Today I transplanted these into the yard:
- broccoli x 3 (all piracababa) -- with double-layer of tulle
- kale (all dwarf vates) x 9 in north bed and x ~3 or 4 in with the broccolis -- with double-layer of tulle
- chard (all fordhook) x 9 in north bed -- with double-layer of tulle
- green onions x ~5 in with the broccolis -- with double-layer of tulle
- lettuce (Ruby and romaine) -- all the long grey rectangular containers
Left over of the above plants, that can go into gaga later on:
- broccoli x 2 or 3
- kale
- chard
- onions
Wow! Seems so early in the season. The one I saw was on the ground at first, walking/futzing around -- I wonder if s/he was newly emerged from inside the backyard! Flew away eventually.
Therefore, I ran inside and quickly netted all of the relevant hardies (they're still in their small pots).
Song sparrow(s) returned a few weeks ago; noticed chipping sparrow(s) yesterday. And course the house sparrows. Fun!
Wow, this vermiculite method for starting the peas sans peat pots, sans indoor mix seems to be great! Except when I wait too long to check on them and transplant them! The roots of this vermiculite batch were SEVERAL inches long in many cases -- some up to maybe up to 4" -- or certainly 3". So anyway, transplanted them today. These are the ones on the northmost vertical structure, immediately south of the first batch that was next to the north wall.
Between the first and second batches just about the entire north vertical structure is now occupied. So I'll start just a few more seeds in the coming days, to add a few more on another easternmost row, and to fill in some gaps.
Here's what I've done so far this year with the peas, using a new approach to thwart the birds/critters (i.e. not using the indoor peat pot method this year)...
- Soaked the pea seeds for 24 hours.
- Then, placed in vermiculite -- multiple layers, treasure hunt style.
- Within a few days, most had nice inch-long roots; so then (today) I planted them outside, directly into the soil. Didn't cover with anything other than soil. Will re-use the same vermiculite with the next batch, if this works.
So, now to see if they come up, or if the birds/critters still have a taste for sprouted pea seeds.
Based on the results, I'll start the next batch.
Beets:
- The home-collected seeds from a few years ago.
- Presoaked in a bowl for ~24 hours.
- Covered with a mix of vermiculite and garden soil.
Carrots:
- Bolero.
- Straight into the ground as dry seeds, with 2 or more per "hole".
- Covered with a mix of vermiculite and garden soil.
All into the ground, none in containers.
Tomato:
- Damsel -- new to me this year
- Tofusteak
- Big Tofu Plus
- Mortgage Lifter
Ground cherry:
- Collected from a past plant that self-sowed and grew amazingly in very poor conditions
Basil:
- Prospera
Zinnias:
- Short yellow, short orange
- Tall variety
- Tall Lemon
Putting them out in the shade for a few hours in the warmer part of the day, then back under lights. (Only on days that are ~+5 or warmer.)
OMG! This happened way sooner than I had anticipated! Getting a plot this year!!! It will be a temporary plot, then next year it's expected I'll get my own actual plot.
What in HOLY HECK am I going to do with 1000 square feet!!! I foresee many donations to the local food bank if all goes/grows well!
It comes at the perfect time though, with my backyard about to be torn up this year for foundation work. Even the untouched parts of the backyard garden will likely be decimated by the groundhogs when the fence comes down for the foundation stuff.
So, yay!
But equally, eek!!!
:-)
This year I'm trimming the onion tops to see if that helps them bulb up at all. So, once they get two leaves, trimming occasionally.
