Monday, April 13, 2009
Sunday, April 12, 2009
Know Before You Grow
I have found the information in the Park Seed catalog and newsletter to be extremely helpful, one reason I've bought so many seeds and supplies from them.
Their Know Before You Grow fact sheets are very helpful and can be found here:
Park Seed: Gardener Library
Their Know Before You Grow fact sheets are very helpful and can be found here:
Park Seed: Gardener Library
Saturday, April 11, 2009
more
We started Isaac's basils today. He did it all himself, really. He is growing the three types of basil I bought: long leaf Italian, cinnamon, and a purple kind.
I put some protection over my tomato plants, confused about what day it was. It's actually tomorrow where it's getting down to 37. Oh, well, I guess I'll just do it again.
I need to make a database where I check of when I start things indoors, when I set them outside, , when I see sprouts, and when I harvest, especially the first 2 because I have no idea when to expect them to be ready.
I put some protection over my tomato plants, confused about what day it was. It's actually tomorrow where it's getting down to 37. Oh, well, I guess I'll just do it again.
I need to make a database where I check of when I start things indoors, when I set them outside, , when I see sprouts, and when I harvest, especially the first 2 because I have no idea when to expect them to be ready.
first mow of the year
My husband is out mowing for the first time this year. I remember last year I was so proud when he would go out and mow on Saturdays. It just felt like we were real grownups with a real house, and we actually are.
I have taken a lot of space out of the lawn--we had plenty to spare--for my vegetable garden, so the backyard should be considerably faster now.
I planted more Pink Beauty radishes. Planted them in the Miracle Grow soil just to see if they grow differently/worse there. I am working on ammending that soil with compost and more of the soil I bought locally.
I am glad that I've been trying several varieties of different plants because I learn so much that way and feel like I have a higher chance of success. If all I planted was the Sparkler radishes, for instance, in that one spot, I would be very disappointed in radishes in general.
I am disappointed in carrots. I am getting A FEW carrots in one of my local-soil beds, but the original ones I planted disappeared. I have harvested NO CARROTS yet, although I have planted them several times. I will keep trying, and if all else fails, I will grow some baby ones in an Earthbox next spring.
Tonight is supposed to be cold, so I will have to protect my tomatoes. And then we have only one more cold night forecast--April 23. We'll see. Unless the forecast changes, I won't plant out any more tomatoes or peppers until then.
I put away my grow lights, since I'm just setting my seedlings out every morning and bringing them in at night.
My aluminum plant cutting appears to be developing some roots. I did not buy root powder for it, since that was $5, and young aluminum plants are quite cheap.
I have taken a lot of space out of the lawn--we had plenty to spare--for my vegetable garden, so the backyard should be considerably faster now.
I planted more Pink Beauty radishes. Planted them in the Miracle Grow soil just to see if they grow differently/worse there. I am working on ammending that soil with compost and more of the soil I bought locally.
I am glad that I've been trying several varieties of different plants because I learn so much that way and feel like I have a higher chance of success. If all I planted was the Sparkler radishes, for instance, in that one spot, I would be very disappointed in radishes in general.
I am disappointed in carrots. I am getting A FEW carrots in one of my local-soil beds, but the original ones I planted disappeared. I have harvested NO CARROTS yet, although I have planted them several times. I will keep trying, and if all else fails, I will grow some baby ones in an Earthbox next spring.
Tonight is supposed to be cold, so I will have to protect my tomatoes. And then we have only one more cold night forecast--April 23. We'll see. Unless the forecast changes, I won't plant out any more tomatoes or peppers until then.
I put away my grow lights, since I'm just setting my seedlings out every morning and bringing them in at night.
My aluminum plant cutting appears to be developing some roots. I did not buy root powder for it, since that was $5, and young aluminum plants are quite cheap.
work before the storm
Showers forecast for tonight--I am always happy about that.
I got some work done today, since my husband had a little time off. I am preparing the garden along our back fence. I put cardboard down, and then shredded paper, and then a thin layer of cedar mulch for aesthetics. It doesn't completely cover the shredded paper, but it makes it look better. I am done with half of it, have another half to do. I think it will look fine once I have lots of flowers growing.
I had started some lettuce seedlings, and Isaac happily helped me plant those.
I have decided to go head with harvesting my Earthbox lettuce for Easter lunch. Hopefully, it will grow again. Next year, I will be sure and start lots of greens much earlier. I'm hoping that I'll be able to keep us in arugula and claytonia (if we like it--haven't tried claytonia) all winter.
Now, we are concentrating on starting flower seedlings. Easy things that could be self-sown, but I find I don't have the patience to go out and water seedlings for 2 weeks. It's much easier to use peat pellets and just pull off that plastic netting stuff, and then plant them out before a rain is expected.
I'm afraid that 2 of my chive seedlings died--set them out too early. I guess I will try again! It is ridiculous growing chives from seed--I know it's ridiculous, but I can't stop myself.
I got some work done today, since my husband had a little time off. I am preparing the garden along our back fence. I put cardboard down, and then shredded paper, and then a thin layer of cedar mulch for aesthetics. It doesn't completely cover the shredded paper, but it makes it look better. I am done with half of it, have another half to do. I think it will look fine once I have lots of flowers growing.
I had started some lettuce seedlings, and Isaac happily helped me plant those.
I have decided to go head with harvesting my Earthbox lettuce for Easter lunch. Hopefully, it will grow again. Next year, I will be sure and start lots of greens much earlier. I'm hoping that I'll be able to keep us in arugula and claytonia (if we like it--haven't tried claytonia) all winter.
Now, we are concentrating on starting flower seedlings. Easy things that could be self-sown, but I find I don't have the patience to go out and water seedlings for 2 weeks. It's much easier to use peat pellets and just pull off that plastic netting stuff, and then plant them out before a rain is expected.
I'm afraid that 2 of my chive seedlings died--set them out too early. I guess I will try again! It is ridiculous growing chives from seed--I know it's ridiculous, but I can't stop myself.
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