Excited to start gardening again!

Just like every spring, I was super excited to get my seeds in the mail.  This year I ordered my seeds from Pine Tree Seeds.  I haven't used them before but they had really good reviews and I like that they guarantee their seeds to be GMO free.  The memory of the fluorescent bright colored cucumber seeds I received a couple of years ago is still fresh.  I think starting with good seeds is important and for me and my family that means non GMO.    

And here is proof that I planted the seeds this weekend - well the ones that are good to start inside.  It is always to exciting to get started every year.  My teenage son is obsessed with venus fly traps and received a kit to grow his own last December.  He decided it may not be the right time to start them  in the middle of winter so he started his fly trap seeds and put them under the lights.  I hope they grow - he will be so disappointed if they don't. 

Looking forward to a great growing season for all of us. 

Seedling check -in

 A look at the seedling a month after planting.  Most are up and doing great!  They might be small but they will catch up - they always do. 

 A closer look at one of the tomatoes. 

 None of the broccoli or hot peppers germinated.  When that happens, rather than replant in the dirt, I germinate them first and just plant germinated seed.  I cut paper towel circles to fit in a jar lid - any paper towel will do but I like absorbent ones so they don't dry out. 

I wet the bottom towels (usually 2 layers) and then spread the seeds on and cover with a single layer.  I keep them in the kitchen window where I can keep an eye on them instead of the basement. 

The 2013 Growing Season has Begun!

I'm so jealous of my friends down south who have already started their gardens!  I am so over this winter and ready to start gardening.  The weather outside is still very wintery and not spring like at all - although it did rain most of the day today.  Even with the rain melting some of the snow, there is still plenty left.  

So I did what every good northerner will do when they can't get outside and garden yet - I started my seedlings inside!  It doesn't look like it will be an early spring, but I will be ready when spring decides to come.  Last year we had an early spring and things just got away from me and I didn't start my own seeds - I didn't want to repeat that this year so I'm starting a little earlier than I normally do. 

I planted tomatoes, bell peppers (mixed colors), mini bell peppers (first time growing these I hope they do well), brussels sprouts, watermelon (this is actually for Andy - he always grows these and this year he picked out a seedless personal size variety), fennel (another first for me - I never knew I liked fennel until a couple of years ago and now I can't get enough of it), and cucumbers (also for Andy - can you believe the little boy that was a preschooler when I started this blog is now a TEENAGER!).

I will probably start more seeds next week or the week after.  I'm happy for now to be started growing!

I even nicely labeled them.  I have the specific variety on the back of the stakes. 

In previous years I have used yogurt cups, egg cartons and such to start my plants.  I think that was part of my problem in getting behind last year was gathering together planting cups and cutting drainage holes in the bottom.  It was a great idea to use them one more time before recycling but honestly, buying square pots is easier - and I got nice plastic covers that fit on top so nicely so I don't have to mess with sheets of plastic on top. 

Have you started your garden yet?  What are you growing?

Finally a beautiful day!

The rumor I heard was true! It is 81 degrees as I type this! After a very cold and rainy and almost nonexistent spring - warmer weather has arrived! It is going to cool down and be closer to normal temps by the weekend, but compared to how cold it has been, I will take normal!

If you look really closely here, you can see a pea starting to peek through the soil. In spite of a late planting, I think it will be a good year for peas.

The seedlings in the basement are also behind schedule - also planted late - but they are very healthy looking and I have confidence that they will do well and catch up once they are outdoors.

The apple tree is about to burst into bloom. I can't wait. I love how the apple tree looks when it is covered in flowers - and the kids love picking little green apples, which can't happen without flowers first.

I hope all of my fellow gardeners are enjoying this glorious day!

It has been a very long winter!

I can't remember ever wanting winter to be over as much as I have this year. The snow came early, a lot of it came, and it is still with us! I am sick of winter. I am ready to be out in the garden!

Since that is not a possibility for a couple more months, I will console myself with starting my seeds indoors.

The last couple of years I have had a problem with some of my warmer weather seeds germinating in my cold basement. I decided to invest in a heating pad for some of my seeds. If it works, I may buy another one next year.

Starting my seeds in egg cartons last year worked so well that I decided to do the same this year. I just love getting one more use out of thing that I can't recycle (my recycling company does not take any egg cartons). When the seedlings get a little bigger I will transplant them into bigger pots. I used Eggland's Best cartons and poked a hole in the bottom before filling with dirt.

And here are some of the egg cartons filled with dirt. I cut some of them into 2 sections if I wanted to plant 6 of something instead of 12.

I wrote on Popsicle sticks to mark my plants.

After everything was planted, I watered them well and covered them with plastic. I will remove the plastic once the seeds sprout. I lowered the lights down to just above the plants.

I planted Roma and Golden Rave Tomatoes, Sugar Baby Watermelon, Assorted Sweet Bell Peppers, Hot Peppers, Brussels Sprouts, Broccoli, and Cabbage.

Time to start gardening again!

I finally got around to starting my plants under lights yesterday. This is the latest that I have ever started them. They will do fine and catch up - it's not that late yet. Actually I think that some years I have been chomping at the bit to get gardening and have started my plants too early. Some of my plants have gotten too leggy before the weather outside was warm enough to transplant them so I think we will be fine this year.

Speaking of the weather, Spring has decided to come very early to Minnesota this year. It is so hard to believe that a couple of weeks ago we had tons of snow and now it is all gone and everything is coming to life! I also know though that it is way early and winter could still decide to return. It is still nice to have the warmer weather.

I used old egg cartons to start my seeds in this year. I use Eggland's Best eggs and my recylcing company doesn't take the styrofoam cartons so I decided to get one more use out of them before they become trash. I don't know why I didn't think to use them before - they are just the right size. I cut holes in the bottom for drainage and then I cut them into sections of how ever many I wanted - some (like tomatoes and peppers that I plant a lot of) I kept as a dozen - others are cut into sections of 4 or 6 - very versitale. I wrote on the side with a sharpie what I had planted inside.


Here's to a fantastic gardening season for all gardener's everywhere!

Sunday, April 5, 2009

This is the scene outside this morning. Hard to believe that I had 4 little boys playing out there yesterday without any coats or boots on! Luckily the snow this time of year does not last very long. Andy is off school for spring break and the weather is actually supposed to be nice - warm and sunny later in the week. I'm hoping for a trip to the zoo during the week.

Meanwhile down in the basement, the seedlings are coming along nicely. They will be ready when the garden is.

The cabbage family plants and lettuce are doing the best.

Even the tomatoes are looking nice. The only things that have not sprouted yet are the peppers and the chives. I don't know why I can't grow chives - I used to have beautiful chives but I have had no luck at all growing them lately. I have tried direct sowing and starting under lights. I have not given up on them yet - but if they don't sprout soon, I may need to do some research on what I might be doing wrong.

The 2009 Gardening Season has officially begun!

I actually started my seeds last Sunday, the 22nd, but just haven't had time to get online and post.
I am using an odd assortment of containers this year in my effort to reuse things and not buy new - especially if they are made of plastic. I am trying to reduce the amount of plastic in my life.

And I have sprouts already! The cauliflower and broccoli are the first to sprout. I am sure the brussels sprouts and cabbage will not be far behind.

The weather outside is so not ready for planting. There is actually a new coating of snow on the ground this morning (very thin). Starting my own seeds really helps me get through the end of winter - watching those sprouts come up gives hope for the future.

Free Organic Lettuce Seeds

Earthbound Farms is giving away free organic lettuce seeds.

http://www.ebfarm.com/AboutUs/GrowYourOwnOrganicSalad/

Then in June, they will have a contest on how your garden grew that you can enter.

Many thanks to my friend Vanessa for this information.

I finally placed my seed order!

This is the latest I have ever placed my seed order. I usually get it done in January. I have just been buried deep in books and studying lately - I am so ready to be done with grad school.

If you haven't placed your order yet I would recommend doing so soon. With the economy in the state that it is, more people are planting vegetable gardens than ever before and seed companies do run out of some popular seeds. So order early to be sure and get what you want.

Why order from a seed company instead of just buying them at the grocery store? You get a better variety and you have more information available to help you make a better choice. All seed catalogs (both in print and online) provide a lot more information about the plant - where it will grow, what it needs, etc. than you can read on the back of the tiny seed packet.

I do save seeds from some of my veggies (you can't do that with hybrids) and I also use left over seeds from the year before (I just plant extras in case they aren't as fertile - I just hate to waste) - so I don't have to order all my seeds every year.

I ordered my seeds from Gurney's this year. I've had great success with plants and seeds I have ordered from them in the past. They always ship right on time.

Here is what I ordered: (I included the order number in case you want to try the same ones)
Spinach - Vital Green #75782
Bell Peppers - Sweet Bell Hybrid Pepper Mix #14880
Cucumbers - Gurney's Burpless II Hybrid Cucumber #14880
Potatoes - Red Pontiac #74020
Pole Beans - Purple Pod #14196
Cauliflower - Farmer's Extra Early #71559
Carrot - Sweetness II Hybrid # 69955 & Rainbow Blend #73512
Cantaloupe - Athena Hybrid #66185 - this was Andy's request - he is going to grow these.
Herbs - Coriander/Cilantro #14580
Onion - Yellow Sweet Spanish Hybrid #15306 - Onions are the only plants I order
Hot Peppers - Hot Pepper Mix #69942
Tomatoes - Roma #15062 & Golden Rave #75784
Watermelon - Gurney's Delight Hybrid #69937
and lastly I am replacing my beloved peach tree that I lost last year. Contender #65839 - the Semi-Dwarf Deluxe.

I am starting to get really excited about spring - I can't wait for it to come. This year is going to be a much better gardening year - I can just feel it.

Pictures of my garden Wednesday, April 23, 2008

The tomato plants are looking very healthy in the basement.


The pepper plants are not looking so good. Most of them are not up.


The cabbage and brocolli look great - the cauliflower and brussells sprouts not so good.


I have this pile of grape vines on the patio table from the fall. What was I thinking? Did I really think I could use them to weave a basket or something? I think they need to go in the compost....


The snow shovels are still by the back door - I think we can safely put them away now.......at least I hope so.


Lilac buds will soon be fragrant flowers! I can't wait - I love lilacs in the spring.


Lillies will soon be up.


The rhubarb is awakening also.


The onions I planted on Sunday.


Andy's garlic project.


Kind of blurry - but some of Andy's garlic A (the old stuff) is actually coming up.


My next big project - I have started digging these shrubs out. I don't like the bushes in the front of the house and the rocks. I want a nice flower bed with mulch.

It still looks like winter in Minnesota!

The highs continue to be 10 degrees below normal. I am so ready for spring. Ugh - more flurries are predicted for today.

Watching my seedlings in the basement grow helps me realize it really is spring and know that this snow won't last forever - even if it feels like it will!


The Red Acres Cabbage has sprouted.


The brocolli and brussells sprouts seedlings are growing taller and stronger.


And the tomatoes are even sprouting up!

The seedlings know and feel that it is spring. I can't wait for that first taste of spring lettuce and rhubarb crisp. Yum Yum!

We have sprouts!

I always get so excited when I see the first sprouts of the season. It is like everything is right with the world, the circle of life continues and warmer weather will be here soon! Like every year, the cool weather plants are sprouting first. The brocolli and brussells sprouts have all sprouted as well as some of the lettuce. I love gardening, I really do! I can't wait until I can taste the goodness these sprouts will turn into.

The start of the 2008 gardening season!

The garden outside might not be ready for planting yet, but it's time to start the seeds indoors.



Here is what my planting area looked like this morning.


First I laid out my peat pots and my jiffy pots and the seed packets to decide what to plant.


Next, I filled the peat pots with compost that I had dug out of my compost bin this summer and was saving for this. I like the idea of using compost to start seeds instead of a sterile planting mix - but it should be interesting to see what I end up with - strange things may sprout from the compost - I may regret doing it this way this year - or it may be the most brillant idea I've had in awhile......


Then I put masking tape along the edges and marked on it what was in each row.


Then I planted the seeds and poured water over them.


Oh no - floaters! That is what happens with the jiffy pellets sometimes before they expand - they float all over and if they don't stay in neat rows, it might be difficult to tell the difference between the cauliflower, brocolli and brussels sprout seedlings - they tend to look very similar since they are all part of the cabbage family.


I solved the problem by putting some masking tape between the rows. I'll remove the tape once the pellets expand - and then they'll stay in place anyway.


Next, I pulled the lights into a timer. I set the timer for the lights to come on at 6am every morning and off at 8pm.


Then I covered the pots with plastic and lowered the lights down close.


And here is what my planting area looks like this afternoon.