Morning everyone! Cute Easter pics. Hope everybody had an enjoyable weekend. Those still traveling, hope you all make it back home safely.
We're having a Monday here for the first time in a while without any rain. Actually supposed to see the sun today too. Gonna be a day to get out and see about getting some planting done before the rain comes in tomorrow. Supposed to go to 80 today. Might actually be able to come out of winter jackets and sweats this week.
Think I can finally start planting my beans and cukes and squash. I'm hoping the worst of winter is over, but til after the 30th still keeping plastic covers and such all handy. That unexpected hard frost last year killed so many seedlings it was enough to make ya sit down and cry.
Is everybody snow free finally? How about you folks way up in Northern parts, your ground all clear.
Joseph... Great sign.
Thanks for the mint help. I had some Banana Mint, but I think it has bit the dust finally. Poor thing. The squirrels had all but destroyed it during the fall and the little piece I was able to save I think suffered to much cold.
A chilly 48F out right now, but time to go make like a gardener before it gets too hot later. Can't believe I can finally say " too hot."
Have a happy gardening folks and watch out for unfriendly critters and don't forget the sun protection.
Name: aka GardenQuilts Facebook, NGA and the beloved Winston the pug
It is 41'F now - still have to keep the potted tropicals inside- but it will reach 70'F for the first time today. I need to finish lifting my plants outside today. With luck someone will take me for boxes and packing supplies as well. It is going to be a crazy week, but then I will be done moving!!!!
Name: aka GardenQuilts Facebook, NGA and the beloved Winston the pug
I would love some fresh garden spinach. The dandelions are starting to sprout, but I'll pass. Grocery store greens for me until I get some lettuce seeds planted in my new place.
Duane got a lot of the soaker hoses placed this weekend. He also tilled and amended the onion bed so I can get onions, leeks, and celeries planted hopefully today. I will also try to get the chards transplanted. The early plantings did suffer a bit of cold damage when tarps came loose from the rocks, but I think most of them should grow out of it and do ok. I'm re-sowing some brassicas today just to hedge my bets. I'm also sowing some warmer season flowers: nasturtium, thunbergia, cerinthe, mirabilis, salvia along with warm weather vegetables that take a bit of time: okra and amaranth.
Radishes are up and I've got lots of watering to do today to make sure other things germinate, particularly carrots which need lots of water at first. No peas are up that I can see so far. It's a nice day, already 16C and forecast to go up to 19C. It's about time!!
It sure is nice that things are starting to sprout and grow! I have some 'exciting to me' sprouts ~ Alexanders (Smyrnium olusatrum) and nasturtium "Empress of India" to name a couple!
The Empress of India also has pretty foliage, a deep green color
Name: aka GardenQuilts Facebook, NGA and the beloved Winston the pug
My favorite nasturtium is "Alaska". It has green/white variegated foliage and yellow or orange blooms.
Still packing and digging up my plants. A few that looked dead had healthy roots, yippee!
I lifted my strawberries, wrapped them in damp newspapers and put them in an open bin. Does anyone have a creative way to plant strawberries? Perhaps as a tower? They take so much space. The squirrels and chipmunks get more berries than I do.
I just have mine in a flower bed, but there are Topsy Turveys for tomato and herbs or for peppers. Both of which have multiple ports. That may be a possibility for you. I found them at the Dollar Tree for a buck each. I also got some Toole from the craft store and I cover mine once they start to turn red.
I tried the Topsy-Turvy for strawberries and sadly, I was less than pleased. But they were selling for a dollar at Big Lots, so I gave it a shot.
Since we have to deal with wild rabbits here, the best method for me has been a tall-ish container (taller than a rabbit can reach) and put a collar of plastic mesh so hopefully the mice can't get in too often. I grab the huge plastic tubs (36 gallons or larger) for free when local landscapers are planting trees. I fill the lower half with empty soda/beer cans so as to use less soil to fill the pots.
Name: aka GardenQuilts Facebook, NGA and the beloved Winston the pug
I have a cylinder of mesh used to protect new trees in the winter. I was thinking of lining it with mesh or landscape cloth and planting strawberries in the holes. I should probably put pipes with holes drilled in the sides in the center to help irrigate the strawberries.
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