Sprout babies, part 2

Since my last posting, I've transplanted my lettuce and radish sprouts to larger paper cups.  I've also killed off two more lettuce sprouts.  At this rate, I'm not sure if I will have any lettuce to harvest.  I need to order railing "saddle planters," such as the two pictured below since I can't find them locally.

picture courtesy of Gardener's Supply Company

I just started my pepper and tomato seedlings today.  Exiting possibilities...

What's in your garden?

Sprout babies

I've got babies! Onion, radish and lettuce babies, that is.  They are pictured below, although it's not a very good picture.  I have six onions.  I started with six radish sprouts, but only three survived.  I started with twelve lettuce sprouts, but only six survived. I'm so glad I followed the advice of a magazine article and planted more than I need on the premise that about half will die off before I even got truly started.  They like to hang out in this sunny window.

sprout babies

a close up of a radish sprout

another radish sprout on the left and a lettuce sprout on the right.

I intended to plant the lettuce in my front flower bed, hidden among the ferns and the hydrangea because they would get sublime morning sun and afternoon shade--just what lettuce like.  Planting them in the front flower bed would have been my one act of subversion against our HOA rules that stipulate that all food gardens are to be grown in the backyard.  

Now, I'm reconsidering that plan, however.  If I plant them out front, I'm afraid the deer would eat the lettuce since they chomp on my hydrangea leaves as it is.  (Our suburban deer are bold.) And recently, we've noticed that something has been digging tunnels in the front flower bed and along the foundation wall of the side of the house.  I fear that animal--maybe a mole?--is already nibbling on the roots of my hydrangea and the tulip bulbs on the side of the house.  Why add lettuce to that animal's diet? 

Instead, I'm gonna get those flower boxes that mount on the rails of the deck and plant the sprouts in there. Next, I will start the seedlings for tomatoes and peppers.  And herbs, especially mint for sweet tea and basil for the caprese salad.  These seedlings should be ready to plant outside by Mother's Day.  

What have you planted in your garden?