Everything's Growing

It's funny, isn't it, how you can wait forever for a seed to germinate, and then suddenly, they are ready to move on to a bigger pot.  Once they hit the first true leaf size, most seedlings have used up whatever goodness was in their starting compost.  Oh, they may look small, but they typically have a root system three to four times the size of what you see above soil--and all those roots are sucking up nutrients like mad.

At that point, you need to tease them apart from the clump that grew from your scatter-sowing in a small tub, and gently separate the individual plants.  Each plant will get it's own pot.  I found a great deal on a set of 18 three-inch pots that came with a water-tight tray, and once they are filled with my homemade potting mix, the little plants are now able to grow more and more roots.  With all those roots, it won't be long before I see more stems and leaves poking up.

Just look how happy the sage is now.  It's nearly three inches tall already, and check out the cardoon.

Oh cardoon, I think I love you.