Snow all gone from west and north beds

The only reason there's still snow in the central bed is because that's where I've been piling up the snow dug from the paths during the winter.

WS-potted up sprouted chard and round 2 Waltham broccoli

So, for the Waltham broccoli, there is round 1 indoors which continues to all look horrible (while the indoor piracicaba still looks all great) -- and now this PT-sprouted-then-directly-potted-up-for-WS round 2.

When more of the chard sprouts I'll do up some for indoors.

WS-potted up sprouted kale: White Russian & Premier Forge

Now that they all sprouted in PT, transferred them all into various WS jugs.  Will keep them inside overnight when it goes down below zero (eg tonight and tomorrow night), but daytime temps this coming week are in the +3 to +14 range so should be good to be outside.

Also potted up 3 White Russian kales for inside, to see how they do inside since it's a new-to-me variety.

Broccoli Waltham round 2 started in PT

These ones I'll do as WS as soon as they sprout.  (Round 1 waltham broccolis ALL look equally horrible whereas the piraciccaba all look great.)

Kale (White Russian & Premier Forge) and swiss chard started in PT

Many seeds of each.

First time trying the White Russian -- it says it can deal with wet conditions, so I might try some under the eaves, just to see.

Weather forecast is looking great next week for potting these up as winter sowing-style to be raised outside (once they sprout in the PT).

Using two-year-old Premium Promix bag for potting things up

For potting up, have been using the two-year old huge block of Premium Pro-Mix, which I didn't use last year because I wondered if it was the cause of all those diseases in the 2020 season.

Since this year's seed selection has really focused on disease resistance, figured I may as well use it up.

Stevia and forget-me-not potted up

4/4 forget-me-nots sprouted!

3/4 stevia sprouted, and I accidentally forgot about the last one so it's trash now.

Stevia and forget-me-not started in PT

4 x stevia (from bought seeds)

4 x forget-me-not (from last year's prime plant)

Pirociccaba broc looking great; Waltham broc shriveling up same as previous years

Seeing a big difference between the two types of broccoli I started a few weeks ago.  The Waltham broccolis are small and their leaves are shriveling up one by one -- just like last year and previous years.  Whereas the piraciccaba are looking great!  Bigger than the Walthams, and no leaves shriveling yet.

All broccoli germinated, transplanted to pots (indoor)

Well that didn't take long!  8 Waltham and 8 Piracicaba broccoli potted up.  Will keep inside for a while, way too cold to set them outside yet.

Sowed in PT: celery, parsley (Forest Green), broccoli (Waltham & Piracicaba)

I'm sure I'll end up needing to do a round two of the broccoli as WS, but why not given inside a try again.

Things to grow in future allotment garden

I've been feeling frustrated with my limited growing space combined with the fact that realistically I'll definitely be here at least 5 years and likely closer to 10, so, figured I'd go ahead and apply for a spot at the allotment garden.  With a long waiting list it will likely be several/many years before I get one, but, it will be nice to know that hopefully it will happen at some point.

I would just go for a half plot, which would still be 500 square feet!!  My current backyard growspace isn't even 200 square feet!  So, a half plot would be just dandy.

These are the types of things I think I would grow in the allotment, which would free up space in the yard.  Thinking of things that...

- Can be planted as transplants rather than direct from seed (since I won't be around daily for watering until germinated)

- Don't need to be planted early (since the plots don't open up until mid-May)

- Don't need to be covered in tulle (too much worrying about theft/damage or the wind blowing it away etc.)

- Aren't highly susceptible to insects (since I won't be around daily for removal)

- Aren't kitchen-garden types of things (eg salad items are nice to have at home)

So, here's what I'm thinking for the allotment (I'll update this list with future ideas):

- ground cherries (since I can no longer grow them in the yard due to rats)

- tomatoes (hopefully low risk of fruit theft since I pick them at first blush)

- potatoes (hopefully low risk of theft since out of sight)

- winter squash (a SVB-resistant variety)

- stevia (to sweeten my tea)

- buckwheat (to then bring them home for soil amendment)

- beans (easy to plunk in some pole supports; would be fun to grow different varieties)

- sunflowers (just for fun, and, since can no longer grow them at home due to rats)

And, maybe I could try some things that need more sun than my yard gets...

- peppers?  but would be high risk of theft, still, could try for fun.

- onions?  this would be worth trying

- what else?  TBD...

Onions potted up (first batch)

10 of the many 2018 seeds started in paper towel have sprouted so far, so I potted them up (in a mix of last year's remaining Promix, with vermiculite).  Hoping more of them will sprout in the coming days.

Begonia potted up

My one remaining begonia.  Wakey wakey!

(in a mix of last year's remaining Promix, with vermiculite)

How to start comfrey from seed

This is what I'll try.  From https://growingorganic.com/growing-guide/comfrey/.

"Place seeds in moist sand, vermiculite, coconut coir, potting soil, soilless potting mix, or paper towel. After this, place it in a baggie, cloth bag, or glass jar with lid. You will want to avoid placing in a paper towel if you can, as it is sterile and does not contain endogenous growth hormones that encourage germination. Additionally, don’t just use peat moss alone as it is too acidic.

To assist your seeds in germinating, add a little kelp (seaweed) to the medium. Since kelp has naturally occurring growth hormones it will help seeds germinate. Additionally, it can help prevent damping off.

Now, simply place the bag or jar in your refrigerator. You will want to keep them in there for the next 30 days (up to 60 days maximum). The reason you are doing this is to break the dormancy of the seeds by creating winter-like conditions. Do not put them in your freezer when moist though.

After this, you will want to plant outside once the soil temperature is between 68-80 degrees Fahrenheit. Just remember, germination results are better when first planted in a warm greenhouse or sunny window.

While the seed is still thinking about sprouting try to keep soil temperature between 68-80 degrees Fahrenheit. If needed, you can use supplemental heat such as a heat lamp or horticulture heat pads. You will want to adjust the thermostat for 70 to 80 degrees.

Since we’ve now created the perfect environment for the seeds to sprout, you should seed them germinate in 10-15 days."

Also http://www.nantahala-farm.com/comfrey-growing2-s.shtml.

And "sow" it begins -- Onions started in paper towel

From the 2018 collected seed.

A bunch of seeds started, since no idea what the germination rate will be like.

Just for growing green onions (won't bother trying and failing again to grow actual onions).

Veganic local seed vendors! Ferme de l'Aube. Bought comfrey and dill.

Saw their post on the Edible group.  Very cool!  Too bad I already have most of my seeds, but, I ordered some comfrey and dill from them.  Very excited to try comfrey, it had totally escaped my attention but looks like a fantastic tool for the veganic garden.  Hoping to put the comfrey out front so that I can keep the yard to the edibles.

www.lafermedelaube.com

Feeders removed again

They're still asking everyone to refrain from putting out bird food.  Oh well, no birds were visiting anyway.

Put out some feeders again

I've heard the occasional goldfinch in the neighbourhood in recent days, and no precipitation is called for for a few days, so, I once again set out some feeders:

- tray feeder with a selection of items

- two-hole fly-through mesh feeder with regular shelled sunflowers

DISEASE RESISTANCE is priority in choosing varieties this year -- ordered seeds today

Given so many issues with diseases in my garden in recent years, this year I decided to really research varieties and choose ones that indicate some level of disease resistance.

Bought the following today from Johnny's Seeds, after checking out prices at a few online sources:

- Basil:  Prospera (resistant to downy mildew which destroyed my basil in 2021)

- Zucchini:  Golden Glory (intermediate resistance to powdery mildew, watermelon mosaic virus, and zucchini yellow mosaic virus -- powdery mildew being one of the banes of my squash's existence)

- Round zucchini:  Eight Ball (intermediate resistance to powdery mildew, watermelon mosaic virus, and zucchini yellow mosaic virus -- powdery mildew being one of the banes of my squash's existence)

- Tomato (big):  Big Beef Plus (High resistance to Alternaria stem canker, Fusarium crown and root rot, Fusarium wilt races 1 and 2, gray leaf spot, tomato mosaic virus, and Verticillium wilt; and intermediate resistance to nematodes and tomato spotted wilt virus) (various diseases that I'm not sure what exactly they were have affected my tomatoes in recent years -- this variety doesn't list blight, so it will be interesting to see how it does)

- Tomato (cherry):  Jasper (High resistance to late blight; and intermediate resistance to early blight) (various diseases that I'm not sure what exactly they were have affected my tomatoes in recent years -- this variety lists blight but not the other various diseases that the Big Beef Plus lists, so it will be interesting to see how it does)

(I also bought more Bolero carrot as part of the same order, but not because of disease resistance, just because it grew amazingly last year.)

These are ALL F1 hybrids, which at first I balked at, but this post explains that hybrids are not GMOs, and, I have a very limited growing area (especially in 2022 if they end up digging up for the east wall), so since I can't grow extras for buffer or give things lots of room etc., I feel like hybrids may be my best option for now.

Getting excited!