WEEKLY GARDEN THREAD MAY 10, 2013

Free Republic | 5/10/2013 | greeneyes

[fidelis]

"Improving weather is making everything grow well. I can hardly wait for the lilies to bloom.

Me too! I've got lush lily stalks with the buds just ready to pop.

[greeneyes]

LOL. Last time I had a kid, she came so fast that they couldn't get the meds in me fast enough, doctor had the nurses rolling up his pant legs - no time to change. The medications all took effect after the birth.

I always thought if I had another, it would be born in the car on the way to the hospital, so I figured I'd just take Lamaze Classes.

[Arrowhead1952]

Yes, that is the lettuce I grow every year. I just planted a new patch today, since our older patch is ready to harvest. I also get the butter crunch lettuce to use in salads.

There is a nursery I pass on the way to the farm and they sell bulk seed. I can get $.75 of seed that will last for us two full years. I gave some seeds to my neighbor and he has a nice bed of lettuce as well.

[greeneyes]

Sometimes I let one of the lettuce plants go to seed and collect it for the next year, just to see if I can. Also, because I hate to have to leave the house.LOL

[TEXOKIE]

Just checking in. Glad you are doing well and hope the PT is helping.

I have some good news and bad news. Good news is that I’ve gotten my seedlings into pots and I think most are doing well.

I planted the 2 amaranth seedlings, and I am sorry to report that they both bit the dust. The heavy rain the other day got the first one. Today I went out and the other guy had collapsed, and I don’t know the cause, but he was gone. *sigh*

I sewed a packet of red amaranth seeds from the Heirloom seed company the other day, so we’ll see if they decide to germinate and do things.

[greeneyes]

I am doing so much better than I was 4 weeks ago when I started PT. I was able to clear out one of the raised beds got rid of the leaves, cardboard, and a few weeds, and used the fork to lift up the soil.

It looks great. Now I need to mix in the compost, if the sun will stay shining a while. Going to put the potatoes in a cardboard box, medium light to encourage sprouting tommorrow this will go on for a week or two while I finish preparing the potato bed.

Haven’t started the Amaranth yet, but will be starting it in flats(used 1 qt. OJ boxes). Hope that the strong winds will be kinda on the wane at transplant time. Amaranth does well in hot kinda dry conditions they say.

So that’s my solution to all the rain this year. Try to collect all I can for later, and go ahead and plant stuff in containers for transplant later. I just don’t deal well with all that work being flushed away, cause I am a lazy gal at heart.LOL

Oh yeh, I checked the greens experiment today. Mushroom Compost wins hands down for all three: Little Gem, Spinach, and Leaf Lettuce. In fact, I need to transplant some of it ASAP. So I am thinking of just dumping a bunch of Mushroom Compost into the other sections, and transplanting stuff there. Either that or just put it into some containers.

[Ciexyz]

I planted marigold seeds harvested from last year’s garden. Western PA getting lots of rain so I hope to see green sprouts soon. Temps in upper 50’s and low 60’s but should warm up by the time the sprouts appear.

[greeneyes]

We have had mild temps in 50s and 60s this week, and sooo much rain that we haven’t been able to get much done in the garden.

Sure wish we had that swimming pool set up to catch all this rain for the dog days of summer.

[Arrowhead1952]

I may let one plant go to seed this year as well. I have enough room for a change.

[rightly_dividing]

Sugar Babies are very popular everywhere, I think. Down south where we are from, watermelons come in all summer long, with July 4th being the high point of the season.

We just got back from Lowes where we picked up some Black Diamond melon seedlings along with a couple of canalopes. So we shall see what happens.

[who knows what evil?]

Vegetable plants FLYING out of local nurseries and box stores the past two weeks or so here in Red Hampshire...temps near 80 a couple of times recently are going to fool people into rushing the season. They will learn the HARD WAY Tuesday morning when temperatures are forecast to dip to 29.

You would think people would learn...

[greeneyes]

Cool. I dry my seeds on paper plates stacked on top of the back part of the refrigerator.

[greeneyes]

Black Diamonds taste great, pretty big too.

[greeneyes]

Well, it’s that gambling thing. Ya know? It just takes a winner now and then to keep them going back to the one armed bandit.

[rightly_dividing]

They seem to be the dominate watermelon in my little part of Tx. judging by the number of people selling them on the roadsides.

[rightly_dividing]

dominate — dominant

[tillacum]

You have ducks????

[JRandomFreeper]

No. And the city has pointed told me to leave the ducks down at the park alone. I shouldn't have shown up wearing an apron and my knife case. ;)

I have had ducks and geese and guinea fowl before, and they do eat lots of bugs.

/johnny

[greeneyes]

I really do understand why. Near perfect size and great taste, and even a kid can carry it easily.

[tob2]

The aroma is so heavenly!