April 16, 2009

well I did get some peas planted …

… but not the others yet (favas, potatoes and onions). I have a lot of business taking precedence… My priorities are all messed up. The others need to go in soon. But at least the peas have been planted. I used branches this year to support my peas. I’ve read that the supports should go in when you plant the peas and not later. And I’ve heard that well branched trees like fruit trees make good pea supports. I used pruned branches from my crab apple tree. I ran out…

April 15, 2009

finally planting in the garden today

Enough with the dog poetry – I’m finally planting today! Peas, favas and a row of potatoes will go in. Beautiful sunshine and sort of warm. Photos later.

April 11, 2009

Good Friday for planting potatoes

Good Friday is a traditional day for planting potatoes. I didn’t get mine in today, but I did dig up about 2 pounds of nice little potatoes that I missed last fall. They’ll be good roasted with my Easter lamb. A little rosemary, a little garlic, ahh….. And I measured my potato patch today: 11 by 3 ft. I noticed that some of the potatoes I dug had started to sprout a little already, so looks like it is time to plant. Hopefully I’ll get mine in next week –…

April 9, 2009

seedlings

April 3, 2009

tomato seedlings

I planted a few tomatoes very early (February 21) and transplanted them and some peppers to bigger pots yesterday. The 16 varieties planted last weekend have all sprouted. My tomato varieties this year are: Hillbilly, Purple Calabash, Brandywine, Giant Belgium, Cherokee Purple, Sudduth’s strain Brandywine, Opalka, Box Car Willie, San Marzano, Oxheart Red, New Girl, Early Girl, Orange Blossom, Big Beef, Pink Beauty and Sungold. tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum))

April 3, 2009

seedlings out in the sun

These are the hardy ones. Onions, broccoli, lettuce, etc. Temps are still just under 50 at mid day. I’ll be bringing them in at night for a while yet.

March 28, 2009

scented seedlings

A couple of my seedlings smell great already. The best is the lavender. I only have 4 tiny little plants, growing very slowly, but they have a strong and wonderful scent. Other scented seedlings are basil, thyme and tomatoes. If I move trays of any of these, its like being in the garden and smelling the air and sunlight.

March 28, 2009

seedlings on the shelf

I have six and a half trays of seedlings growing now. Only four fit under my lights, but the sun’s doing a good job with the others. The lettuce is starting to look pretty with red frilly leaves. The early tomatoes will need bigger pots soon. Onions continue to grow well though I decided not to trim their tops. Broccoli and peppers have their second leaves (1st true leaves) and my surprise seedlings sprouted well are thinking about getting second leaves. I hoping this will give me a clue to…

March 25, 2009

the tomato seeds are planted!

Its a big event, to get my tomatoes planted. I think this really means the garden season has started. At last! I planted 3 cells each of 16 different varieties – one or two seeds per cell. I have some very exciting new (to me) varieties I’m trying this year. Box Car Willie, Hillybilly, Mortgage Lifter, Opalka and Sungold. And my old favorites: Giant Belgian, Purple Calabash and Brandywine. Lets hope its a perfect tomato summer. tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum)

March 23, 2009

planting surprise seeds

There’s nothing like a good mystery. A couple of weeks ago, Dan, a fellow garden blogger, sent me some seeds. We had arranged a trade. He sent me 6 Charentais melon seeds and 6 seeds each of two heirloom tomatoes (Hillbilly and Suddoth’s strain Brandywine). I sent him 6 Delicata melon and 6 purple Calabash tomato seeds. BUT, in addition to the agreed on seeds, Dan added a package of SURPRISE seeds. I have no idea what the surprise seeds are. They are small and round like cabbage or radish.…

weeks and counting until my last spring frost

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