The Garden Season Finally Gets Going.

Watch these tulips the next picture will be when they turn yellow.

Tomatoes from seedling tray to 2in pots.

Transplanted pepper that will be in an EarthBox planter.

Cucumbers and squash seedlings - guess the pumpkin?

Lettuce, beets, and the quinoa.

Watercress grows in an aquarium in about 3 in of water.

Trench for the leek seedlings.

Leeks in clumps that I will thin later.

These cucumbers will be transplanted into this pot.

Last years cotton hung for the birds.

We have a downy woodpecker that made a next hole in our old crab apple tree.

The season has started to move along and one of the cold frames if full of transplants.  Tomatoes and peppers were moved outside last week after being moved into larger pots. That gave room for a few more trays to be planted - cubits, nasturtiums, and lettuce.  I got most of the cucumbers and squash started and with the help of bottom heat they quickly germinated and they too have gone outside now that nice weather has seemingly arrived.  I used more compost to fill a pot to plant one one the greenhouse cucumbers that I am growing this year.  The seedlings will be transplanted into that 5 gallon bucket and the vine will be strung up in the greenhouse for early cucumbers. The trays of basil and zinnias are still in the greenhouse for another week to gain some size before they join the rest of the seedlings outside. 
The garden ground is still not ready for anything but cool season pants.  I will plant the tomatoes and peppers after I get back from a fishing trip and by them the ground will have warmed.  Planting tomatoes too early just has them sitting in the ground and not advancing.  My tomatoes will probably bear fruits just about the same time those plants put into the ground this week.
Cool ground is fine for onions and so I planted the leeks seedlings in a shallow trench this week and will thin them in a week after they have taken hold.  I will also pull the soil in around them to help make nice white roots.  The onion sets, the garlic that was re planted are doing nicely in this part of spring and the parsley seed planted weeks ago is sprouting nicely after we had a crop failure last spring.
Apple trees are blooming and I think the low flower set is due to the very hot weather we had last spring when the trees were setting blossom wood for this year.  I did my pruning the same this spring as always and am sadly noticing a small amount of flowers on the trees. 
The old crab apple tree in the front yard is now a home for a downy woodpecker. The pair worked diligently opening a nesting hole in a portion of the tree that has been dead for some time - yes, shame on me for having not removed the limb a long time ago but now it is a home for someone - so the stump will stay.  The ground below the limb is covered with bits of wood that the birds removed to make their nest cavity.
The first crop of bunnies is running around and squeezing through the fence so I will have to get busy and rectify this intolerable situation .  I have some plastic fencing that I want to install as a six inch barrier at the bottom of the fence and that should keep them out permanently.
Happy Gardening

Gardening Finally Begins in May!

 

I have pre painted the lumber for the second of two new cold frames.

I like to add handles on each side for easy movement for the frame.

I will try to add a screening compost video below...

Blueberries planted in EarthBox planter.

Time to forage for Ramps.

And then cook them - They are great eating.

After what has seemed like forever gardening weather has finally arrived.  The newest cold frame got a paint job and is in use with plants already.  I got the current and blueberries in the mail this week and so had to make the decision as to where to plant the currants.  The blueberries are going into the Earthboxes as way to ensure the soil can be amended to acidify the pH.
Luckily the compost was thawed so that I could screen enough to use that soil and peat moss to mix a soil to plant these small bush types in. I use a wire screen and do this to the compost bins in spring - putting the big stuff that needs some more time back into a new bin.  I mixed the compost and peat about half and half and added a 7/7/7 fertilizer mix and later I will add some ammonium sulfate around each of the plants.  The smallest variety - Northsky - I decided to get another plant to have a total of two in one planter.  The other planter has one Northcountry and one Northblue and I hope to find one of these varieties that does the best in this planter experiment.

The Rovada currants I decided to put in part of the old perennial bed just off the path leading into the garden for easy picking.  I really like red currant jelly – some of the easiest to make because red currents contain great pectin and jell almost by themselves.
The fig trees have been in the greenhouse for at least two weeks and have not sprouted yet - I think they are done for.  If I have to replace the Chicago turkey fig, I am going to carry the experiment with figs into the ground - literally planting them in the ground as close to the house as I can.  The cloning experiment did not yield a new plant as I had wished.  I think I tried to plant the clones too soon and they both sadly did not have enough roots to survive.  But it was a good learning event.
Seeds seem to be more difficult than normal to sprout this year - or maybe it could be the old gardener!   Parsley and lettuce seem changeling as well as some pelletized onion seed.  This year I did ship in some set of "Candy" onions which I got in the ground this week.  I also had some blanks in the garlic patch so I tried to replace them with some to last year’s garlic harvest that was sprouted and maybe will grow.  This week I should get to the flower seeds and herbs and maybe tomato transplanted.  The peppers need at least another week before they have true leaves - the marker that they are larger enough to be transplanted into a larger pot.  Remember don’t go too big with transplants keep the intervals small so that the little plants are not lost in a big pot.

With the weather continuing to get better we will try to use the rototiller and get the garden space on its way.

Happy Gardening

Anyone Seen Spring?

Good thing I have a ditch to take some of the water away from the garden.

Apple pruning has been interrupted.

The robins hang out next to the house looking for worms.

The pictures tell it all - it continues to snow and snow and snow and at this rate the garden will be soggy until June 1st!  Good thing I have the greenhouse to keep my seed starting on track. 
Happy Gardening

Start on the Seed Planting

Species crocus.

The planting board will help me remember when I plant more crocus next fall.

The fig trees before pruning.

The Chicago brown turkey fig after pruning.

The fig clones planted and at home

Tomatoes and peppers in 72 packs.

This is one of the fig clones.

Freezing water does a number on cement.

The wall will have to be fixed and soon.

With plastic on the inside of the greenhouse, I turned on the furnace with Susan's help. We will heat the space for about a month.  During the day the sun heats up the interior so that the venting system opens and closes to keep and even 80 degrees.  At night I have the heat set to 55 degrees so as not to break the bank.  Today I planted tomatoes, peppers, and parsley.  I have been hot water treating the parsley seed - a shot of near boiling water seems to make them germinate in less than 21 days. The fig trees are out of the garden shed where they wintered and into the greenhouse - but I don't think they had a good winter.  I had to really prune them severally to find what I thought was live wood.  I did bring, as you see, the clones back from Appleton and of the 8 we started out with I have two possible exact duplicates of Figgy - and all I really need is at least one to replace her.  Oh well, that is what garden experimentation is all about.

I also started lettuce a few days ago and planted radish and arugula outside next to the house in a bed that is under the windows of the house ( in the picture with the crocus and panting board).  The crocus on that little slope are continuing to bloom and reinforce that spring is here.  All we need is the snow to disappear to help us know it is true.

I need to get to the apple trees as they need their spring pruning but still have snow under them and working in snow is no fun, plus I do need some ladder work and I don't want to be in the snow for that.
The cold frames have had a water issue as the melting snow seems to want to run through them and not around them so I had to ditch two of them yesterday and hope that will help the spinach crops.

As the pictures show we have some issues with the greenhouse wall.  I guess I will have to bring in some cement guys to give me some advice as to how to fix this annual problem that water, ice, and freezing and thawing have done to the wall.  Because I don't use the greenhouse in the winter I thought the wall would not get so bad but I guess I was wrong.
Happy Gardening

Sunflower Seed Sprouts

Use 1-2 cups of  sunflower seed.

Spray with bleach spray and rinse thoroughly, then soak seed for at least 6 hrs.

Add soil-less mix to tray bottom - just cover the grooves.

Rinse the seeds one more time and then spread evenly in tray.

I really do not cover the seed just make sure it is all spread out.

Cover with wet paper toweling and a tray lid.

Cover with a cloth and place in a bottom warm spot - mine are on top of grow lights.

In about three days you should have sprouted seed so uncover them.

Keep them watered (spray or liquid) with lid in place but in light now for growth.

After about 6 days I start taking the plastic cover off and allowing them more full sun.

These are ready - I pull them out or cut them and enjoy "yummy" home grown sprouts.

As you can see most of this post is a technique for growing your own sunflower seed sprouts.  These sprouts usually retail for about $4-5 a package and you can make a tray for next to nothing with a little planning.  They take about 6 - 10 days to have an edible product that will last another week in the tray and about that long if you cut the last ones in the tray and refrigerate them in a wet paper towel in a plastic bag.  Any questions just ask and I will try to help with a response.
Happy Gardening

So Where Is Spring - Really!?

Crocus March 7 2013.

Cold frames planted last fall. They replaced the hoop house.

My future Aspen planting board.

The newest cold frame (season extender).

Google - Cold Frame Manual and go to the Door County site.  (second)

Planting board in use for lettuce.

The best compost bin I have ever had.  Make some now.

Last March 7th in 2012 - NO SNOW!

With some rain recently I thought we were on our way to getting rid of the snow but not so; and there is even some hint of some more today.  Well, even with that threat, it's time to get some building done.  With planting soon to be on every one's agenda now would be a good time to build a cold frame or two and make a new planting board along with maybe some more parts for the compost bin.  I did recently make a presentation at the Kress Family Library in DePere and built a new cold frame to demo for that event.  I also gave away a new planting board as a door prize - the first time I did that - what fun!  When I bought the board for making the gift planting board, I found two pieces of lumber that tempted me for a new board of my own - a fantastic piece of Black Walnut and a beautiful clear piece of Aspen - based on the price I got the Aspen but I am still tempted by that Black Walnut board - six feet of gorgeous wood that would make a great heirloom for someone.
All the plans for these projects are on former blog posts and I would refer you to them instead of repeating them again.  I myself go back to them too - the Cold Frame plans are April 9th of 2009 and the Planting Board is April 26th of 2009 also.  The Compost Bin Board Cut-outs are on April 8th 2012.  So April looks to be traditionally  a building month - but with all this snow still around I think this would be a good project time and then if April allows one can get to other garden projects with these done already. 
I also am working on showing you a series of sprouting photos as we are so hungry for greens that I started a tray of sunflower sprouts.   I want to share that process because sunflowers are one of the larger sprouts that take a little different technique than one uses for alfalfa or mung beans.  We really like sunflower sprouts on salads, in eggs, and on sandwiches and a tray that you start at home would retail for almost $30 if you bought them at the produce market.
I have to get the greenhouse plastic insulation in place before I start up the heat and that job is on the work list for getting done just as soon as I see the accountant and get the taxes done - always a March job (both of them).
We have had crocus in the yard for most of the last few snows and I am hoping for February Gold daffodils soon. We had them last year by this time.  The apple trees will need their spring pruning but I am still looking for a warm day to get that job done and Mother Nature has not helped me there...
Happy Gardening.

Why Glass is BAD for the Cold Frame

Falling backwards onto this plastic lid was scary.

You can see the mounds of snow behind the frames.

New lid in place.

I have a fun video of feeding the fish but have trouble with uploads-Sorry.

Inside the cold frames some ice has built up - not good for seedlings

Neosho National Fish Hatchery last week - feeding the fish was fun.

I have been trying to keep the snow off the cold frame lids but the snow seems to be winning.  Yesterday I was trying to get the mounds of snow behind the cold frames knocked down so I could push more snow off  and I fell backwards on the lid of one frame - plastic easily breaks - glass would have been a disaster!  So just another reason why not to put old windows as lids for any season extenders.  Old shower curtains, 4mil plastic doubled, or even fiberglass material is fine for the lid cover - but never - never glass.  OK, not much damage to me but my pride and today I put new plastic on the lid. 
The days are getting longer and the sun is warmer ( I fixed the lid in the greenhouse and it was Hot! in there).  All but one of the seed orders are in and I have the list below.  I put the list by supplier this year instead of seed types - easier to make  lists.  With March fast approaching it will be time to put up the plastic insulation in the greenhouse and get the furnace turned on - all this snow can't last.
Happy Gardening

2013 Seed List

I think this year I will list the seeds and the source together...

From Territorial Seed Company

Loma lettuce

Italiko Rossa – red stemmed dandelion

Perfection fennel

Ouinoa – brightest brilliant rainbow

Manny Hybrid – greenhouse cucumber

Summer Dance – garden cucumber

Space spinach

Olympia spinach

Improved Dwarf Siberian kale

Wild Garden kale

Gladiator Hybrid parsnip

Kong sunflower

From Johnny’s Selected Seeds (sent in a box to protect the pelleted seeds!)

Panisse green oakleaf lettuce - pellet

Bambi green romaine lettuce - pellet

Salvius green romaine lettuce – pellet

Venetian lettuce

Win-Win pac choi hybrid

Rubicon napa cabbage

Red Splendor mustard greens

Katrina hybrid cucumber

Alpine daikon radish

Red Rib Italian dandelion

Sweet Thai Asian basil

Aroma basil – pelleted

Genovese basil – pelleted

Titan leaf parsley

Orion fennel

Profusion F1 zinnia

Zahara Double Fire zinnia

From Pinetree Garden Seeds

Gigante Di Inverno spinach

Sbanach spinach

Roquette arugula

Prezzemolo Gigante D Italia parsley

Thymus vulgaris

French thyme

Zefa fennel

Watercress greens (will use an aquarium growing)

Starbor kale

Dwarf Blue Curled kale

Gloriette radish

Tomatoberry Garden tomato

Pacific Beauty mixed calendula

From Jung Seed and Nursery 

Sugary Hybrid tomato

Momotaro tomato

Country Taste tomato

Ultimate Opener Hybrid VF (free trial)

Muncher cucumber (free trial)

Cactus zinnia (free trial)

Carmen pepper

Planet pepper

Cute Stuff Gold pepper

Rover radish

Red Head radish

Dwarf Blueberry collection (Northcounty, Northsky, Northblue)

Rovada red current

Candy hybrid onion plants

From Sand Hill Preservation Center 

Carentan leek

Prizehead lettuce

Marvel of Four Seasons lettuce

Winter Density Cos lettuce

Spring radish mix

Queen Anne’s Pocket melon (fun and fragrant too)

Ledmon watermelon

Royal Golden watermelon

Rouge V’lf D’Etampes pumpkin (mostly for the fragrant flowers!)

Canary Bird zinnia

Enchantress zinnia

Impulse Buys  always a danger but just can’t be helped sometimes!

Hill Country Red okra

Joseph’s Coat amaranth-tricolor (edible leaves)

Illumination amaranthus-bicolor

Jewels of Opar (Talinum paniculatur)