On Friday, March 19, I re-tilled a row in the garden (did it myself - what a workout!), laid a soaker hose, planted peas and spinach along the soaker hose, and installed the same pea supports I used last year - nylon mesh supported with rebar and plastic ties.
Then on Saturday, March 20, I repotted a bunch of eggplant and tomato seedlings from teeny pots to 3" peat pots. In peat pots now I have a dozen tomatoes and half a dozen eggplants. Plus some extras still in the small pots as backups until I need the space under the grow light. And some to give to Ann.
Today I repotted the parsley that have sprouted into slightly larger pots, and separated a few that came up with multiples in the same pot. I now have 8 parsley seedlings.
Besides maintaining what's already been planted, my next step will be to start some watermelon, cantaloupe, and honeydew seedlings directly in peat pots sometime between April 10 and May 1.
I'm debating whether to start basil, oregano, marigolds, and nasturtium inside or whether to directly sow into the garden. While all four can be directly sown outside, I had intended to start some inside, but it's looking like there may not be room under the grow light for them what with tomatoes, eggplant, parsley, and melons taking up all the space. To be determined.
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Seeds and Seedlings
We took the pilgrimage to Rohrer Seeds in Pennsylvania on Tuesday. I picked up all the seeds I wanted. Ann and I will share her packet of zucchini seeds and my packet of Italian tomato seeds.
That morning, I decided to add pole beans to the roster. I'll split a row between herbs and pole beans after the peas and spinach clear out.
I also decided to grow Melody Hybrid Spinach instead of Bloomsdale Long Standing Spinach because I prefer the kind that is more smooth and less ruffled. The pictures on the packets made this clearer than the descriptions did.
Instead of Amish Paste tomatoes, I decided to go with San Marzano tomatoes, described as the original Italian paste variety. The authenticity appeals to me for making spaghetti sauce. I've been really enjoying the homemade spaghetti sauce I canned last year. Inconveniently most of my batches of spaghetti seem to take 1.5 quarts instead of an even 1 or 2. I'm considering making batches of pints this year instead so it'll take an even 3 jars.
On the trip, I also bought 2 dozen purple pansies to line the front walkway. I'm gradually hardening them off between the garage at night and outdoors in the sunlight during parts of the day.
This afternoon, during Matthew's naptime, I started some seedlings: 27 tomatoes, 9 eggplant, and 9 parsley. Some of the tomatoes I'll share with Ann, and some are extras in case they don't all sprout. I'm using a plastic Jiffy Greenhouse that has 72 tiny cells, probably an inch across each. Because they're so small, I'll need to transplant the plants to other pots later, probably peat pots. But in the case of the tomatoes at least, that'll make for stronger plants, because I can bury some of the stem each time they get transplanted and produce more roots.
It should be time to plant peas and spinach in a few weeks, but I heard today the Farmer's Almanac is calling for a worse March than January and February. That would be impressive considering the blizzards we've had already this year. We shall see.
All in all, a good week for the garden so far. Total seed price: $43.95
That morning, I decided to add pole beans to the roster. I'll split a row between herbs and pole beans after the peas and spinach clear out.
I also decided to grow Melody Hybrid Spinach instead of Bloomsdale Long Standing Spinach because I prefer the kind that is more smooth and less ruffled. The pictures on the packets made this clearer than the descriptions did.
Instead of Amish Paste tomatoes, I decided to go with San Marzano tomatoes, described as the original Italian paste variety. The authenticity appeals to me for making spaghetti sauce. I've been really enjoying the homemade spaghetti sauce I canned last year. Inconveniently most of my batches of spaghetti seem to take 1.5 quarts instead of an even 1 or 2. I'm considering making batches of pints this year instead so it'll take an even 3 jars.
On the trip, I also bought 2 dozen purple pansies to line the front walkway. I'm gradually hardening them off between the garage at night and outdoors in the sunlight during parts of the day.
This afternoon, during Matthew's naptime, I started some seedlings: 27 tomatoes, 9 eggplant, and 9 parsley. Some of the tomatoes I'll share with Ann, and some are extras in case they don't all sprout. I'm using a plastic Jiffy Greenhouse that has 72 tiny cells, probably an inch across each. Because they're so small, I'll need to transplant the plants to other pots later, probably peat pots. But in the case of the tomatoes at least, that'll make for stronger plants, because I can bury some of the stem each time they get transplanted and produce more roots.
It should be time to plant peas and spinach in a few weeks, but I heard today the Farmer's Almanac is calling for a worse March than January and February. That would be impressive considering the blizzards we've had already this year. We shall see.
All in all, a good week for the garden so far. Total seed price: $43.95
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