Gorgeous weather here! It’s been COLD at night, and I’ve been glad that some of my seedlings have not been in flats, because I’ve brought them in at night!
Planted my PARSLEY! Many of you know I had a bad time with it last year. This year it was fine. That particular little root does not like my usual technique of using a sprouting tray with subsequent transfer to a soil cup. It wants its toes in the dirt from the get-go! It is too delicate to stand any handling.
I planted the CHAMOMILE sprouts and the ECHINACEA sprouts, and then we had that cold snap. I’m only seeing one little Echinacea survivor.
Also planted my STRAWBERRY SPINACH AND CILANTRO! I have one lone WHITE BUSH SQUASH that sprouted, but my T SQUASH has been going great guns. I’ve even shared some of them with my gardener friends. I figure if mine doesn’t work out, maybe they might share back! LOL!
My NEW ZEALAND SPINACH did not sprout. One of my garden friends says I should lightly use and emery board on it and then soak overnight, and then put into the dirt cup. Have not had a chance to try that, but when I catch my breath [is that even possible?] I’ll do that. If I don’t mention it soon, please someone remind me! LOLOL!
The EMMER got too dry several days ago and wilted a bit, but it seems to have survived. Some of the stalks withered, but it really needed to be thinned anyway.
The DAIKON RADISHES need to be planted, but are still hanging out. The tomatoes we bought from Lowes all have some baby tomatoes and more blooms! The ATKINSON TOMATOES I sprouted are growing well. They are ready for dirt.
The one WALKING ONION I planted is doing well. I fear my other start bulbs may be too dry. I plan to plant them anyway to see if there is anyone home in there!
I do have other ONIONS and GARLIC to plant. One of my gardener friends has made noises about giving me some of what she calls her “winter ONIONS”. The SWEET POTATOES are ready for dirt.
I did plant the WHITE grocery store POTATO starts. Hmmmm right after I did, we had that near freeze, and I don’t know if they survived, but I’ll keep watering and hoping. They are in my SUNFLOWER AND OKRA bed. I had so much fun with those last year, I decided to do more. I have my CLEMSON SPINELESS and ORANGE JING OKRA in abundance. I only have one EAGLE PASS OKRA plant. I gave an orange jing to one of my gardener friends with a couple of sunflower
sprouts.
I planted my SUGAR SNAP PEAS, and my BUSH BEANS, BLACK BEANS, and ASIAN TRELLIS BEANS (those looooong beans) and CRANBERRY BEANS AND my lone PINTO BEAN sprout are all ready for dirt. I want to try sprouting GREAT WHITE NORTHERNERS again, and some more PINTOS.
My little RED AMARANTH plants are growing well, and probably should be thinned or separated.... and put into dirt!
I know there are others I should be reporting on, but Darlin is wanting me release the computer! As I work with my little “green babies” I’ll keep everyone here posted on what is happening with them!
Blessings to all this gorgeous early May!
My chamomile is blooming in it's strawberry jar so quite pretty. Added another little root of grocery store ginger to its planter because the winter about did it in even though it was inside. The cilantro container is doing well. The store had 4” marjoram and long eggplants for 25 cents this week so couldn't resist bringing $1.50 home. The cost was better than buying packaged seeds and I'll let some go to seed for next year. The marjoram will be another container and the eggplant will fill in empty spots in the garden. Been too busy this week (made 8 half pints of peach jelly this morning) to get them planted so they're on the list for tomorrow.
About the peach jelly, a neighbor makes cobblers from store bought canned fruit for her events and saves the drained juice because I'll make us all jelly. FRiends, use drained fruit juices for something (bbq sauce or popsicles) rather than throwing it out. Ha, the little bit of scrapped off jelly scum was the perfect amount of sweetener for the mayo mixture for tonight's coleslaw.
Last year, the NZ spinach came up quickly but not this year. They soaked along side the Clemson okra which popped right up. NZ can be slow so crossing fingers, otherwise I'll have to order more seeds which I don't want to do this year. Never heard of using an emery board and it might damage the seed.
Haven't had time or the energy to weed the last little spot where the melons are going. Everything else is doing just fine, although a snarky relative stopped by yesterday and commented the only decent looking plant is the lone sunflower that popped up on its own. Her husband threw his cigarette butts into the garden, ick. Anyone want more relatives? These are free and I'll even throw in the sunflower, grrr. Speaking of relatives, hubby has been careful not to mow down the garlic and didn't weed eat the amaryllis, glory, glory!
I read all that. It was very interesting, but my muscles started hurtin just thinking about all the work to tend all that stuff.LOL