Transplanting and Buds

Yesterday was another glorious St Patrick's Day and also an opportunity for me to get a little more done in the way of gardening. I started the effort by taking a walk around my front yard. I was using this as a chance for me to show Jude all of the fun things we were growing. I pointed out our peach tree, grape vines, raspberry, strawberry and blueberry bushes and we talked about the sprouts that were taking place in our mini-greenhouses. While using this as a learning experience, it was also time for me to see what the transition to spring was bringing us. I was excited to find that buds were starting to form on a number of my plants (specifically the blueberries and peach tree were taking off). In addition the array of daffodils that liter our lawn are either in bloom or on the cusp of bursting open.

After a little bit of procrastination, I took the time to begin transplanting my lettuce. I designated one of my smaller raised beds as the lettuce bed and got to work. I started by tilling up the soil a little bit. Then staggered the lettuce to maximize space. I would have planted more, but Jude was making it a little difficult.

Last year, the greenhouses I used had little cardboard 'pots' that you broke apart and planted the whole thing into the ground. This year the individual 'pots' were made out of plastic. This proved to make things more difficult. The soil basically crumbled in my fingers as I was pulling each plant out making it increasingly difficult to transplant quickly. I did what I could to keep the roots in tact, and I'm interested to see how they will catch. I'm pretty sure before warm weather plants get pre-planted I'll be buying the decomposing pots.

More Sprouts

Over the past two or three days, many of my indoor herbs and cold weather plants have sprouted! In addition to my one type of lettuce and oregano, I now have Basil, Parsley, Spinach, my second variety of lettuce (so I now have leafy lettuce and romaine) and Broccoli.

Unlike the first sprouts, these sprouts seem to be all growing in at different times. Instead of all 18 planted seeds popping through the soil on relatively the same day, I have a handful that are just peaking, others that have already grown some nice stems and others that haven't quite gotten much height, but their leaves have opened up to embrace the warm sun. There are still a handful of each variety that haven't popped through yet, so I'm just hoping they aren't duds.

Lettuce Sprouts

After seeing that the Oregano had taken flight, I decided to check in on my cold weather plants out front. We have been experiencing unusually warm weather, that gave way to colder and windier weather, so I wasn't sure how the delicate seeds would react to it. at one point the strong winds blew the covers off of the greenhouses, which I also wasn't sure about.

But, all concerns aside - we had sprouts!



I planted these Sunday night, so we can say that it took just under a week for them to get going.

I planted two varieties of lettuce and sadly, I can't remember which was planted where, so I'm not sure which variety this is.

Beginning of Cold Weather Planting - 2011

Tonight, I began my cold weather planting for early spring 2011. I am starting all of these plants in Jiffy Greenhouses. Each are being planted according to seed packaging directions. All are being planted in Miracle Grow Organic Potting Mix.

Weather: Currently there is snow remaining on the ground and days are averaging somewhere around 30-35 degrees. This week promises a warmer weather averaging 45-50, but approaching the 60's at the end of the week.

Peas - Super Sugar Snap - Burpee Signature

Number of Plants: 24

Planting Depth: about 2"

Growing Season: March-October

Seedlings: expected in 7-14 days

First Harvest: expected in 64 days

Onion - Spanish Gold Hybrid - Burpee Signature

Number of Plants: 18

Planting Depth: about 1/4" - just below the surface

Growing Season: March-October

Seedlings: expected in 7-14 days

First Harvest: expected in 105 days

Broccoli - Majestic Crown Hybrid - Burpee Signature

Number of Plants: 18

Planting Depth: 1/4" - just below the surface

Growing Season: March - October

Seedlings: expected in 10-21 days

First Harvest: expected in 90 days

Spinach - Double Choice Hybrid - Burpee Signature (suitable for baby spinach or mature harvest)

Number of Plants: 18

Planting Depth: about 1/2"

Growing Season: March - October

Seedlings: expected in 7-14 days

First Harvest: expected in 35 days

Lettuce - Caesar's Favorite - Burpee Signature

Number of Plants: 18

Planting Depth: about 1/4" - just below the surface

Growing Season: March - October

Seedlings: expected in 7-10 days

First Harvest: expected in 83 days

Lettuce - Salad Bowl - Burpee Signature

Number of Plants: 18

Planting Depth: about 1/4" - just below the surface

Growing Season: March - October

Seedlings: expected in 7-10 days

First Harvest: expected in 45 days

I plan to put the Jiffy Greenhouses outside tomorrow in direct sunlight. Once the seedlings have sprouted, I will transplant to my raised beds.