Will be eating a lot of salad evidently.
Was looking at cell trays with larger cells but everyone wants you to buy in large qualities or are simply crazy on shipping. Good thing I've been saving coffee creamer containers for 2-3 years.
My homemade starting soil didn't work out very well. I think I have poor quality peat moss. On impulse at Menard's last week, I grabbed some Burpee organic potting soil so when I filled the tray, I decided to do half mine and half Burpee. Puts some water in the solid tray and set the cell tray in and several hours later, my mix was still dry but Burpee's was moist so I dumped mine out. Maybe I'll get some Coir to mix with it.
Got my tomato seeds, trying Bush Steak this year with the square foot gardening.
Someone was talking about container gardening a week or two ago. Pretty good video on foolproof watering and fertilizing from Noble Research Institute. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fm0xumozzXw
He shows using cattle mineral buckets and 5 gallon buckets but the concept’s the same. (and budget friendly)
Osprey have some serious fish grabbers.
Greetings from southern New Hampshire!
We have been in the deep freeze for several days following that snowmageddon that dropped 6-8” on us. A few overnight dustings which the sun took care of the following day.
The boss has really cleaned up her potting area and has the seeds on order, and what we have on hand, neatly organized in a couple of carriers. I still need to run in the plumbing for the main potting table and the side counters.
It looks like I am going to have to remove the plastic cover from the hoop house and replace the cattle panels as at least two of them are badly deformed. While I am at it, I am going to make strong extensions for the front and back ends that will be braced, front to back, at the peak and partially down the sides (with posts). I believe it is the right way to do this, and will also provide for vents and venting on either end. Live and learn.
Our new Honey Crisp apples are potting and leafing out. A couple tomato plants that my sister gave us were cut back and are now growing well. They are heirlooms from Italy, given to her by her friends.
We are getting the itch.
I normally use a self-propelled lawnmower on my large lawn, but prefer a push mower to cut near plants.
I dried out the gas tank of the push mower and it no longer sputters when it runs.
My first roses are coming in - this is my best bloomer, it's over 30 years old and still performing magnificently.
"Perfume Delight"
Daffodils are putting on a show:
And, my two new miniature theme gardens:
Gnomes:
Southwest cactus:
Aldi had bare root roses that were very robust looking. I bought some and potted them up.
My azaleas have held their flowers for about two weeks now.
I live south of Tampa and grow my azaleas by the northern back side of my house.
I have one of these Floribunda roses that I bought at Walmart:
https://plantguide.lowes.com/plant.aspx?code=L26780
About every three weeks it blooms very vigorously.
I hope it survives the hot Florida weather.
I have some broccoli plants here in Florida that look healthy, but they are not setting heads.
I’ve gotten some broccoli to produce in the past.
My asparagus are sending up shoots, but I’m not harvesting them since the plants haven’t seemed healthy, probably because I didn’t water them enough.
Johny’s has 10% off seed starting supplies; https://www.johnnyseeds.com/tools-supplies/seed-starting-supplies/
Seeding dill today. I had a great harvest of seeds last summer and fall. I recently bought some onions and one sprouted. I have it in dirt and am using the sprouts. As soon as I can, I’ll separate the sprouts and plant them so new onions can grow.
I have a lot of perennials that looked good about two weeks ago. I think I’ve only lost tarragon over the winter.
Good Morning!
10X20” Heat Mats as low as $12.94 - https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_nkw=10x20+heat+mat
The temperature controllers are rated at 1,000 watts and the heat mats are 17 watts so I see no reason why more than one can’t be run from one controller, though there’s only one temperature probe. I just grabbed a second heat mat and will try two on one controller and just check the soil temps with my instant read Thermopop thermometer. If the two mats/trays run within 5 degrees of each other, that’ll work.
My other seed tray will be an old kitty litter box with 15 coffee creamer container bottoms. I had already ordered two 24” grow lights.
Without the controller, they simply run 10-20 degrees above ambient. Our ambient tends to vary since our only source of heat is a wood stove and our place isn’t super tight or super insulated.
I wonder how much seedling prices will go up this year? Shouldn’t take too long to pay for the $120 in seed starting supplies. 2-3 years. I know Gurney’s has raised their prices on fruit trees. Up around $50 now.
(Poof! Internet Magic!)
Or keep reading (Or posting!) about low budget gardening!
(No, not a picture of Pollard! It is a picture of a Dreem, er, Greenhouse we all wish we had! )
Springtime in middle Georgia!
My plum trees and blueberries are going into full bloom.
Have the harrow hooked up on my tractor and will commence to turning some dirt over tomorrow after I pull up the last of the turnips.
Need to get peas in the ground, should have done that a week or two ago.
I’m glad this little group popped up, only have a couple acres but am trying my best to make it an edible couple acres.
This is upland rice, grown like wheat, unlike lowland rice, which is grown in the flooded fields.
Sow inside in late April (here) the set out in late May; Harvest late August.
One pkt from this guy is about 250 seeds.
A 10’ X 10’ plot (4 X 25 makes it easier to work; and is easy to bird-net) holds 100 transplants.
Depending on variety, that should yield 6-9 pounds of “paddy rice” i.e. unthreshed rice, which yields 80% post threshing of brown rice; or 70% of threshed & milled white rice.
5 plots would give about 30-32 pounds brown, or 27-28 pounds (about 70 cups) raw white rice, and a sore back. 🙂
Not this year; won’t have room for it.
This links to his rice hulling tutorial & photos.
https://www.facebook.com/sherckseeds/posts/4490847861021113
This is his seed sales page link; also his blog. He specializes in rice.
https://www.sherckseeds.com/
