The torrent came and indoor garden things to do

 Woke up to hearing rain, straight up full rain coming in with light wind. And it rained. Even more later on coming down in the torrents I mentioned yesterday. Needless to say no garden visit today but have some interesting commentary and ideas on some garden 'hacks' I've seen.

But first, update on the tomato seedlings! They have come up! The three I was going to ditch were a bit on the dry side so, me being the nurturing person, just watered them again. The other eight are just fine.

They all look a bit 'anemic' which is expected not being under grow lights or bright light at all so put them in the kitchen window temporarily. Cat is sleeping so they're safe for now.

I closed both of the little windows because it is still windy and cold and wet outside. That's a lot of tomato plants.

So this is something you can do on rainy days. start seeds if you have the room. I could 'theoretically' start three or four more pellets and put some peppers in them. Should have saved out that clear clamshell from the danishes for a seedling tray dangit. I could definitely  use more lettuce to put out.

Another 'hack' I saw was using toilet paper for making seed tape. Yes... and the site I read needed to really have a 'jump to instructions' button. I know the benefits of doing it, I know what seeds are best to use so all I needed to know was why it needed tp, flour, water and a swab. Radishes, carrots, tomatoes, peppers, lettuce are all good candidates for this method. So here goes:

Cheap TP, cut lengthwise as long as you feel comfortable. Maybe 2 feet is best due to using cheap TP. Make a paste out of the flour and water enough that it's not runny. Mark the TP strip at whatever intervals is recommended on the seed packet, take your swab, dip it in the paste, put the blobs on the marks, add the seeds. Fold over the TP and press for good contact. Write down on one end what the seeds are and let dry. Voila! Done! 

I didn't read much further but suspect you put them in ziplock bags or a container of some sort. Both the flour and paper will decompose easily (hence using really cheap TP) I have the Kirkland brand of TP right now so that should do. It didn't say whether to use single or double ply that I saw.

I am so doing that though instead of the peat pellets for the lettuce. I suspect you could do this with two squares of TP as well if you have bigger seeds like cucumbers or melons but those are easier to plant.

I will post pictures when I do a test.

I actually got out to check the garden around 5pm. No changes but did notice those little seedlings I though were maybe radishes are coming up everywhere. Along the edges, in the middle... so unfortunately I think those are actually tree seeds coming up. I'm plucking those as I get a chance, especially along the walls of the bed. No need for anything to be growing there. 

Really not surprised considering how many seeds fell in that bed in the first wind and rain storm. Other than that, no incursions of gophers to be seen anywhere, but then it's been cold and wet. I'd be hunkered down in a burrow nice and warm too.

On my usual walk to the pick up point for the boys I spotted a well known and familiar 'weed' in someone's yard and had to take a picture.

 

The lavender flowers and long sword like seeds is called 'Herb Robert' if I remember, also called Cranesbill for the seed shape. When I was little we would make scissors out of the green ones (we had sticks to use for swords not these little things). 

When the seeds age and dry up brown if you touch the tip or pinch it to break the connection the base of the seed immediately springs out and starts to corkscrew. Anyone who's wandered through a field in late spring will know what I'm talking about. They get caught on everything. The evolution of that seed action is so when it falls to the ground it twists and burrows into the soil. Fascinating!

 So I got busy today and started this post early in the day before I had to head out, it is now well after 11 pm and time for bed. 

More garden stuff tomorrow if it's not going to rain too much.