Category Archives: seeds

Winter Arrives

berms, rambling thoughts, seeds, the Lot, to do

In our area of Zone 6a of the midwest US, I have mixed feelings about the winter months. I enjoy fresh snowfall and snowy days curled up on the couch with the four-footed garden management. For me, it allows a type of recharge, both physically and mentally. We gardeners in this corner of the Blue Dot do not have many months to spend in the garden. However, we hit it hard when we do. Now is a time for rest… and daydreaming about next season.

Most of the plants on the Lot have been hibernating for a solid month or so now. The only activity has been from the Hellebores as the temps flux up and down. “Winter Interest” can only do so much to counter consistently gray skies and rain/snow sleet mix. There isn’t much sun to speak of to show off all those carefully planned arrangements of brown in the garden beds. However, today we had our first good snowfall. The Lot was blanketed in a cozy cover of white fluff. Winter is fully here, which means Spring is on the way.

Big Dreams in All the Spaces

As we wait for Winter to play its part, I’m already thinking of plans for the Lot this year. Here are a few I’d like to log and revisit later:

  • Plant a sedge lawn
  • Create a rock garden berm
  • Plant more Mexican sunflower in the back garden
  • Try again to start some annual ornamentals from seed

TOTALLY doable in one season, right?

Veggies 10.4

seeds, spring, vegetables

Today was the last round of planting for this season’s cool crops.

Cool Crops 2019 – 4th Planting

  • ( 9) Arugula
  • (4) Pak Choi ‘Baby Bok Choy’
  • (16) Radish ‘Early Scarlet Globe’
  • (5) Swiss Chard ‘Bright Lights’ – container

Sprouts are Growing

I snapped a few photos to show where some of the seedlings I planted on March 24th are right now. On the first two plants, you can see the cotyledon or “seed leaves”. These embryonic leaves are in charge of powering the plant until the “true leaves” of the plant emerge.

This first shot is of some spinach. The spinach seedlings always look like they have mustaches to me.

Spinach Seedling and Hand

Here is an arugula seedlings.

Arugula Seedling and Hand

And finally, here’s a shot of a sugar pea plant.

Pea Seedling and Hand

Fix for a Tipsy Greenhouse

I think I may have found a solution for the lightweight greenhouse that had been blown over by Spring winds. We switched from landscape staples (on the right) to using our tent stakes (on the left). Cross your fingers for us.

Tent Stakes and Landscape Pins

Veggies 10.3

annuals, seeds, spring, vegetables

The weather has cooled considerably since the beginning of the month. Overnight temps are hovering just above 32 degrees F. Mom G, who lives 2 hrs drive north of us, woke up to a dusting of snow on the ground yesterday morning.

But the Lot continues to tell us Spring actually will happen. I bundled up in a jacket, knit hat, and planted the following today.

Cold Crops 2019 – 3rd Planting

  • (8) Lettuce ‘All Season Butterhead Mix’
  • (9) Spinach ‘Bloomsdale Long Standing’

Flower Seed Restart

I also should mention, the little collapsible greenhouse we had purchased did just that on Friday afternoon. We’ve had some high winds with the changing temps enough to cut down some stalks I left standing in the back garden. Irritated is the polite word to use for my temperament when I saw the tipped greenhouse and scattered seed trays.

The whole reason I’m going on about the ruined flower seed planting is I planted some of those seeds again today. They are sitting in the little greenhouse which is safely tucked inside the garage. I have to brainstorm a way to keep the structure from flipping soon because those seeds will need sun and heat.