One week in, and we have some beautiful growth with our veggies! Very exciting. Our tomatoes and peppers were planted with more than one seed per block (we're not going to say who did that), but I took it upon myself to break up the units and put one bud in each new seed block. The process has, thus far, cost us a few buds, but we still have a couple of dozen plants to work with. As you can see in the front of the picture, our peppers (Wisconsin Lakes and Sweet Chocolate) are about ready for dividing. Just behind the peppers, on the right, is an onion box (Australian Brown). Difficult to see here, but these spindly little buds are starting to come up full force too.
Here are our tomatoes (Yellow Gooseberry and Brandywine) . Most of them are reaching up, strongly, thanks to some toothpick structuring and a good sopping of the soil. It was sad when we woke up yesterday morning to see a lot of them had started to droop, but with my quick intervention they're looking good now. Keep it up little fellas (and ladies)!
We are, however, experiencing some slow (or, nonexistent?) growth in the leeks (Prizetaker) (above) as well as the herbs (below). Hard to see it, because it's so teeny, but there is one little bud in the leek box. ("Where's Waldo?")
I had transferred the herbs from blocks to boxes on Wednesday, the same day I renewed the tomato blocks, because one of our precious little felines had smashed down a few of them. I decided to just forgo the blocks for these and give each their own box. Nothing is happening yet, but they haven't had enough light, I'm afraid. With one grow lamp, I may have to do an alternating sort of thing between these and the veggies.
Things we did not plant, because they can be planted right in the soil once it's warm enough (can't wait!!), are:
Double Yield Cucumber, Queensland Blue Squash, Pencil Pod Wax Bean, St. Valery Carrot and Golden Zucchini Squash.
We got our potatoes in the mail the other day too. I'm sure we could have picked up some regular ol' taters at the store, but these should prove to be good planters. Apparently all that's involved is letting them sprout over a week or two, cutting them up into cubes, and planting them several inches into the soil sprouts-up. Easy-peasy, right? We'll see...
~
FYI:
All seeds came from Seed Savers Exchange, out of Iowa. They are organic and come from a long line of savers, making the lot of them heirloom seeds.
~
With the money spent on seeds, and buying into half a CSA share, we're anticipating a pretty nice bulk of fresh produce this Summer on not too much money (up front costs are always a bit scary, but pretty much always pay off if spent on smart things). Not to mention the excellent deals at the farmers market. Our preservation this Summer (canning and freezing) will be focused on getting us through next Winter, and we're planning to make our own baby food, so this may be just enough. If you don't see much of us from June to September, you know why. :)
Here are our tomatoes (Yellow Gooseberry and Brandywine) . Most of them are reaching up, strongly, thanks to some toothpick structuring and a good sopping of the soil. It was sad when we woke up yesterday morning to see a lot of them had started to droop, but with my quick intervention they're looking good now. Keep it up little fellas (and ladies)!
We are, however, experiencing some slow (or, nonexistent?) growth in the leeks (Prizetaker) (above) as well as the herbs (below). Hard to see it, because it's so teeny, but there is one little bud in the leek box. ("Where's Waldo?")
I had transferred the herbs from blocks to boxes on Wednesday, the same day I renewed the tomato blocks, because one of our precious little felines had smashed down a few of them. I decided to just forgo the blocks for these and give each their own box. Nothing is happening yet, but they haven't had enough light, I'm afraid. With one grow lamp, I may have to do an alternating sort of thing between these and the veggies.Things we did not plant, because they can be planted right in the soil once it's warm enough (can't wait!!), are:
Double Yield Cucumber, Queensland Blue Squash, Pencil Pod Wax Bean, St. Valery Carrot and Golden Zucchini Squash.
We got our potatoes in the mail the other day too. I'm sure we could have picked up some regular ol' taters at the store, but these should prove to be good planters. Apparently all that's involved is letting them sprout over a week or two, cutting them up into cubes, and planting them several inches into the soil sprouts-up. Easy-peasy, right? We'll see...
~
FYI:
All seeds came from Seed Savers Exchange, out of Iowa. They are organic and come from a long line of savers, making the lot of them heirloom seeds.
~
With the money spent on seeds, and buying into half a CSA share, we're anticipating a pretty nice bulk of fresh produce this Summer on not too much money (up front costs are always a bit scary, but pretty much always pay off if spent on smart things). Not to mention the excellent deals at the farmers market. Our preservation this Summer (canning and freezing) will be focused on getting us through next Winter, and we're planning to make our own baby food, so this may be just enough. If you don't see much of us from June to September, you know why. :)
2 comments:
Everything looks fabulous! Our jalepenos haven't come up yet after nearly three weeks, so we aren't sure if they will at all. The peas and sunflowers are a few inches tall already! I can't wait to start planting.
It's not even been a week since I planted the herbs, and it's hard not to think they just aren't going to do anything. For some reason, I'm thinking herbs take a bit longer to start...but perhaps that's the optimist in me, trying to fight off the pessimist (it's a constant battle, it seems;))
I'm with you, I cannot wait!! I just want to get my fingers in the soil already!! I'll look forward to seeing your sprouts when I come to visit..hopefully next week. Fingers crossed for good weather, and that Mike doesn't need the car (it's always one thing or another).
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