How to: Growing Peach tree from seed, 2 months later

Now that my seedlings were off to live in the greenhouse on their own, I cut back on watering them. Since their new home was pretty humid, I left them without water for a few days, long enough for their soil to start to dry out and for them to look a little thirsty!

I lost quite a few along the way, and I've transplanted quite a few along the way as well! One thing I learned the hard way is this:

If you planted multiple seeds in a container, and one dies due to mold - MOVE THE OTHER IMMEDIATELY.

I didn't move one of them because it showed no signs of dying or wilting, so I left it. A couple weeks later - it died. The mold that had killed the other, killed this as well. That being said - these were the original two who were moldy when I transplanted them. So next year, I'll probably just throw the moldy ones out.

My original seed, who was planted in the little green pail also fell. Lack of drainage caused water rot, and so was the end of that.

My remaining 7, yes that's right, SEVEN. are doing well. Two of them are starting to brown at the bottom - which at first I feared as water rot again, but the soil isn't any more moist than it needs to be, and I can't seem to find anything wrong with them. I believe they may be growing their bark this time though. Since these two get the most direct sunlight out of all of them, I believe they may be getting their bark to protect them from sun damage.

Now, water rot will also cause the base of your plant to turn brown - and I was able to kind of figure out the difference this time (I think!). So far- what I've learned is if the cotyledons (the original two sides of the seed) are squishy and stinky - it's rot. This time - they're NOT squishy and stinky, so we shall see!

All in all, they're growing very well. I do have to say that they're getting pretty tall - and that's awesome.

Owning ducklings!

To start simply, my ducks hate me. They scream and cry whenever I want to pick them up so I can clean their pen or take them for a swim. They just hate being touched.

We've had them for about a week now and today is their first time away from our chicks.

We had a crawfish boil not too long ago and for it our friends lent us their kiddie pools that their toddler uses. Well several weeks later its still at our house so I thought, "why not take the ducks fkr a swim?"

Today I the first clear and sunny day we've had in about a month, so I wanted aNY excuse to stay outdoors! The rain has been miserable! We haven't been able to plant our garden because its too muddy. Hopefully itll dry out enough so we cam plant! Everything is begging to get in the ground.

Anyway, back to the ducks. First I had to get them out of the pen, and boy do they love to run from me. After about ten minutes I got them both out and off to screaming they went. I set them down in the kiddie pool and they kicked and screamed and whined. They continued on with their tantrum until they realized they were in water.

Then it was fun time. From dunking their heads to swimming in circles, they were content.

I did leave the water shallow enough that they could stand so they could rest.

All in all, they're finally happy c:

How to: transplant your seedlings into pots of their own

I may have been a little dumb in planting multiple tree seeds in one container, because let's face it: its next to impossible to untangle those roots once they've grown together, right?

Wrong!

Now, I will say I definitely picked the wrong containers for this! Those little biodegradable/plantable pots turned out to be a horrible idea! They absorb moisture, and they hold it even better. What do fresh young baby tree roots like most? Water.

So I forgot to check on my baby trees for a few weeks outside of letting D water them... and when I finally looked back at them their little roots had pushed through the container and were soaking uo water that has collected at the bottom of the tray.

Welp, its time to transplant them!

Getting the container off was the worst part. Not only had roots grown through the potter to the outside, but they had grown along the inside of the potter itself.
So I began to peel... and peel... and peel. I peeled about like you would an orange: gently and in small pieces. I didn't want to lose any roots I didn't have to. Twenty or so minutes later, I got the whole container off.

If you used plastic planters, you're doing good! All you gotta do is squeeze gently to losen the soil from the side and turn her upside down!

Do NOT pull them by their stems/bases. You risk breaking a lot more of their roots and potentially shocking them or killing them!

Now came the hard part: seperating the roots of my two baby peach trees without breaking any more roots.

All you need for this ladies and gents are the following few materials:
- a bucket of water
-new planters and soil for your baby plants
-a watering can to gently water them once transplanted.

1. Shake it off!
With your clump of soil and plants, gently brush off any loose soil from wherever it falls off. Don't push extra hard, if it doesn't budge that's okay!

2. Get ready!
Once you've gotten the loose bits off, encase your plants gently in your hands. You're essentially creating a cage for your plants so you don't lose them in the water.

3. Dunk tank!
Now gently, submerge them in water, and make sure you dont try to pull the plants apart. Most soil will dislodge in the bucket and you can gently agitate the water to help in the process. Just shake your hands a little like you're rolling a ball from one hand to the other until you feel the roots of both plants fall away.

4. Up for air!
Go on! Pull them out! Most of the dirt should be gone and you should be able to see your healthy root system all happy and unbroken!

5. Replanting!
Now take your favorite, and grab your new pot! With one hand hold your plant (at the base people! As close to the bottom as you can!) and slowly start filling the planter with your soil. Since they're still young, I continued to use my seed starting mix since it is rich in the nutrients my growing babies need! Continue to fill it up until your roots are covered and pat the soil down gently.

We do it this way so you're not putting extra stress on the roots by forcing them into the soil a certain way.

Gently water the transplanted plant just enough that the soil is moist. The roots should have plenty of water from their bath, but I find a little extra water in the soil can help with the shock.

6. Repeat!
Do this for all your little seedling babies and you'll be on your way to full grown plants in no time!