Sunday, April 03, 2011

"No occupation is so delightful to me as the culture of the earth, and no culture comparable to that of the garden...But though an old man, I am but a young gardener."
Thomas Jefferson
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my weather
Click for weather forecast
______
sites I refer to often
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my favorite blogs
- Garden Rant
- Bifurcated Carrots
- Greens and Jeans (Northeast US)
- May Dreams Gardens (Indiana)
- Dirt: by Amy Stewart
- An Iowa Garden
- In My Kitchen Garden (Missouri)
- Gardening in Central Florida
- My California Garden in Zone 23
- Tiny Farm Blog (Ontario)
- Down on the Allotment (Matron) (UK)
- Stewart's Veggie Garden (Australia)
- Niki Jabbour - Year Round Veggie Gardener
- Daphne's Dandelions
- The Back Quarter Acre (Belmont)
______
growing info
______
community garden info
______
Plants & seeds
- Johnny's Selected Seeds
- Sand Hill Preservation Center
- Seeds of Change
- Seed Savers Exchange
- Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds
- Bountiful Gardens
- Synergy Seeds
- The Garlic Store
- White Flower Farm
- The Cook's Garden
- Burpee
- Cornell Extension site that rates vegetable varieties
- McClure & Zimmerman: common, rare & heirloom flowerbulbs & plants
- Plants at Serenata Flowers
12 Comments:
Your pictures are amazing! You have inspired me to plant today.
April 03, 2011 1:38 PM
Great seed production Kathy, I envy your steadfast schedule. We returned from New York last weekend ( first visit, amazing city of contrasts and history) a couple of days so cold eeekkk. My seeds are suffering this Spring swinging from cold to silly warmth. Predicted 71 degrees this week! If I fail this year, I can enjoy your success and wisdom. Thanks!!
Marian (London UK)
April 03, 2011 5:46 PM
Great looking plants! We've just begun to put our plants outside here in CA with covers. I'm hoping they all make it.
April 03, 2011 6:12 PM
Need your advice. My seedling sprouted and then they all died. I had them in the garage.
April 04, 2011 3:08 PM
I just found your blog and will enjoy following your journal. I too am journaling my garden, anxiously awaiting our rain to let up. Although we are across the contry, I think it will be fun to compare notes. I'll add your blog to my list of interests. Thanks!
April 05, 2011 1:00 AM
Look at those plants, they look great!
April 05, 2011 11:25 PM
I was wondering how successful your Quadrato Rosso D'Asti (sweet red peppers) have been germinating. I also have these and so far my germination rates have been a little lack luster with this variety.
April 06, 2011 11:45 AM
This is the best part of being a gardener. At least to me it is. When you see things growing.
:D
April 07, 2011 7:52 AM
I'm a first time gardener and I'm very excited about my latest sprouts which are beets that look like yours! If you have the time to answer a question... When I planted my beets, I planted the whole seed ball and now I have clusters of seedlings that are now a little over an inch tall. Should I snip them to only one seedling each, or should I transplant the whole cluster? Thanks!
April 17, 2011 2:14 PM
Bets do fine in clumps of 3 or 4. The roots will push each other apart as they grow. If you have a clump of more than 5, I think you should thin by pulling the extras.
April 17, 2011 2:25 PM
Mahes,
If the seeds sprouted and then died, I am thinking they didn't have enough light or water. You need to have a lot of light for seedlings. A good strong bulb, preferably a florescent tube, very close to the seedlings. Water them about every other day: water thoroughly and then let the soil dry out and then water again. Keep an eye on them daily.
Good soil and clean pots are important too. I use a sterilized soil mix (usually MiracleGro) and new or bleach-rinsed seed cells.
The temperature is important too. Some seeds (especially poppers) need warm temperatures to germinate/sprout, but will grow in cooler temperatures. Temperatures too hot (above 90*F) could be a problem for seedlings.)
Let me know if any of these seem like they could have been a problem. Maybe others can give advice too.
April 17, 2011 2:37 PM
Dave,
My Quadrato Rosso D'Asti did a great job of germinating this year (two year old seeds from Ohio heirloom seeds). I did notice that they were slower than other varieties. My Thai hot and cayenne sprouted first. Then Ancho/Poblanos, and then tex mex Joe Parker. Last were my Quadrato Rosso D'Asti (sweet reds) and very last - Quadrato Giallo D'Ast (sweet yellow peppers).
Since pepper germination is temperature dependent, other growers may find even more variability. I put my peppers trays under my tropical fish tank at 78*F (toasty!) until they sprout.
April 17, 2011 2:45 PM
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