7 planters, 2 hanging baskets at the pool 2 window boxes 5 planters, 1 hanging basket out front 3 hanging baskets, 4 planters, 8 herbs on the deck 32 and counting – at least 3 more are planned plus the impatiens, nicotianas, vincas in the ground… All this BEFORE I till Big Garden and put in 6 flats plus direct seed. OMG – I LOVE this time of year! How do I even SURVIVE winter?
Posted in Garden Planning
I usually start 6 flats of 40 seedling each in my basement each spring. Been doing this for at least 15 years with mostly great success. I started with peat pots and lights on timers and graduated to special hydration trays and heat mats. Things continued to improve with special seed starting mediums (soil-less) and I have wanted to try adding fans to strengthen the seedlings but have just not gotten to that before it’s already time to harden them off. Next year, right?
Well, I tried a new starting medium this year (NOT naming brands, but I have used their potting soil for years…), so I am shocked to have 3/4 of my marigolds damp off. You just have to know how easy marigolds are to grow from seed to find this odd. I usually have the seedlings setting blooms BEFORE I can even get them outside…
So, what is different? I am starting to lose okra seedlings (which I never started inside before) and most of my cutting flowers but NONE of my veggies. Odd?
I am tentatively scheduled for Master Gardener classes this fall, so I hope I can learn the answer to this and many other questions that keep me a “young gardener”.
Posted in Gardening Learning
I am so confused by Cincinnati’s weather this year! My daylilies are fully budded – at least 2 weeks early – and we are technically not yet at our “last frost date” which is truly May 19th not the accepted Mother’s Day that we all think is fine to start planting in the ground (ie. pots you can still move in if needed).
So, why do I feel all this pressure to be planting even though I am really not behind but ahead: 5 hanging baskets, 8 herb pots, 2 window boxes, and 8 pots are all done with only about 5 left to go before I put the impatiens around the deck and figure out what will go in the rock gardens?
I even feel the need to be tilling Big Garden even though my seedlings, on true season time, are still too little to consider hardening off.
I guess it has just been spring for so long that I am anxious. Of course, sports activities can interfere at any time, so that probably adds to the “need to be planting” feeling. Can’t wait for the next trip to The Flower Bed and planting time!
Gwendolen's Garden 