Yellow Cherry

Its been raining here so I haven't really been able to tend to the garden the way I've wanted to but I did get to spray everything with Sea Magic yesterday and do some thinning.  

Here is a quick overview of things by plant type;

Strawberry Plants-
1) I finished planting the strawberries in the recycled bed. I'd said earlier that I didn't know what to do because the berries that were present were touching the soil and would rot. That's why I held off on planting them all. Well I figured it out. I cut a black plastic trash bag, making it into a sheet, and laid it over the soil. It was difficult to cut the bag in the exact right spot for the strawberry plants that had already been planted but I figured it out. Then I cut X's, appropriately spaced into the black sheeting and planted the rest. It was actually very fortuitous that I'd chosen that bed for those plants because the bricks hold the sheeting in place, firmly. Very firmly! Rain is a bit of an issue but after it rains I just make sure to pinch at the sheeting so that the extra water slides into the holes watering the berries. The sheet warms the soil immensely and keeps the berries from touching it. The plants, except the one Loran (rest are Ozark), have shot up about an inch each, have grown flowers or started berrying out. All I need to do now is keep the birds away. They've already started pecking at the green berries.

2) The Loran strawberries I planted around the edge of a round container have not grown, almost, at all. Sadly, I don't think they're going to make it. When I say 'make it' I mean produce fruit. The plants may grow and be green but I don't know that they'll do what their supposed to.

3) The two Eversweets planted in the taller 4x4 bed haven't seemed to have grown at all. I don't know about those 2 varieties. The Lorans came in a six-pack for a pittance compared to each of the Ozarks and the Eversweet plants looked red funny when I picked them out but they advertised the easiest growth and sweetest fruit so I thought, why not?  I only grabbed 2. Anyway, let's hope we get something out of 1 of the 3 varieties, that don't go to the birds.

4) My darling survivor! The single strawberry plant, in the 5 gallon bucket, that made it over the winter has a gorgeous white flower on it. Its thriving. I will not be surprised, at all, to see a couple of berries from that little guy. It's amazing how both that plant and the lemon balm made it through the winter without any care, at all, and are doing better than some of the freshly bought/planted seedlings.

5) Finally, the extra. One of the Ozark Beauty containers had a little extra plant attached to it that I removed, on the day I purchased it, and replanted in a terracotta pot. It is thriving as well. It has 3 berries of varying sizes and has shot up a few inches, at least. I only put a few inches of soil in the pot because I'd planned on replanting it but now I'm worried that if I do move it again, Ill lose it. The amount of soil in the pot is double the Bonnie size and triple in width but I don't think it'll be enough. I wish I'd thought ahead and planted it as if that was going to be its perma-location when I did. It may have to do.

Lettuce-
1) The Romaine seedlings I bought from home depot are green, firm, and growing. They were wilted and looking like they were on their last legs for a few days there after I transferred them but the rain has done them well. I'm hoping I'll start to see some twisting and turning. That'll indicate that they are going to "head up."

2) The Romaine seeds I planted have poked their little heads out and then some but are grouped together so tightly its been hard to thin without pulling out too many. Lettuce seeds are so small it was hard to plant them without grouping them tightly, especially since I primed them in warm water prior to transplantation. Each seed had a single, fairly long, root when I finally put them in the soil. I don't know that we'll get even a single lettuce leaf from those because the roots aren't holding tight and they do not have the space they need if they go un-thinned.

3) Not lettuce but spinach is used as such so I'll add it in this category. It is ready for picking. Something has been nibbling on it and I've had to pull off and toss a few leaves but the plants look like they should; dark green and crinkly. Nothing like last years. Can't wait to give my Mom some.

Tomatoes-
1) The Yellow Cherry variety, planted next to 2 cucumbers, is doing the best. It has a few little yellow flowers and 2 tiny green rounds. I was so excited to see those today. I didn't know if we'd get anything from this years garden because of the late start and the depleted soil. Seeing those two tiny green rounds gave me an enormous amount of hope.

2) The other plants seem to have gotten their color back and have a flower or two but they haven't shot up in height like the ones last year did shortly after transplantation. I'm hoping its just a delay but if we only get Yellow Cherries that will be OK with me; as long as we get something.

Cucumbers-
1) I planted 2 cucumbers in the far left bed with the Yellow Cherry tomato plant and installed the trellises right away. Those two don't seem to have grown much but I'm not worried about it because at planting-time they were looking like they were an inch from death. Now, they look like lively, small, seedlings. They needed time to heal. I'm sure now that their color and strength is back they'll start to shoot up like weeds?

2) The round container cucumbers have shot up about an inch each. It was a single seedling pot with a double plant. They are doing just great! Its the same container that grew last years beauties so I'm not worried about them, at all! Well I'm not worried about their growth. I am worried about the container placement. I've seen some funny soil movement that I don't like. I think an animal has been digging into them. I may have to move them behind the fence, which would be fine because the backyard is so beautifully clean. I could use the patio for containers this year. Keep the animals at bay.

3) The recycling bin cucumber hasn't grown much but it was  in the same condition as cucumbers #1. Now the plant is green, straight, and firm. I may have to move it to the patio as well. Im just waiting for the mama bird and her chicks to get a little older and move on. I wouldn't doubt that she'd attack my plants if I put them on the patio right now. She goes nuts when we even get close because her nest is right there.

Herbs-
1) I planted the parsley and basil in the back far left bed with the spinach and lettuce seeds. The parsley hasn't grown much but it looks really nice, green, supple, and fresh. I'm sure it'll make its way up.

2) Last years Lemon Balm. My baby! It's enormous. It made it through the winter without any tending. I ripped off all the old brown leaves and twigs in March and it has blossomed. Its twice the size it was and has grown at least 4 inches taller. It is amazing!!!! I cannot get over how the plant that claimed it needed the warmest weather made it through the winter and is thriving more than any other! Its crazy. I love it!

3) The new lemon balm plan went in the bed with the Parsley. Its grown a bit, looks fresh. That's all there is to say about that.

4) The basil was yellow when I put it in. Now its green and has grown. We can start using it on pizza or whatever else we'd like. It smells amazing and looks wonderful. HUGE! Last years Basil didn't do too well. I think this years is doing better because I bought the larger size. It was more established to begin with.

Radishes-
1) The French radishes are thriving. It took them one day to sprout up out of the ground. It looks like every seed made it and they have already grown their second set. Ive been thinning like crazy because I primed them and wet seeds are hard to separate. So they grew in tight groups like the lettuce seeds. Luckily these have strong roots and are easier to thin, it takes time but it's worth it. We'll have the best French radishes this side of Wilson Blvd. Haha!

I forgot to bring my phone out with me so I don't have any updated pictures to include with this post but I'll add some when I take them first thing tomorrow.

Spray Crazy

Harvest Two...

This morning before I went out with my mom I went out to water, apply compost tea to the veggies/herbs/fruits that needed it, and harvest what needed harvesting. I applied compost tea to the spinach, basil, onions, strawberries, cucumbers and green beans. The onions needed 1 cup per square foot and the cucumbers needed 1 cup per plant. The rest didn't say what was needed so applied a watering; enough liquid to sufficiently water the plant for the day. Then I watered what needed watering and took a good look at the lettuce and radishes in Patch Market. The lettuce had boomed since my last harvest. It had grown in height by about 5 inches and had grown in width by 6 or 8 full sized leaves. I harvested 6 leaves from 1 head by pinching then off, being sure to leave an inch or so at the base, and 5 from the other. Both heads still looked extremely full afterwards. I put all the lettuce in my basket then moved on to the radishes. Three were ready for harvest the rest weren't because half haven't even 'bulbed' yet and the others had small bulbs about a 1/4 of an inch wide. I don't know if the ones that don't have any bulb will ever bulb but either way the ones harvested were beautiful. I harvested the lettuce and radishes to give to my mom. I knew I'd be heading over to pick her up for lunch a few minutes later so it was the perfect time to harvest them for her. I was about to go inside but decided that since the rain that was supposed to come, wasn't, I'd spray with my new organic Captain Jack's spray. I sprayed the remaining radishes, the strawberry containers, the lettuce, and the carrots. Then I went inside to get dressed for lunch. On my way out I grabbed the unwashed veggies still in the basket and took the whole thing with me.

When I got to my Mom's I gave her the harvest. She was excited to receive them, especially the lettuce, because she didn't have any lettuce or radishes for tonight's salad. She took them out of the basket and put the lettuce in a saved produce bag then put that in the fridge. The lettuce filled the entire bag. She cropped the greens off of the radishes and stuck them in the fridge on a shelf, no plate, nothing. Strange for her but it worked. She said she'd be making a salad with the veggies for dinner and she did. She texted me after dinner and said that she made a salad with the lettuce but didn't add the radishes. She just ate a radish plain; " it was good because it was sweet and crisp but not peppery." I don't know if that means it was better than the store ones or that it was worse because it didn't develop the peppery flavor. I 'll have to ask her if the other 2 had a peppery flavor once she eats them. She liked them, either way, and now I'll try them. What I don't like about radishes is the peppery flavor, these ones are really grown by me. 

       Before second harvest.

       Before.

    Harvested lettuce. 

     Harvested radishes. 

After Lunch...

After lunch my Mom and I came back here and I gave her a tour of Potagar Schoultz and Patch Market, she was thoroughly impressed. We didn't garden because she wasn't feeling well and it was the hottest part of the day; too hot to garden. I pulled off a lemon balm leaf, during our tour, for her to smell and she absolutely loved it. I'd never heard of it before my foray into gardening so I was sure she hadn't before either and I was right about her not knowing  of its mosquito repelling qualities, delicious fragrance, and its existence. On our way out I grabbed the 3 beautiful lemon balm seedlings I germinated in a paper cup and gave them to her for the kitchen. She'll replant them this weekend in a nice large pot, as I instructed her to do. I'm positive she'll use the herb as a natural repellent and fragrance in her kitchen once it's ready to harvest.

Back...

When I got back from dropping her off and running a few errands I changed into gardening clothes and went out to spray the weeds/grass in the far right beds in Potagar Schoultz. At first I didn't know how to attach the nozzle to the EcoSmart bottle but I figured it out and started spraying. I was shocked to smell the contents. The liquid was strong and suffocating. It said it was safe for children and pets so I wasn't worried about my health but my throat felt raw after spraying the first bed. I pushed through, anyway, sprayed the second bed and the weeds growing in the sidewalk cracks in Patch Market and in front of the sun room. I went spray crazy actually. I sprayed the sidewalks, all the dandelion, the grass growing up against all the Potagar beds and all the plants growing through the mulch on the ground in Patch. I only stopped because my throat was extremely raw and I couldn't stand the smell any longer. 

I went out to check a few hours later and so far nothing looks like its dying but it said it would take hours and I sprayed around 5:30 so its only been 3.5 hours. Tomorrow I'll mulch what needs mulching, spray what needs re-spraying and thin what needs thinning, if it doesn't thunder storm as predicted. UGH, the saying isn't MAY showers bring JUNE flowers. It's April showers bring May flowers and veggies? 

Seedling and Test Updates

Update...

Sorry, I've been sick since my birthday so I haven't been able to catch you guys up on the goings on of Patch or Potagar Schoultz. So I decided to do a real test update as my first entry back. The last time I wrote I talked about the weird occurrence in the green bean and spinach patches. Nothing has happened like that since. I have since planted the tomatoes, basil, and lemon balm. A few of my tests and crops have come to life too.

Mesclun Mix: Planted on April 16 and germinated April 17. Half of the seeds were soaked and half came straight from the packet. The primed half germinated after 15 hours and the control group after about 36 hours. They'll need a lot of thinning but have been growing healthfully since planting. The roots appeared mid-prime. I planted the primed seeds just by making sure the roots were finally covered with compost.

Planted April 9 and now about 4 inches tall and ready to transplant when the weather cooperates. This pot had 4 primed seeds only one germinated but it is the tallest and best looking so far.

Primed lemon balm seeds planted on April 9 and germinated about 6 days later. Now we know they made it into the cup. 

Planted, uprooted, and replanted from April 16-17. The uprooting has not slowed there germination and priming the seeds has sped it by a few days since they have started to sprout as of today April 21.

Control and scarified watermelon seeds planted on April 9 have started to germinate 12 days later. Scarifying the seed seems to have made no difference in time and they took longer than the primed seeds to sprout. Although they did not move out of place like the first bunch. Priming may make seeds a bit lighter.

Seascapes have doubled in size in the last 10 days and are starting to show signs of blossoms. 

Madness Depot

Home Depot...

Today, I didn't do that much garden work period. The bulk of what I did was for Potagar Schoultz. I watered everything that needed watering in Patch Market. At around one this afternoon Mr. S. and I went to Home Depot to get the plants we needed for the garden. We got there and it was madness. There were tons of people buying up all the plants. Most of the vegetables were gone and it was hard to maneuver our way through the garden center. We ended up getting a lot of what we needed by luck. We found vegetables and fruits people and picked up and put back down in different places. Luckily, we were able to do self check-out because everything we were getting was small and had a bar code. Mr. S. pushed the cart ahead to self check out while I got 2 more bags of Perlite. I tried to catch up with him but this horrendous old lady thought I was trying to cut in front of her on the way to the line and kept blocking me off. Finally, I was able to step in front of her and she tried to smash into me on my way passed with her cart. Sunday is a horrible day to go to Home Depot but we got cantaloupe, lemon balm, summer squash, spinach, mesclun mix, zucchini, and a few others I can't remember. Mike's dad picked up some tomato cages because he couldn't find bamboo and of course the Perlite. 

Once we got home and unloaded I went to Ayers (the local hardware store) to pick up a few more plants. I got there and could immediately see that things were pretty sparse there too. Even though things were sparse I got a tomatoberry plant, patty pan squash, Chili peppers, and cucumbers in the plant section. I ended up grabbing a packet of bamboo for the trellis and a plant spray bottle. When I got home I unloaded and let Mr. S. know what I'd picked up. I told him that we should return all 6 of the cages he'd bought at Home Depot and use the bamboo. The bamboo was $4 a pack and each cage was $8.00. The savings is worth the return trip. 

Later...

I planted the remaining strawberry plants in another container and put them in Patch and built two tomato stakes out of bamboo and rubber bands. I entered the plants we'd gotten into Smart Gardener and made the actual final plan and noticed that the lemon balm seeds I'd planted had germinated. It took them eleven days. I guess I was able to get some seeds in and they germinated faster because they were soaked. Even though they were hard to handle and I wasn't completely sure I had gotten the seeds into the cups it was worth it. 

Tiny Lemon Balm seedling. (top right)

DIY bamboo stakes for the peas and tomatoes. 

Seascape strawberry container.

Outdoor Patch & Vid2

Planting more...

This morning and afternoon I worked in the scorching weather planting more watermelon seeds, almost all of the rest of the strawberries, watering, and planting another round of Lemon Balm. 

I planted a few more watermelon seeds in the hopes that they would germinate like a few of the others have and I'd be able to give them to AFAC. I didn't plant them all in the beginning because they were my "reach" plant. If they did germinate then I'd planned to grow more. Not all of them have, yet, but I do hope they will. I planted the new pots with compost, perlite, and organic potting mix. I think the compost will give the watermelon seeds the kick they need. I also planted the seeds that were in the bottle. They weren't doing anything at all so I guess those are our results. You cannot pre-germinate scarified or any watermelon seeds. I am hoping the ones in the bottle will germinate in soil so we'll have some data on whether or not scarifying helps any. 

I planted some more Lemon Balm because I'd forgotten to plant a control group. The cups I did plant of Lemon Balm were with primed seeds that actually turned out very difficult to plant. I still don't know that I got any of them in the pots. I have a few more days until the proposed germination time is up so I guess we'll find out soon. In the mean time, I wanted to make sure I had both primed and controlled groups trying to germinate. Lemon Balm is really amazing in deterring pests, it smells great, and is used for medicinal purposes. It would be nice to have some around. 

I replaced 2 of the strawberry plants (from the top 2 ports) in the Topsy Turvy. One had completely died because the roots weren't covered and one was almost dead. I was able to revive the second by removing it from the TT planter and planting it back in a cup with mostly compost. It has perked up a lot since. I added two new plants to the TT and more compost and soil to make sure that the roots were fully covered and watering wouldn't wash them out. So far Topsy Turvy is getting a thumbs down. Because I can't rely on the TT planter, and I have extra strawberry plants, I planted the 5-gallon bucket I painted with 7 strawberry plants. I poked holes in the bottom of the bucket with nails and a hammer and planted along the rim so that the plants would hang over the edge when they got tall enough. That way I don't have to worry about rotting fruit. I'm hoping one of the two planters or both gives me a good harvest. In case your wondering, I'm able to plant that many plants in a small container because 1) I don't plan to let the runners grow and 2) the plants don't need as much space when they've got a "wall" on one side. 

After I planted and watered the 5-gallon bucket I carried it over to Patch and set it down while I grabbed 3 bricks to lay under the bucket. The bricks have 2 holes in them and will help with drainage for the planter. This will be a test of which works best... more traditional planter or Topsy Turvy Upside Down planter?

Thinning seeds after step 2 and tour of Patch Outdoors.

Making the planter hammering nails in to make holes.

Planter completed and set on bricks to help with drainage.

Hot in Herre

Wilting Plants...

This morning I got up and put everything outside because it was going to be 79 degrees out. I left and went back inside to get things together for the day and came back out about 2 hours later to find that the inside of the greenhouses were sweltering. I immediately removed the iceberg lettuce cups because all of the old and new growth was completely wilted. I thought I might have killed them to be honest but when I brought them inside they perked up. 

Although, some of the things online and in books is over the top and plants are stronger than they've been made out to be it seems like the "seasonal" suggestions are no joke. The temperature outside was about 75 and inside the greenhouse was about 90. Lettuce does best at about 65 degrees. It didn't like the 90 degree heat it was in at all. It took a little while inside for them to perk back up and they still aren't looking as nice as they were this morning. I had planned on transplanting them into the raised bed in Patch today but technically the consistent cool weather isn't guaranteed until next week. Considering that it was hotter then it should be for lettuce out today and is going to be for the rest of the week it seems silly to say but I'm keeping them inside. Not because it isn't "cool" because it's past cool out it's warm to hot out. I figure waiting until Friday when the weather drops back down to the mid-60's is best. 

My strawberries a warm/hot fruit wilted as well.  I think it was a bit of a shock for them. It hasn't been that hot out and all of the sudden it was 90 degrees in the greenhouse. They wilted to find shade and a bit of breeze, I think. Once I took the top off of the greenhouse even though it was hot and sunny they perked back up. They like the heat but not in a flash like that. I need to remember that boiling my crops probably isn't the best way to go. I've been so careful about cold temperatures I forgot that I needed to cool things down when it got to hot. Thank god they perked back up. Some of the most beautiful plants (the taller ones) were the ones that wilted. 

Pre-germ Carrots and Primed Lemon Balm...

I decided to transfer the pre-germinated carrot seeds into a cup with organic soil, today. The pre-germs. weren't very good looking but I wanted to complete the experiment. A lot of the seeds had grown into the wet paper towel and some of the roots had shriveled up but I picked the best looking ones and dropped them into the cup and covered them lightly with soil and water. I might not get anything and I might get some really nice looking sprouts but either way I can wait to see the results. Considering that they were pre-germinated if they're going to sprout at all it'll be in the next 4-5 days. I'll let you know. 

I planted my primed Lemon Balm seeds right before the pre-germ. carrots but that was so much more of a hassle than it was worth. The seeds were so tiny and slick I don't know if I have a cup of dirt sitting in my greenhouse or if I have soon to be Lemon Balm seedlings sitting in there. I couldn't see them go in to save my life. If I flicked them in the cup or over the cup I have no clue. It was just a mess. I think I definitely should have just bought a Lemon Balm plant. Those seeds are either not meant to be primed or not meant to be handled but it was much tougher than seed taping the tiny carrot seeds. I really truly don't know how many I got in if any. They are the same color as soil and the tiniest slickest things. I guess this is a "we'll see" and "both be surprised" if there ever was one. 

Containers...

Lastly, I painted my containers today. I planned on using the old yellow recycling bin for the watermelon plants if they germinate but I didn't want to use it as is.... so I painted it a nice white with green tea trim. It looks pretty and will hold 1 fair sized plant. I also painted a 5 gallon bucket I found green tea with white trim. I am not sure what I'll put in there just yet, maybe the lemon balm, but I know I'll end up using it for something. Maybe one of the tests that goes really well but wasn't planned for in Patch Market. 

She's Got Garden Fever

Potager Schoultz...

Mike's parents decided to set up a garden of raised beds in the backyard directly in front of the sun room about 15 feet from Patch Market. Mikes Dad bought a raised bed kit and 5 tomato plants and his mom bought some herbs and peppers. I am so excited that they decided to set up there own garden because the backyard will be full of veggies and fruits. My dream of stepping out on a warm late spring and early summer morning and smelling everything grow will come true. I was so excited that they were setting up there garden I decided to input all of the plant varieties they purchased and the sized beds into SmartGardener.com. I even chose a name and a few extra plants I'd heard them talking about. The new name is Potager (french for kitchen garden) Schoultz (their last name). I think it might be cuter than Patch Market, not that they are going to make a sign and all of that for their garden but I did have to input a name to create the garden layout on SmartGardener. 

It took me a couple of hours to find the types of tomatoes they'd chosen, pick vegetables that went well and they'd spoken of, and chose the number of plants. I don't know that they'll use the exact plan and don't expect it because I only went on varieties I'd remembered. They have a lot more space, I just tried to fill it in with the things they'd actually bought. The site recommends where to place each plant after selecting them. That was the true reason I set it up... Mikes dad asked me something that had to do with spacing and harvesting. So now they know where to plant what they did buy and maybe they'll even buy a few things I added so that the plants they bought have the best companions. 

Patch Market... 

Yesterday before all of the Potager Schoultz stuff happened I went to the AFAC work party and when I got home I had lunch, relaxed, and headed back out to tend to my garden. I finally planted something in Patch. I planted the carrots and radishes. I am so excited to see them start germinating. I hope that the carrots make it. I was a little discouraged when they spoke about the carrots they'd planted for AFAC at the Central Library. They sowed the seeds a couple weeks prior to the work party and as far as we could see they weren't doing very well. That's part of the reason I chose to plant yesterday instead of waiting until the LFD. If the carrots don't germinate I'll have the time to replant. 

My strawberries are so healthy dark green and tall it is amazing to see the growth from brown duds to lively beautiful plants. My lettuce on the other hand has started to wilt a little bit. The iceberg has shown new growth in the heart but the old leaves and some of the new have lost there crisp upright posture. I think it's a little hot in the greenhouse for them. Now, that we are in April, and the days have begun to warm, I am going to transplant them. Lettuce is a cool weather crop and because it's cool outside the greenhouse is now warm to hot. I realized that is how the greenhouse seems to work... it is about one season ahead of where the outside world is. So, tomorrow I add lettuce to the carrots and radishes in the raised bed. Soon I'll have a full house. 

Patch Testing...

My raised bed veggies aren't doing much yet, obviously, but I do have a few test updates. The spinach cup pre-germs. that fell over and were transplanted from the glass-papertowel-bottle are growing very well. The seedlings are about an inch tall and seemed to survive the little mishap without any set backs. Again, plants are much more resilient then they've been made out to be. The watermelon seeds are still just soil and newspaper. The radishes seed tape and primed radishes that fell over have all germinated and are doing extremely well. I even took them all the way out and put them back into the soil and they are growing at the average rate if not quicker for being primed and taped. And again, it seems like the flour water paste has the same affect on the rate of germination as the soaking in tepid water does. 

The carrot seeds in the glass bottle have pre-germinated at about 25% and the rest have molded. I'll have to look into testing other ways to pre-germinate carrot seeds. I don't think the wet paper towel works for carrots. The scarified watermelon seed is at the same stage of the control seed in the glass bottle, nothing's changed. I guess we'll see on those too. The sweet potato that rooted and grew root hairs is doing amazingly. It drink about a fourth of a glass of water each day and the roots just continue to grow. I am hoping that means I'll start getting some shoots in the next week and I'll be able to plant my slips rather than buy plants. 

I started priming the lemon balm for those tests. I am going to attempt growing it from seed by priming and pre-germination. I have my reservation because of the tiny seed size but we'll see how it goes. I'll be planting the primed seeds tomorrow along with the lettuce and a dry watermelon seed (control seed).