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Monday, March 14, 2022 Little Ketchup Grittyville, WA

Entry 40 of 228  
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Apologies if this image is too small.

I will be trying a new method of "shallow roots" transplanting. The idea is that for an ultra early start, most of the oxygen and the warmer temps will be closer to the soil surface. We never get drying of the soil surface until May so shallow roots isnt a problem. They have all of spring to go deeper. I have had root rot issues when I plant down deep because thats what happens when the good microbes are still dormant and the soil is too cold or damp. And there's also competition for oxygen. So I think the ideal root depth in early spring is more like 3" not 7 or 8". This new method should give a much better root zone depth and thus the plant can get an immediate good start.
Basically I am using the standard seedling tray as a pot. Ive started five seeds with the best one in the middle. The tray held three gallons of soil and should last three weeks before transplanting out. So that would be a few days into April.

Not my earliest start ever, but I will try to make it my best start ever.
 



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