Saturday, March 9, 2013

Seedlings

Yesterday I finally got some more seedlings into soil blocks. For now I'm just doing three each of some early lettuce (Red Sails, Little Gem, Paris Island, Deer Tongue), bok choy (Shuko, Purple), mizuna (Early, Ruby Streaks), some celery (Ventura, Redventure), and Fun Jen. I'll do the main planting of them in a couple of weeks, but for now some riskier early plants. I fully expect them to produce, but you never know what the weather will bring. Yesterday we had another foot of snow.

Today I had to shovel a spot on the back steps to put out my onions. It is already 42F. This week will be mostly in the 40Fs and 50Fs, so I figure it is a good time to teach my onions what the real world is like. I'll bring them in at night. They don't predict the warm weather will stick around past this week, but a week of warm weather is helpful. In Boston the typical outdoor planting time for things like peas and spinach is St. Patrick's Day. Some years that works, some years we have to wait another week. Not sure about this year. We haven't had the intense cold like some years, so the ground might not be frozen as far down as usual, but we have had a lot of late snow which insulates it.

19 comments:

  1. You guys are about the same as far as timing just maybe a week or two ahead of us in what you do. I started my strawberry seeds, lettuce, eggplant, pars, onions, brocc and broccoli-flour and a few others this week indoors and they are about 1" tall. I finally got a wireless therm and the cold frame is reading a whopping 75 during the days and 25 at night (outside high temps are hovering at 40). I was amazed at how hot that thing was getting! We cannot plant peas or spinach until April 1st here (Chicago). I will rough up the soil and get the cold frame ready and put some stuff out there this weekend.

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  2. oh my planting in the garden in march!! WOW

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  3. I've been taking my tiny leek and lettuce seedlings out during the day, too. Once the temp get up around 40 or higher, I figure it's better for them than artificial light, as well as getting them toughened up for the garden. I'm sure they grow a bit slower, but that's not always a bad thing.

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  4. Looks as if 2013 might be another strange year as far as weather is concerned. We are supposedly going to get snow tomorrow and most of next week - just when we thought Spring was here.

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  5. I love starting seeds--it's makes winter so much more tolerable, doesn't it? The greenhouse is full of babies because of my business, but it never feels like work when your hands smell like basil and tomatoes from potting up they babies. I always get a little nervous this time of year--will I ever get all of the plants potted up and ready for market? With the kids being sick a good bit the past two weeks and too much life happening, I'm a little behind schedule...but it will eventually get done. Good luck with all of your green babies!

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  6. I am thankful our snows have all been pretty tame this year. So far. You all have had more that your share though. I need to get some celery going too. I'm going to try the Redventure this year, along with Tango. The Ruby Streaks is a pretty mizuna. I love it at the baby stage for salads. That's how I wind up with so many plants, I can't say no!

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  7. The seedlings look very happy and strong!

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  8. I can't wait to see your garden yields this year!

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  9. I am nervous about putting mine outside...and you have snow! Well done brave spirit:)!

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  10. Those seed flats next to snow look so silly! Hopefully you get some nicer weather soon Daphne!

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  11. So excited seeing my seeds germinate on the windowsill but it's been snowing here in the Cotswolds too today. Hope we all get warmer weather soon for hardening off.

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  12. Your onions look very sturdy and healthy. Fun to see them enjoying sunshine with a background of snow behind them. We typically plant onions and peas around St. Patricks day too but often I choose to wait a week or so if the soil feels too cold. I will probably put the onions in next week, but not the peas quite yet.

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  13. Wow, your onions look great!! This was a good reminder for me that mine need to be planted.

    Victoria
    http://victoriaspatiogarden.blogspot.com/

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  14. Looking good! I still haven't planted seedlings yet. Better get to it! =0)

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  16. We have a very cold spring. I planted only for castor seedlings.

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  17. I'm very curious about what you use for the soil in your seedling trays...do you make your own mixture? Or can you recommend a brand? I'm in MA also, and when I was at the feed store yesterday I bought lettuce seeds in a giant act of hope. I'd like to give them the best possible chance. Thanks for any advice!

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    1. I use the Vermont Compost Company's Fort V potting mix. It is hard to find in MA. I get it from the bulk by of the Northeast Organic Farmer's Association.

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    2. Thank you so much! I'll see if I can find it, or something similar :)

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