by now they would have sprouted? Then just when you're about to give up tiny seedlings poke through!
Growing from seed is VERY rewarding but also very stressful, I wouldn't change it for the world!
But then you'll catch it... the little glimmer of hope. Maybe it'll be a tiny shoot, or the compost ruffed up where the shoots are trying to burst forth, or you'll wake up one morning to find a 2" zucchini bursting out of it's pot already and invading the next spot over and already sending roots out all over (and then have to re-pot the darn things asap!). The waiting game stage 1 is over and from then on, it's all systems go. You're thinning, transplanting and repotting till the next round begins.
But you don't completely stop waiting and worrying! No! Now you enter stage 2, wait and worry over why the tomatoes sprouted but the peppers didn't? Are they going to? The whole light/dark/wet/dry conversation sparks again. You consider having a little dig in the compost just to 'check' there are seeds in there, cos surely by now they would have sprouted? Then just when you're about to give up tiny seedlings poke through!
Growing from seed is VERY rewarding but also very stressful, I wouldn't change it for the world!
And how did you get in my head???? I am doing some as seeds and some I have the plants, but the way you described waiting for the sprouts is so accurate. Luckily I was out of town, and didn't sit anxiously beside the trays!