My window, balcony and garden: 2026 @johnny108

[johnny108]

Started 2 trays of Virginia Gold, and one tray each of Izmir, Samsun Maden, and Brazilia-7.

 

[Hrklz]

I was already worried about only starting my seeds 2 weeks ago so you're making me feel a bit better about it lol.
What time do you usually start seeds here in Germany? I read online that mid-april is good around here but that sounds kind of late to me.

 

[johnny108]

In northern Germany, where I am, tomatoes go in the ground May 15. That’s the date for tobacco, technically, but I believe the cold soil temperature caused some early flowering for me, last year.
Middle of march would be the industry standard 2 months seedling nursery stage.
Rusticas usually take about one month.
That’s what I’ve done before.

I have strong lights for seed starting now, but this year I’m going to try germination indoors, and seedling stages in my greenhouse. It just now got warm enough to keep plants alive in there.
This has been a very cold spring, which means a later start, but, fewer ticks in the forest.

 

[johnny108]

Started another tray of Virginia Gold with a fresher batch of seeds.

 

[johnny108]

Brazilia-7 sprouted first. No surprise, there.

 

[johnny108]

Samsun Maden, Izmir, and the first tray of Virginia Gold have sprouted.

 

[johnny108]

Transferred 3 Samsun Maden into individual pots to grow them up for off-balcony, in-ground growing.

 

[johnny108]

Lost a tray of Virginia Gold.
(Crashed during transit to the greenhouse)
Thinned out Izmir seedlings, and replanted the empty tray with them, giving me 2 trays of Izmir.
Also started a tray of Little Dutch.

 

[StoneCarver]

(Crashed during transit to the greenhouse)

Ouch. Burning is usually the plan for tobacco but crashing isn't part of the process afaik. Maybe some crumbling or slicing at some point.

 

[johnny108]

9 more Samsun Maden sprouts came up, so I transferred them to a new tray.
Backups. Always backups.

 

[johnny108]

Virginia and Brazilia-7 are doing fine in the greenhouse, other than one slug that managed to get in..
Izmir has been planted out in small pots
to control leaf size.

 

[johnny108]

3 Samsun Maden are in the ground, just off the balcony. Clay soil was mixed with cheap potting soil, and the plants were watered in with 500ml of full strength triple-20 fertilizer.

 

[johnny108]

11 more Samsun Maden in square containers joined the off-balcony plants.
Trying to keep varieties separated by region.

 

[johnny108]

Last of the Izmir is potted up and outside!
24 total.

 

[johnny108]

12 Virginia Gold are in the field.
Around 3 weeks late, but I won’t be maturing them into “ripe Virginia” this time.
Hopefully the warmer soil temps will help prevent early flowering.

 

[johnny108]

Backups: Aztec rustica.

 

[johnny108]

3 more Virginia Gold fit.
Total: 15

 

[Anders A]

12 Virginia Gold are in the field.
Around 3 weeks late, but I won’t be maturing them into “ripe Virginia” this time.
Hopefully the warmer soil temps will help prevent early flowering.
View attachment 59899

Beautiful place

 

[johnny108]

Big pot inhabitant this year: Little Dutch.
Potted up 9 Little Dutch into round pots and placed them off the balcony.
Either the weather or a Gardner broke off an in-ground Samsun Maden- replaced with Little Dutch.