tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2884216770926932676.post5506708933507965551..comments2024-03-24T11:10:13.186-04:00Comments on The Gardening Me: Spring is here...hopefullyMargarethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15949946977793864054noreply@blogger.comBlogger22125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2884216770926932676.post-50413810128521890722017-03-26T15:13:13.586-04:002017-03-26T15:13:13.586-04:00It's always tempting to grow more than you can...It's always tempting to grow more than you can use, especially when it comes to greens. At the start of the season, when everything is so tiny, it seems completely reasonable to plant an entire bed of kale :)Margarethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15949946977793864054noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2884216770926932676.post-91651361052916694122017-03-26T11:14:13.910-04:002017-03-26T11:14:13.910-04:00You are far ahead of me in the seed starting game....You are far ahead of me in the seed starting game. I put off starting things because of our 3 week trip in March so now I'm going to have a sow-fest, first some spring veggies and then tomatoes and peppers. Fortunately my long growing season is so very forgiving. <br /><br />I've found that a couple of kale plants is plenty, especially when growing more than one variety. Looking forward to seeing what peppers you're growing this year...Michellehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07812702328134261533noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2884216770926932676.post-28446338373608155782017-03-24T08:21:27.203-04:002017-03-24T08:21:27.203-04:00We harvested exactly one fig last year - it was di...We harvested exactly one fig last year - it was divine! Fingers are crossed for at least two this time round ;)Margarethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15949946977793864054noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2884216770926932676.post-69962048960159286562017-03-23T21:55:16.585-04:002017-03-23T21:55:16.585-04:00Your seedlings look like they are eager to get the...Your seedlings look like they are eager to get their roots in the soil and start growing! I love fresh figs, hope you get some this season!Jasonhttp://gardeninacity.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2884216770926932676.post-15601431593346249312017-03-23T17:15:35.167-04:002017-03-23T17:15:35.167-04:00Thanks Jennifer :) Good call on not going with se...Thanks Jennifer :) Good call on not going with seeds this year - unless the sitter knows what they are doing it's much too easy to either over or underwater those tiny cell packs and then all your hard work is down the drain. Margarethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15949946977793864054noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2884216770926932676.post-77543575539291762102017-03-23T17:05:09.890-04:002017-03-23T17:05:09.890-04:00Great job on those seedlings! After much hemming a...Great job on those seedlings! After much hemming and hawing, I'm not starting my summer garden from seed (except for what I can direct sow in May or June) because we're going out of town mid-May, which is normally when I plant and I'm not sure I can trust seedlings (either in flats or freshly planted) to a house sitter.Jenniferhttps://serenitysarcasm.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2884216770926932676.post-387455032606027842017-03-23T09:53:56.253-04:002017-03-23T09:53:56.253-04:00Thanks, Beth! Every season is so full of possibil...Thanks, Beth! Every season is so full of possibilities...and surprises! The hope is that the good surprises outnumber the bad :)Margarethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15949946977793864054noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2884216770926932676.post-86929406403128242192017-03-22T21:46:36.596-04:002017-03-22T21:46:36.596-04:00Your seed-starting techniques always fascinate me....Your seed-starting techniques always fascinate me. It sounds like it will be a great growing season, and I'm sure your garden and harvest will be incredible, as always! :)Beth at PlantPostingshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10473637655960119672noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2884216770926932676.post-57344370095851766212017-03-22T21:20:08.853-04:002017-03-22T21:20:08.853-04:00Oh, I don't know about that - seems like you&#...Oh, I don't know about that - seems like you've been quite busy, especially with the paintbrush on those blossoms :)Margarethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15949946977793864054noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2884216770926932676.post-66822739441784162152017-03-22T19:45:21.910-04:002017-03-22T19:45:21.910-04:00We haven't really got going properly yet. Any ...We haven't really got going properly yet. Any time now.Sue Garretthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08164518448098182276noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2884216770926932676.post-18523407619004212042017-03-22T19:06:43.270-04:002017-03-22T19:06:43.270-04:00Thanks Dave :) It seems that the majority of flow...Thanks Dave :) It seems that the majority of flower seeds are mere specks of dust - it really is a wonder when you start to see bits of green in the soil!<br /><br />Yup - I use vermiculite together with a sprinkling of cinnamon to help with damping off, especially for those veg where I've had issues in the past.Margarethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15949946977793864054noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2884216770926932676.post-16598875371453846892017-03-22T16:13:10.022-04:002017-03-22T16:13:10.022-04:00Those seedlings are sure looking good! I remember ...Those seedlings are sure looking good! I remember growing coleus a few years back, and how small the seed is. The petunias are the same way, and I'm always amazed to see how they size up. Is that vermiculite you're using to avoid damping off? I've got a bad aphid outbreak but thankfully no diseases showing up yet.Dave @ HappyAcreshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03441364543023807886noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2884216770926932676.post-44599476298082484082017-03-22T11:07:47.393-04:002017-03-22T11:07:47.393-04:00You and I are in the same weather boat - as of tom...You and I are in the same weather boat - as of tomorrow, we are back above freezing for the foreseeable future, although these two week forecasts seem to change at the drop of a hat.<br /><br />I don't take any chances with peppers or eggplant - they don't get transplanted out until are temps are nice and warm. This year, though, I'll probably be antsy even then considering the wild swings this past winter. Fingers crossed we have some consistency over the summer months.<br /><br />Ugh...damping off is such a depressing disease - whenever it strikes, it does a number of my enthusiasm.Margarethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15949946977793864054noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2884216770926932676.post-51289679218012813592017-03-22T11:05:06.414-04:002017-03-22T11:05:06.414-04:00Thanks Norma - I'm sure your late sowing will ...Thanks Norma - I'm sure your late sowing will do just fine. The great thing about leeks is that they are still delicious even if they don't get to their mature size.Margarethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15949946977793864054noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2884216770926932676.post-49401003987185573312017-03-22T10:47:13.928-04:002017-03-22T10:47:13.928-04:00Right now there's a fire in the wood stove and...Right now there's a fire in the wood stove and it's just above freezing at 10 AM here in central Indiana. It's only a one day thing and weather goes back to 'normal' as far as the forecast goes. I agree about eggplant, it's nearly as slow as peppers. I'll start mine in a few days. I've found eggplant is very sensitive to cool weather, any exposure below 40 degrees and it will never do well in my experience. Your alliums are looking good. My seed grown onions have problems with damping off also, it usually takes a few of them. gardenvariety-hoosierhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02823437033502199023noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2884216770926932676.post-63823952035835559622017-03-22T09:52:27.348-04:002017-03-22T09:52:27.348-04:00Your seedlings are all looking great. I just start...Your seedlings are all looking great. I just started my leeks, am late but hopefully not too late.norma changhttp://gardentowok.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2884216770926932676.post-44441506976887703832017-03-22T09:15:12.354-04:002017-03-22T09:15:12.354-04:00So you're going on the roller coaster ride too...So you're going on the roller coaster ride too, I see! Yup, this morning I had my kids put on their snowpants as it was -9C/16F....with the wind chill it was -18C/0F!!<br /><br />I do find some seeds easier to start indoors, especially those tiny, finicky ones, as you have more control over things like soil, moisture, etc. If it was an option, however, I would likely sow many more things outdoors, but with our short growing season, that would limit me too much.Margarethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15949946977793864054noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2884216770926932676.post-54646575218890423902017-03-22T09:05:20.506-04:002017-03-22T09:05:20.506-04:00Wow - what an amazing garden! The coleus display ...Wow - what an amazing garden! The coleus display is outstanding and really does justice to showcasing this plants diversity.<br /><br />I absolutely fell in love with coleus on the last Bloggers Fling - there was one garden (which I have yet to post about...I'm a bit behind!) that had dozens of different varieties. My "ho-hum" opinion of coleus completely changed after that.Margarethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15949946977793864054noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2884216770926932676.post-31107344503352730592017-03-22T08:56:28.130-04:002017-03-22T08:56:28.130-04:00Thanks Nancy! With regards to the lights, that...Thanks Nancy! With regards to the lights, that's called "chitting" or "sprouting" (as in the eyes sprout) and it is supposed to be good for a couple of reasons (1) it gives the potatoes a head start which may result in a better harvest and (2) the greening of the potatoes may help ward off critters from eating the tubers after they are planted.Margarethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15949946977793864054noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2884216770926932676.post-4423066952238024782017-03-22T07:41:59.002-04:002017-03-22T07:41:59.002-04:00I am always so impressed with how you can grow eve...I am always so impressed with how you can grow everything from seed. I struggle starting seeds indoors so I usually direct sow when the soil gets warm enough. Spring is definitely a roller coaster ride. Last week we had a few night of freeze and I had to dig out my winter woolies and yesterday it was 85 here and I had to break out my summer wardrobe. Karin / Southern Meadowshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06514989784715204223noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2884216770926932676.post-44850776288726645062017-03-22T05:06:11.646-04:002017-03-22T05:06:11.646-04:00You've made a good start. I'm growing very...You've made a good start. I'm growing very little this year but haven't sown a thing yet. I've grown coleus in the past, you get such a variation in colour. There's a fabulous display at nearby Temple Newsam, you can read about it here:-<br />http://jo-thegoodlife.blogspot.co.uk/2014/07/garden-visiting-in-july-part-one.htmlJohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17436932004631816039noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2884216770926932676.post-68039353009365650992017-03-21T21:44:29.663-04:002017-03-21T21:44:29.663-04:00Everything sure looks amazing! Why do you put you...Everything sure looks amazing! Why do you put your potatoes under the grow lights? Nancy Cozy Thyme Cottagehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03933769393226611441noreply@blogger.com