Rain, Rain, Go Away

Come again another day...

When I went outside to finish all of my renovations to Patch it was raining. It wasn't supposed to rain today. It was supposed to be cloudy and rain for the next 3 days. So naturally I was disgruntled and frustrated. I'd spent yesterday working outside and getting things settled or planning on it because I knew it was supposed to rain all week. When that went all wrong I swore that today I would get things into order and then my plants could absorb all the nice rain for the next 3 days and end in a climate revision. Usually the rain brings cold, breaks the heat, but around this time in NOVA it brings the heat. So I was hoping that would happen. I didn't even have to water today because of the rain. All I did was pout and take a look at the Topsy Turvy, raised beds in Patch and Potagar, and brought the greenhouse in out of the rain. Luckily, I headed up and out right when the rain started to hit so it wasn't soaked, water logged. 

Green but Slow...

I remember writing about my green but slow thumb and wondering what was causing the plants to slow grow, to the point that they were taking almost double the time. Well I figured it out. It was thinning they needed. They needed it badly. I finally sucked it up and thinned out the radishes (3" apart) and the spinach (down to 3) and the radishes, a much faster crop, has boomed. It looks like they grew an inch overnight. I even thinned the tiny carrot germs. and now they have REAL carrot leaves. Not just the seed leaves. I am so excited. I was being so careful with the thinning just in case plants died that I didn't realize I was stunting their growth. Now all I have to worry about is what I assume are carrot flies. When the carrots popped out so did the flies and thats why I assume thats what they are... I of course can't be sure because all of the pictures online are close-ups so that I can't compare but I think I'll need to invest in some row covers, otherwise, I'll be left with larvae filled carrots and completely disappointed. 

I only viewed these things very quickly so I didn't get to take the pictures I promised but I will go out and get them, rain or shine, tomorrow. If your growing carrots and the bed isn't higher than two feet get row covers because the carrot flies will appear, even if you've never seen them in the area in your life and you've lived there for 20+ years. Trust me they don't just bug the carrots. They are all over the place and to be honest I don't know that they haven't already killed most of them and that's why I only have a few of the real leaves in what 3 weeks. I may actually replant if I hit 1/3 of the way to my second rotation and not much has happened. The second carrot rotation should be around mid-June, so if nothing much happens to the carrot plants after I thin, more, and cover them. They are OUT and new ones are going in with immediate covers. 

I still need to steady my topsy but it seemed to be out and it was rainy and windy out so I guess I shouldn't have been so upset after all.

Bad Luck Blooms

Greenhouse Twister...

I got up early and went outside to check the weather, it was beautiful out today and is supposed to be beautiful out the entire weekend. It's going to be in the 70's for the first time this spring. So I put my greenhouses outside. I put the larger strawberry and lettuce house on the glass yard table and the other one on the top of a short ladder. I made sure to secure the second, or so I thought, and went back inside. 

I came back out to do some watering because the day was so sunny and warm and possibly open the greenhouse lids to let some air in. When I got outside I started looking for the second greenhouse. I thought someone had moved it to keep it safe from falling. No such luck. It had fallen backwards off the ladder. The seed tape radish testers were in the spinach pre-germ transplants, the soaked radish germination's were in the watermelon pots, and dirt was just tossed all around inside the greenhouse. I was devastated. I pick everything up and tried replanting everything and watering as I went. I doubt the things that were uprooted will make it but they haven't died yet. At least, the watermelon seeds went almost undisturbed. They had some radish germs. on top but there soil hadn't broken or spread. Because everything had toppled I got an early look at the seeds I planted. The soaked seeds and the seed tape radish seeds had started to germinate. They actually seemed to have germinated to the same point, at the same rate in 2 days. I may not get anymore info out of those two tests because of the mishap but I was happy to see that putting seeds on seed tape primes the seeds a bit. I have proven that soaking seeds makes them germinate more quickly then dry seeds so following that logic putting the seeds on a flour water paste primes them to some degree. They did seem to be germinating at the same rate. My guess is that the flour water paste moistens them and makes them awaken a bit. 

After replanting almost everything I watered put the spinach tests outside and went back in thinking well at least it wasn't the strawberry house and the watermelon pots weren't ruined. I also got things back in order, OK. I talked myself into not being so devastated. I hadn't lost that much all of the things I lost were tests that weren't going to flower and produce and I didn't get the data I was looking for so all in all the mishap wasn't disastrous. 

Mishap #2...

After all the pep talking to myself I figured the worst was done. I'd never be so stupid again. Boy was I wrong. I came out after taking a nap to fine my spinach tests gone. The tray was at the door but it was empty. I guess the nice, beautiful, and warm day had turned windy and toppled those tests. I found the tray at the door and the soil and seedlings in the lawn. I attempted replanting a few of those but I don't think they'll make it either. There is nothing I can do to help the wind and the mishaps they were bound to come, things had been going too well. So the way I see it the mishaps gave me yet another test and data to be collected. 

Test: are seedlings as sensitive as the books, articles, and websites make them out to be? Can they survive an uprooting and replanting? I guess we'll see. 

Finally some good news...

In the midst of all the bad news and mishaps I did get some good news. The organization AFAC Plot Against Hunger does need volunteers and accepted my help, or will be. They said that I could work on the Central Library vegetable gardens. I was excited to hear that I would be able to help maintain a large scale veggie garden and get help on how to do so from some Master Gardeners. The first event of the month is tomorrow. What the AFAC calls a work party; a group maintenance event held for big jobs. We'll be building trellises, planting peas, leafy greens, and double digging the ground plots. One of the coolest things about the Central library gardens is that they have all types. They have veggie raised beds, ground plots, and self sufficient 5-gallon bucket containers. They maximized the space they were allotted and did it in a very Patch sort of way. What I mean is that they try everything... I am really excited to be working with the people from the Org., helping, and to have my mom along for the ride! I'll take pictures of the event tomorrow and post them. 

If anyone lives in the Arlington area and wants to help out they have several gardens that may be closer to you than the Central Library. If you can't help at a location and grow at home, DONATE!

The images below are of last years Central Library gardens; raised bed, containers, & ground plots. I also picture the seed tape progress as of when they were dumped out. 

What I Don't See

Patch Market Tour Test Time...

I made another video just to give you a full view of everything that I've been writing about. 

I find that no matter what I read about gardening, nobody talks about testing, trying, failing, and succeeding. They all just give you there tips and you don't know which ones really work. So I decided to try every tip I find online, in books, and videos and let you guys know which ones work the best, at least in my part of the country. So my videos, this one and future ones, will give you a little tour and idea of the tests I'm running and a look at there successes and failures.

Scarifying Video Update One!

Bush Sugar Babies...

I planted the watermelon seeds in origami newspaper pots. I learned how to fold them by watching a YouTube video and decided that they were a nice choice for the watermelon seeds because they require bigger starter pots. So after soaking about 6 seeds overnight in tepid water I folded up two pots and planted 3 seeds in each. Hopefully, 1 seed from each pot will germinate and I'll get the chance to grow them. 

As I set the soaked seeds out I also set up a couple of tests with the watermelon seeds. The first test is a pre-germination test. I put 2 seeds on a wet paper towel in an old Starbucks coffee frapp. glass bottle (you know the ones you get at 7-11). The second test occurs in the same bottle, I used sandpaper and applied the process called scarification, in other words, I lightly sandpapered the seed to help it break through the outer coating. The other seed I left as it came in the packet. The test is to see if the scarified seed pre-germinates before the control seed and if the soaked seeds germinate in soil before both the scarified and control seed in the bottle. Guesses??? 

Patch Market Videos...

I was watching some YouTube videos on how to grow watermelons in a container last night as I was planning out my tests and thought Hmmm I should do a video update now and then for my blog. So this morning when I got up and got everything outside for the day I decided to do just that.

Easter Miracle

It was gloomy and rainy out today so I didn't put my strawberries out. I didn't want to get the greenhouse all water logged. I instead sat them by a window so that they could get some sun from the light between all the clouds. I set them out on the coffee table in the sun room and watered the cups that felt extremely light. The ones that felt heavier I left as is... And firmed the top on.Then I got ready to go to Easter lunch with my family, checked on my seedling testers and left.

After lunch...

I noticed that some of the strawberries had sprouted new growth, just a few hours, after I'd checked on them. The growth rate is incredible. I sat on the floor and just sort of stared. After a couple of minutes I started to count which ones had made progress and how many hadn't. The results came to 25 of 27 alive and well or progressing. Even the little baby "grindylow", as Mike referred to it, had some green. It was actually really satisfying to know that out of the 27 I received the original 25 I'd ordered were alive.

I opened the greenhouse up and added the sweet potato glasses to the mix. I realized that 1 of the glasses (whole pot) had long roots with tiny roots starting to sprout off of the main root. It was another very satisfying realization. The sweet potatoes were slipping and the strawberries were a-growin'. That is my Easter miracle, especially since the spinach and tester seedlings have done absolutely nothing. Those were the 2 things I expected to see results from first when I didn't I was so depressed. The seedling testers technically still have a day until its DOA but I don't think anything is going to happen there. Seed tape is going to be my next test.

I started making seed tape strips this afternoon and hopefully they'll be the answer to getting the spinach, radishes, and carrots to grow. I haven't tested the carrots but was happy that I choose to make tape for them when I saw how unbelievably tiny the seeds were. I would have never been able to sow them properly with a guide.

Boo on the testers and spinach and YAY for the miracle of some growth! FINALLLY!!!! Happy Easter to me... And all!

From Nada to Prada

So excited...

I had to show everyone the new greenhouse I made. I jumped out of bed at about 1am with an idea on how to make a small greenhouse for my plants. My last attempt was ugly, slouching, and weird but worked. I wanted something that could hold all of my seedlings, starters, and strawberries and didn't slouch on the job.

One A.M. Build...

So like I was saying I jumped out of bed and grabbed some old styrofoam (protects computers), some plastic wrapped, clear and black tape, and some kabob sticks. I used 3 out of 4 styrofoam protectors as trays and taped them together. I used the last styrofoam piece as the top frame. I cut it into strips. Then I stuck groups of 3 kabob sticks in each corner and in the center between the corners. I attempted putting the frame on the flat end of the sticks but the pieces of foam wouldn't hold so I taped half of a kabob stick pointy end up to the taped groups of 3. Then I added the upper frame and taped some of it down and used kabob sticks to hold tougher pieces down. Then I took squares of 3-4 ply plastic wrap and started wrapping it around the frame, stapling the bottom and securing it with black duct tape then securing the top with clear tape to the upper frame. I taped the seams with ultra clear tape and continued like that all the way around. Finally, it was time to add the top. I had to make the top removable because the trays were built into the greenhouse. It was no longer a cover. So I cut a perfect square of 3-4 ply wrap and placed it on top, because it was thick and the sides were thick it just sort of stuck there holding on to the other plastic. Great!!! I was done... Basically! All I needed to do now was add some cardboard pieces to cover the holes in the styrofoam trays and add the strawberries. I did all this in about 5 minutes and was glad to see that I still had space for about 5 paper seedling cups after adding the strawberries. I picked the entire thing up carefully and placed it in its overnight bed. After admiring it for a minute I made one last adjustment. I grabbed a few dress pins from my sewing kit and lightly secured the top. The pins would allow its easy removable but assure its placement during gusts of wind!!

I am so proud of my little greenhouse it is about a billion times better than my first attempt and it only took me 45 mins to build. I went from a makeshift, but working, slouching plastic heap of a cover to a designer mini greenhouse that will hold around 32 seedling cups! Still amazed at my own work (not in a conceited way more in the wow I didn't know IIII could do thissss, way)!

Strawberry Fields Forever

Day 1...

As you know, I received my Burpee.com order of 25 barefoot or bare-root strawberry plants in the Seascape variety. Seascapes are a day neutral variety that produce fruit in about 90 days. I planted them all in little seedling cups and put them on trays. Last night it was a bit cold in the sun room so I moved them to the basement opened the curtain and wrapped a towel around the trays. When I woke up I noticed the a few plants had the roots showing so I carried them upstairs back into the sun room and started adding a little extra potting mix. It was sunny and warm out so I placed the trays outside in the sunniest spot in the yard and watered them a little bit just to moisten the dirt I'd added. At this point I had noticed a little green poking out of most of the crowns that used to be all brown. So that was good... I could tell most had survived the trip from PA. 

I headed back down into the basement to work on a makeshift green house to protect the plants from the afternoon wind pick up. Every afternoon the wind really has been picking up and if the sun is out it seems to take over and make it chillier by at least 10 degrees. So I wanted to get the greenhouse cover structure over the strawberries before that happened so that the sun could warm the interior sufficiently before the wind picked up. 

It was a lot harder to get this thing together then I thought it would be. I used a bunch of leftover vacuum seal type bags, cut up a plastic bag that used to hold a mattress cover (that thick very glass-like plastic), and used a white garbage bag for the top. For the frame I cut up strips of cardboard and used wooden paint mixers. To hold everything together I used a stapler, black tape, and clear tape. The sides of the structure held up pretty well it was the top I had trouble with because I didn't put a frame around it. Once I had completed the greenhouse cover I carried it outside and placed it over the two strawberry trays. It worked well enough! I took a look inside and noticed that about 15 out of the 27 plants (Burpee sent 2 extra) had grown over the last few hours in the sun. A few had a 1 inch stem and leaf, some of the growth was just poking out of the crowns, and some had a miraculous 2 inch steam and a full size leaf. It was pretty, pretty, pretty good! Now I knew that, at least, 15 made the trip alive. Yesterday I had no clue whether one of them had made it to me alive. They just looked so sad and pathetic. Seeing that growth renewed my confidence in my garden. Even though the seedlings I planted still haven't shown any real progress and the sweet potatoes are just growing in a few long but very thin roots seeing those strawberries bloom basically overnight made it all worth it. The strawberries are the plant I'd been looking most forward too. 

I just stood there and stared for a few minutes. Although I was excited to see the growth I wasn't surprised. I'd Google search "growing barefoot/root strawberries" last night and saw a few videos that made it clear that the plants should show growth in the first 24-48 hours because strawberry plants grow quickly. That is the exact reason I was so renewed by the growth... because I was expecting it. I needed them to work out because almost everything else hasn't so far. I'm very excited to see that at least 1/2 of the plants are alive and sprouting. I hope that all 27 will have new growth by tomorrow afternoon but if they don't I'll contact Burpee and ask them to send me 10 new plants. I'm happy either way . I'm happy with the growth and without because I have the time to try again and don't have to pay for the second attempt.