The snake beans plants have started to creep around their bamboo trellis about 5 days ago. I am so amazed at their instinctive ability to seek out the support and slowly creep its way upwards. For a city raised person who hasn’t grown anything before, this is a very interesting thing to observe. Pardon my gushing as this is such a trivial, common sight for gardeners. I promise to get a grip on myself.
My snake beans are almost touching the top of the balcony railings. The yellow arrows mark the height of each plant now. The blue line marks their average height 2 weeks ago.
The lone lemon balm seedling was joined by 6 other seedlings about 5 days ago. Guess it wasn’t a lone ranger like I thought, just an early starter.
Dill is coming along nicely, but looks abit overcrowded, doesn’t it? But I have no heart to pull any out. Could I just leave it as it is? Or will they be able to stand being transplanted to another container? Maybe I’ll try transplanting some.
Parsley is coming along nicely too.
Chives are a half-hearted dismal affair. Could it be the soil that I am using?
Out of the original 10 cherry tomato seedlings that sprouted, I have kept 5 of them. Transplanted 2 into their individual plastic bottle containers and kept 3 in the original pot for now. They are coming along nicely too.
After the mouldy Okra seed incident, one wonderful Okra seedling managed to germinate out of a batch of 8 seeds that I tried to sow again. I will try to germinate some again so that I could have at least 2 Okra plants. I love steamed Okra.
I give up on Coriander. There seems to be no sucess whatsoever, no matter how I try to germinate them. Will listen to advice and get new fresh seeds. My mom seems to be mocking me silently with the way she continues to grow her coriander that she bought from the market.
Balcony Greens 
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February 13, 2008 at 4:28 pm
Emma
I love your bamboo trellis 😀
February 13, 2008 at 10:09 pm
Teresa
Hi Emma
Thanks for dropping by and I find your grow dome very cool too! And I also enjoyed your post on 15 ways to recycle a plastic bottle in the garden.
February 14, 2008 at 5:39 am
Kate
Please don’t stop telling us of your wonder at what is happening! If you are anything like me you will never cease to be in awe of it all! The dill will be fine if you are intending to cut it often, as I am sure you will. Chives are such tiny seeds it would be better to use a finer soil – such as a bought potting mix or seed raising mix and only cover them with a very thin layer too.
February 15, 2008 at 7:16 am
Anonymous
Don’t worry about the chives. Once you get one going, it will become a large clump. I live in northern Canada and its the only herb that does so well that it takes over some flower beds. Cilantro should be easy to grow from seed. Did your mom buy cut cilantro or a plant from the market? Because either way, it’s only temporary. Mine goes to flower/seed relatively quickly, so I need to keep planting more all the time.
February 15, 2008 at 12:42 pm
Teresa
Hi there! Thanks about the advise on clives. Whew, I was kind of worried that it’ll be just one stalk of clives like what I see now.
My mom bought the whole plant including roots from the market and submerged in water to keep them fresh. I have no idea why my seeds don’t grow at all. I’ll buy another batch of seeds and try. Yours sounds so easy to grow!
February 15, 2008 at 12:52 pm
Teresa
Hi Kate!
Thanks for your reassurance. LOL! I am glad that it’s not just me to gush at every single thing that’s happening. I felt like such a simpleton to have never seen grown stuff before. Got it about the chives. Thanks for the advise, I’ll sow another batch in the potting mix. Thanks for the advise on the dill too!
February 16, 2008 at 10:31 am
Christina
Oh wow! Everything is growing so well. I’m so excited for you!
February 16, 2008 at 12:25 pm
Teresa
Thanks Christina! Me too! LOL
February 28, 2008 at 6:35 am
Kristi
Everything looks so nice, I had issues with coriander too. I’m finally have success with a different package of seeds. I can mail some your way if your interested. I have more than I need.
February 29, 2008 at 1:34 pm
Teresa
Hi Kristi! Thanks for the offer! It’s awful nice of you to offer, appreciate it. But I’m in Singapore! It’s okay, the coriander seeds would have travelled further than I ever have and I will be so jealous. Grin.
January 17, 2010 at 11:25 am
deiatra
I know how you can get many crops of cilantro. Crack the seeds with your fingers and soak the cracked pods for 24 hrs. Next put them in some moist fertile soil about 1/4 inch deep and loosely cover. Keep them warm and moist and they will sprout within the week. After that they only need water and sun.
October 5, 2012 at 7:48 pm
Leslin
I know this message is a few years too late, but I just stumbled on your blog today..and fell in love with it!! 🙂 I have been trying to homegrow coriander myself for a few months now, but I just don’t seem to succeed!! even if the seeds do sprout, they turn out to be pretty weak and don’t survive.. I don’t know what I’m doing wrong.. 😦
A fresh batch has just sprouted out a few days ago, thanks to my unfailing attempts and the receding monsoons.. Yet again, they don’t seem to be very strong though, and I just have my fingers and toes crossed!! Hope I succeed this time at least. Who would have thought coriander was such a tricky plant?