It has been a very busy week getting some of the gardens cleaned up, starting seeds, and transplanting seedlings into bigger cells. Springtime keeps me very busy every day, how about you?
With another very warm day, I decided to clean all the fallen leaves out of the little pond with a net. Then it was time to hook up the pump and drain out the yucky water. It takes a bit of energy to get the liner clean and leaves out from around the rocks. Once it was to my satisfaction, I refilled the pond.
I had been wanting to get it cleaned out before the Mallard ducks arrived. I have a pair that come every spring and they enjoy swimming in the pond.
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As usual, my little inspector and gardening companion was supervising the whole process. The following morning my husband saw the ducks in the pond, now that was perfect timing. ;-)
I thinned out my seedlings and planted them into larger cells. These are coleus and impatiens that I did early in the morning. They are now happily in the greenhouse and adapting to the cooler temperatures compared to the grow room.
The petunias are already starting to branch out and I will have to put them up into the hanging baskets this weekend. Once I do that they will really grow fast.
The snapdragons are just emerging which I am happy to see. I have not had any in my gardens for some time and am looking forward to them this year. They prefer cooler weather so they will be perfect for the spring garden.
The onions had to be moved to the floor area as they were a bit too warm on the shelves. They seem much happier now and I will be planting them out into the cold frame early next week.
The eggplant is also ready to be potted up into 4" pots to give them more room to grow. They stay in the greenhouse until the end of April before being planted.
Thankfully, our nighttime temperatures have been warmer than in other years. I have not had to run any heaters until this week when we got to freezing temps.
The plants seem to be doing just fine through it all. During the day I have to open up the vents and run the fan to let hot the hot air. It has been averaging 85-90°F. which is way too warm. It does not take long for it to reach those temps with the sun on it all day.
The buttercrunch lettuce is finally bunching and it won't be long before I pick off some of the outer leaves for lunch.
It was time to start some cabbage seeds and these are now in the grow room where it is nice and warm for germination. As soon as they sprout I will put them into the greenhouse.
All of the tomato seeds got done as well. I decided to try a few new varieties: Super Sauce F1, Speckled Roman, and Wild Galapagos which are not pictured. The black and white cherry I grow every year and love them both.
Lastly, I seeded these for the butterfly and hummingbird garden. I look forward to seeing how well they do for me. I love the soft tones of the Mullein and the Green Twister Coneflower. They should be fun to photograph come summer.
This wraps up this week's post for my garden update. Happy gardening everyone.
Until next time, this is Sunscape
Sun. Scape. Ing Your Day
Wow, you are so organised! I wish I could say the same for myself. You even know which months to start which seeds, which is very impressive to me.
Awe, thanks! I have been growing for over 40 years but am always learning and trying new ways to make gardening easier for myself.
I am sooo jealous!
I am so far behind!!! I started some peppers more than two weeks ago, which have been on a heating mat. No sign of germination, so I moved them around and discovered the heating mat is only warm in one tiny spot. Erg. Hopefully they'll eventually come up anyway.
After seeing this, I think I'd best start some eggplant and okra today - I was going to wait two more weeks. Last year I did them early May and got nearly nothing. Of course, I plant TWO of everything, and hope one makes it. I'm a small fry compared to you!
I'm curious about that lettuce. How have you done those? I love head lettuces.
I too am waiting for some of my peppers to germinate. I may have to do a few more jalapenos as they seem sparse. I don't use a heat mat anymore, only because I don't know what I did with it, lol. You will get to all your seeds I'm sure. I plant eggplant in February to get large plants to produce enough for me. They take a long time it seems to fruit.
I have them growing in water. I use this method for some and then I also have them in a tower garden.
Here is a link to a post I did on the process from last year. I have been doing this for a few years now.
https://hive.blog/hive-140635/@sunscape/hydroponic-experiment-with-lettuce-by-sunscape
Thank you!
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aww! I just love that your little dog was supervising your work, very cute! The pond looks great and it must be nice to be rewarded with a visit from ducks just after getting it ready for them. The starts look awesome, all very organized!
She is a good garden helper but likes to pull out plants when I put them in the ground. lol The ducks are happy with the pond.
I could recognize the Baker Creek seed packs from the small thumbnail 😁 You do a lot with many trays. Happy Gardening!
I love Baker Creek Seed company and purchase mainly from them. I do have a lot of gardens that I plant and so I do my best to grow enough for myself and a few for friends too.
Has it been very hot there? Can't imagine my garden at home where it's scorching! So much rain in UK.
We have had varying weather since the beginning of February. A couple cold days then 30 degrees swings upward. So odd! This past two weeks we have had 60 and 75-degree days. Now we are getting a few days of rain as well. Everything in the garden is very early this year. To bad you are having so much rain and I bet you are ready for some sunshine. Be well!
Oh, there's sunshine between the rain, I don't mind! Rather this than scorching hot!