I scored a load of dry, CLEAN pallets over the weekend, and I'm gonna break them down today to make some seed trays to start onions, lettuce, and more greens for stagger planting this fall/winter.
I watered my Arcadia broccoli, which have just about outgrown the shelf height. They are beginning to lean over, so definitely have to get them out for hardening off.
Last night I divided some EJW cabbages that were sowed in 6 oz. yogurt cups. I turned 5 crowded cups into 13 individual plants.
Some of the smaller runts hiding under the larger leaves can now get more light, and should recover from the transplanting in about a week. The overshadowing by larger leaves, and the lack of light was noticeably visible in their yellowing leaves. They should get more light now that they been separated.
Everything looks good this morning.
However, I'm still waiting for our weather to cool off a bit before I set the seedlings outside. We're expecting a light cool down this weekend, so probably a great time to harden off and transplant them out.
Since I can't stand to waste seeds to thinning, and because of a thriving pill bug population, I start all my veggie seeds indoors under lights. They go out larger and healthier, and have a fighting chance against the elements and the buggies. I even start beet seeds inside, and transplant them successfully. I get to control how many, and where, LOL!
I was hoping to plant out the broccs this past weekend, but rain kept me from tilling my raised beds. Maybe not a bad thing, since we're supposed to have a cold spell this weekend. I'll turn under some composted Black Kow Manure, then continue with my Mittleider Weekly Feed, once a week.
Truly hoping to get my auto drip irrigation system in before tomato season, too.
Well, boy did I get a scheduling surprise!
I calculated I'd grow these seedlings for EIGHT weeks before transplanting them, but, they're already drinking up a whole tray of water overnight. These teenagers will be taking a hardening off field trip starting this weekend for transplanting out next week!
To date, 3-1/2 trays of seedlings have consumed 6 gallons of the Mittleider Constant Comfort daily feed.
The Arcadia Broccoli are averaging two sets of true leaves, with another set peeping.
The Cabbages are still growing in the 6 oz. yogurt cups, undivided. I'll split them out this weekend, and let them stay inside for another week or two to re-establish themselves before starting to harden them off for transplanting. 
The next part of prepping the beds is to rent a Mantis tiller from Home Depot and turn under two bags of Composted Kow Manure, and the Mittleider Preplant Mix and Weekly Feed into raised beds (RBs) #1 & #3, where the broccs and cabbages will go.
As soon as those beds are transplanted, seeds will be sowed for #onions, #spinach, #lettuce, and #carrots.
Pic #1 Broccoli - Arcadia, Tray #1, Day #23 from sowing.
These were separated from 10 cells into 25 individual cells, on day #19. They have perked up, and looks like all have survived the separation. Total of 25 growing.
Pic #2 Cabbages - EJW, Day #23 from sowing
Pic #3 Collards - Georgia, Day #23 from sowing
The #broccolis were getting floppy due to vying for root space (not nutrients) to spread out. Growing too crowded in their cells. So, surgery was necessary, and the twins, triplets, and quadruplets were separated into their own individual cells.
I tried a different separation tack this time. Rather than disrupt the whole root system by dumping the whole cell out, I used a chopstick to go straight down outside the root zone, then lift the potting mix upward from below the root ball. I continued this motion around the circumference of the rootball until I could gently tug a seedling out of the mix (by its leaves), without too much disruption to the seedling(s) next to it. Sometimes I won, sometimes I didn't, especially when I was removing more than two or three transplants from the cell, and trying to leave one seedling undisturbed.
Afterwards, I let them settle in a bit, then watered the entire (now) two trays of seedlings with the Mittleider Constant Comfort daily feed, since all these seedlings have been used to the uptake from day one...
Multiple seedlings in only 10 cells went to 25 individual cells.
Here's what the "floppy moppies" look like this morning.
Pic #1 is of the seedlings that were left in place. They're a little perkier.
Pic #2 is of the seedlings that were pulled and reset.
To date, the seedlings have drunk 3 gallons of Mittleider Constant Comfort (ConC) daily feed, and are looking great! The broccs and cabbages are working on their 2nd set of true leaves already, and the collards are picking up speed. Room temp is being kept at 75-74°, and fluorescent T-12 shop lights are on 15 hours daily.
Didn't pot up this weekend as planned, but, hope to separate them today, as they're beginning to lay down due to competing for space -- not nutrients -- space. They're eating pretty well, and are thoroughly content. otherwise!
Mixed up a new batch of ConC feed yesterday, and will continue watering daily, as needed.
Here's a pic of the seedlings at day #18 (from sowing)
Pic #1, Arcadia #Broccoli
Pic #2, Early Jersey Wakefield Cabbage
Pic #3, Georgia Collards
