Getting closer ...

The seedlings are here ... the seedlings are here!

A few short days after I planted my seeds, I started to see seedlings pop up.  First up, the lettuces - cos, romaine, and mesclun (natch!), then the kale, then some of the tomatoes (still waiting on a couple more).  I was really surprised how quickly the lettuce(s) came up ... 5 days - barely!

I am starting to get worried that I haven't seen any peppers, onions, or eggplant sprout up yet, but I have to keep saying to myself:  patience grasshopper.

I think I also see a wee spec of a basil plant or two coming up - I guess it will become obvious in another 2 or 3 days.  All this as we prepare for another (the last!??) winter storm to hit the northeast.  Hopefully that really will be it!  And I'm thinking I will plant radishes, swiss chard, and spinach the weekend of March 22 and then beans the weekend after.  I gotta get on (re)building my bigger planters for my tomatoes and eggplants, etc as well - the stacks of dirt and manure I bought don't look so good sitting in front of my door!

And for anyone who got the post title ... see video link below.  Also, Broken Bells was great last Friday (see also link below)!

Keep calm and plant on ... (sorry, I couldn't resist!)

Nitzer Ebb - "Getting Closer"

Broken Bells - "Holding on to Life"

mesclun in front, kale in back

my welcome mat!

tomatoes in front, cos and romaine in back

Am I living in a box?

Well, yes, a glass box that is.

#1 on my list of requirements when I moved to my current apartment was sun.  And I got that ...in spades - and it is bearing fruit!

I take my composting to the Greenmarket (Union Square) and then I rinse out the containers and water my indoor plants with the "rinse water".  Well, I've had random "compost remnant" seeds sprout in my potted plants before and I usually just pluck 'em and throw out (or back into composting).

A couple months back, I noticed a tomato plant growing out of one of these said potted plants and thought, "eh - just leave it."  And leave it I did and guess what?  It grew ... and Grew ... and GRew ... and ... well, you get the picture.

And on top of all that ... it bore fruit and continues to do so!  I have no idea what kind of tomato it is.  It is not one of the breeds I grew last summer.  The tomatoes are small-ish, about the size of a silver dollar, round (give or take an inch) and I've gotten 3 or 4 already and I have another 5 or 6 more on the way, it would appear.  They aren't the most flavorful tomatoes I've ever had but a nice and unexpected addition to the winter mix!

And last week when I cleaned up/swept up a bunch of dead leaves and branches, the smell of tomato (nightshade??) permeated my entire apartment, a temporary and neat little bonus!