This is a page dedicated to keeping notes on plantings, germination, production, etc.
2/25 – I planted 6 different types of tomatoes in Jiffy greenhouses tonight using Jiffy’s organic seed starting mix. There are 9 cells for each type, which makes for 54 tomato plants. Of course I won’t plant that many, but I just want to make sure to cover my bases. It was kind of nerve-wracking not wanting to make a mistake, but I followed directions and we’ll see what happens.
2/29 – several of the tomato seedlings are already starting to emerge! I am leaving them on top of the fridge but may have to move them soon to light even if everything hasn’t germinated yet. I have a workshop light set up in the basement for indoor growing.
3/3 – I’m kind of late on this, but I added in 9 seeds of Ping-Tung eggplants to the seed starting endeavors.
3/8 – The eggplants are sprouting! My tomato seedlings have pretty much all germinated now – the tomatillos are not 100%, but the others all came up (I planted 9 of each kind just to be safe). I’m a bit worried about the legginess of some of those that sprouted early on top of the fridge, but just added some soil around them to support them for now. Some seedlings even have their first set of true leaves.
It’s a full moon tonight – they say sometimes that that’s a good time for seed starting, don’t they? Tonight I’m also planting my herbs that need to be started indoors – basil, thyme, tarragon, sage, oregano, and dill. Also, I’m planting some kale tonight. The weather has been so wacky outside – 70′s a few days ago, and snow this morning.
The daffodils are blooming in my garden. It’s so nice when I am able to enjoy the fruits of someone else’s labor. I spied some dahlia bulbs at Sams and am considering planting some this year.
3/11/2012
I went downstairs to mist my seedlings, having forgotten about them for about a day. Thankfully, they weren’t dead, and I was surprised to see that the kale I sowed is already sprouting, as is the thyme. I’m pretty impressed with the three day germination rate. Maybe the full moon did have something to do with it :).
3/24/2012
I now have strawberry plants in my front porch planter as well as in a terra cotta strawberry pot. The ones that were kind of green when I got them are doing pretty well, but the ones that had nothing on them at all have no signs of life two days after planting.
Almost all of my herb seeds have germinated now. They still seem to be tiny, and the tomatoes are growing but don’t seem to be taking off, so I think I might put them in my impromptu cold frame this week to give them some real light and warmer temperatures (the highs are in the 70′s and 80′s this week) – just for a bit in the morning and then I’ll move them back down. This gardening stuff is a bit demanding, especially in the spring!
3/25/2012
I worked on putting in my lasagna garden bed extension on the front plot.
Snap peas have been soaked and planted in the back plot as well as in a planter. I hope they do okay and don’t get eaten by all the birds.
Note to self: if there is NO sign of growth on the strawberry plants that had no signs of growth in the bag, while the ones that had little green leaves in the bag are getting bigger and stronger by the day.
March 31, 2012
I potted up 18 of the tomato seedlings tonight and moved them upstairs to where the temps are warmer. They almost all have purple stems and purple on the underside of their leaves, which can either be because of temperatures being too cold or phosphorous deficiency or both (they can be related). But I’m still hopeful. The Kentucky Beefsteaks are acting really strange – all of their leaves, including the seedling leaves, get withered at the ends, though none of the others do.
Snap peas are starting to poke through the soil!
Planted Cosmic purple carrots in one of the planters – I’m hoping it will work.
I also sprinkled parsley seeds on the soil. Arugula and mesclun in front planters are past sprouting and starting to grow. Must get the beets and chard in tomorrow evening.
Temps are expected to be 90 tomorrow, on the first day of April.
My first lasagna bed is finished! I used a total of the following to build it:
2 bags 3.0 cu. ft. peat moss at 9.74/bag = 20
4 inches of leaves chopped with lawnmower (free)
3 inches of leaf/freshly cut grass mixture (free)
1 2-cu.ft. bag cotton burr compost ($4.50)
1 cu ft of mushroom compost ($2.25)
1 cu ft of cow manure compost( 1.21 – yup – this stuff is cheapo in Kansas)
a sprinkle of bonemeal on top for extra phosphorous
Total spent – roughly $30 w/tax – should compress to 6 inches or so, leaving about 10 cu. ft (the area is about 20 square feet) of rich soil to work with in six weeks.
That’s about $3/cubic foot of high quality garden soil. I’m hoping it works out!
4/5/2012 – I snuck outside during the boys naptimes today to plant some Rainbow Swiss chard and some Baby Bok Choy. The sky was overcast, the air was cool and quiet.
Yesterday I finished moving over a 2nd round of tomato seedlings to larger pots. I just can’t bear to let a good Green Zebra go to waste . . .
No sign yet of carrot or parsley seedlings. Trying to be patient . . .
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4/9/2012
The carrot seeds have finally started to germinate, but I can only see a few right now. So .. . 8 days to germination from seed? Not too bad, from what I’ve read.
4/14/2012
The carrot seeds are all germinating now, and the Ching Chang Bok Choy and Swiss Chard are also poking through the soil. Whew.
Although I’m not a fan of styrofoam for its lack of recyclability, I have to say that my tomato plants love them. They grow so much better in them, and I’m guessing it’s because they’re still in the basement and appreciate the extra insulation.
5/7/2012
I finally got my tomato plants in ground today. I put a dusting of bone meal, crushed eggshells, and an aspirin at the bottom of each hole and covered it with some soil, and then added in some cow manure compost back in with the soil, then watered with fish emulsion (diluted). I decided to put in the following: 2 Black Cherries, 2 Green Zebras, 1 Hillbilly Flame, 1 San Marzano, and 1 Supersweet 100. I may add another supersweet in under the teepee in the front plot just to see how much it grows. I also put in a tomatillo plant. I’m not sure if they are supposed to have a friend to cross-pollinate with. If so, I’ll add it in place of an eggplant.
I also made up a neem oil spray today and sprayed my swiss chard with it. The bok choy looks like Swiss cheese – I may just have to chuck it. I had to cut back my mint as well because some caterpillars were having a feast on it. At least it’s mint – you know it will grow back.
5/8/2012
I planted my lasagna bed today with 50 Dragon Tongue bush bean seeds, and 20 beet seeds (1/2 Golden, 1/2 Chioggia). If all goes according to plan, I should harvest these around my 38th birthday.
5/17/2012
Yesterday I planted some cilantro and more parsley and finally finished the front beds (in terms of preparation). The herbs that I started from seed look tiny in their new home, but I’m hoping they do well there. The dragon tongue bush beans are beginning to poke through the soil, but I still haven’t seen most of them come up and it’s been 9 days now.
6/1/2012
I pulled up the peas in the back bed, mixed in some new compost, and planted Waltham butternut squash seeds with Eli. We also tucked some Musquee de Provence pumpkin seeds along the side. I have no idea how or if they will grow. But it’s fun to plant thinking of the cool temperatures that will be here when they are harvested, of the roasted squash soup or pumpkin pies that could be made.
6/5/2012
My tomatoes are really taking off now. I have 4 Black Beauty zucchini growing on one plant, and some Lilac peppers starting to grow as well. I put in 5 Boston Pickling cucumber plants, and they are flowering too. I am hoping to make refrigerator pickles with them. One of the basil plants that the rabbits ate down to a stem is actually growing back.
Speaking of losing vegetables, I loved visiting one of the beloved peppers growing on one of my plants, only to find it in the dirt one day. Looks like a four year-old got a bit curious. I don’t think my husband understands sometimes what heartbreak can ensue when something like that happens.
