All posts by jane

Veggies 10.3

annuals, seeds, spring, vegetables

The weather has cooled considerably since the beginning of the month. Overnight temps are hovering just above 32 degrees F. Mom G, who lives 2 hrs drive north of us, woke up to a dusting of snow on the ground yesterday morning.

But the Lot continues to tell us Spring actually will happen. I bundled up in a jacket, knit hat, and planted the following today.

Cold Crops 2019 – 3rd Planting

  • (8) Lettuce ‘All Season Butterhead Mix’
  • (9) Spinach ‘Bloomsdale Long Standing’

Flower Seed Restart

I also should mention, the little collapsible greenhouse we had purchased did just that on Friday afternoon. We’ve had some high winds with the changing temps enough to cut down some stalks I left standing in the back garden. Irritated is the polite word to use for my temperament when I saw the tipped greenhouse and scattered seed trays.

The whole reason I’m going on about the ruined flower seed planting is I planted some of those seeds again today. They are sitting in the little greenhouse which is safely tucked inside the garage. I have to brainstorm a way to keep the structure from flipping soon because those seeds will need sun and heat.

Another Seed Starting Attempt

annuals, perennials, seeds, spring

When I am able to plunk seeds outside, directly into the ground, Mother Nature does the majority of the work and the attempt is often successful. There have been many times I’ve tried to start seeds indoors without grow lights or any other special equipment and horribly failed.

How to Fail at Starting Seeds Indoors

  • Forget to water the seeds.
  • The seeds do not get enough light, causing the seedlings to be ‘leggy’.
  • Cats knock over the seed trays, scattering the contents.
  • Smash the seedlings when removing them from the tray to pot them up into a larger container.
  • Put the seedlings outside to ‘harden them off,’ and promptly forget they are outside.

What I need to do is get a copy of Julie Thompson’s book Starting & Saving Seeds!

Starting Flowers from Seeds… Again

All kidding aside, the Other Half and I purchased a small collapsible greenhouse this season for the sole purpose of starting seeds outdoors. The Lot is very small, so this 3 tier structure had to break down easy to be stored for 8-9 months out of the year.

Flowers I’m Trying to Start

Here’s what is planted in seed starting mix and small cell trays I kept from past nursery purchases.

  • Tithonia ‘Torch Mexican Sunflower’ – annual
  • Datura metel ‘Angel’s Trumpet’ – annual
  • Heliotropium arborescens ‘ Dwarf Marine’ – annual
  • Nicotiana langsdorffii ‘Langsdorff’s Tobacco’ – annual
  • Penstemon babatus ‘Dazzler Blend’ – perennial
  • Gaillardia aristata ‘Burgundy’ – perennial
  • Rudbeckia hirta ‘Irish Eyes’ – perennial
  • Asclepias tuberosa – perennial
  • Berlandiera lyrata (Chocolate Flower) – perennial?
  • Bipinnatus picotee (Cosmos) ‘Sensation Picotee’ – annual
  • Papver somniferum (Poppy) ‘Black Swan’ – annual
  • Ipomoea x multifida (Cardinal Climber) – annual
  • Ipomoea purpurea (Morning Glory) ‘Picotee Blue’ – annual
  • Ipomoea alba (Moonflower Vine) – annual
  • Tropaeolum majus (Nasturtium) ‘Whirlybird Mix’ – annual
  • Phaseolus vulgaris (Scarlet Runner Bean) – annual
  • Zinnia elegans ‘Northern Lights Blend’ – annual

Veggies 10.2

seeds, spring, vegetables

Today I continued our plan of succession planting for the spring vegetables. Here is what went into the ground.

Cold Crops 2019 – 2nd Planting

  • (16) Radish ‘Early Scarlet Globe’
  • (9) Spinach ‘Baby Leaf Hybrid’
  • (9) Arugula

Cold Crops in Containers

I planted some seeds in containers this year. These I’m trying to grow without the protection of the mini hoop houses we built. The peas we’ve had success before growing in a large container with a bamboo pyramid atop it. The parsley I’ve put in a small flower pot.

  • (5) Snow Peas ‘Melting Sugar’
  • (3) Parsley ‘Italian Large Flat Leaf’