Checking in

So I was able to get the gluten down on Saturday. I had just enough to do the whole yard. Garden's Alive will be getting an order from me soon! Nothing doing yet on the lettuce and pea front in the garden. I think all the rain last week may have washed the lettuce seeds away so I did another sowing of Salad Bowl just to be safe. I also planted my spinach today. I added in some bone meal for added nutrients and apparently Freddie, the part lab, part goat mix rescued last April, likes bone meal. He was caught numerous times with his head sticking through the fence licking the soil! I am going to have to keep an eye on that one - the manure should be a HUGE treat for him!

Here is where my kale stands as of today. I think my mistake in the fall is that I transplanted too early. I like using the muffin tins because it allows me to water from the bottom. I used the Neptune's Seaweed liquid fertilizer the other day when I watered in hoping to give the right nutrients. The growing instructions say to add "appropriate nutrients" but doesn't specify which one! Hopefully it likes seaweed!

The tomato seedlings are looking good. Tomorrow I head off to Depot to get some florescent lights to help them along. I have them under a heated greenhouse right now, but I am a bit concerned about the amount of light they are getting. No spindly tomato plants for me!

Well, Hello Snow!

I wasn't able to get a picture of the snow before heading out to work this morning but yup, in typical New England fashion it is snowing today. I planted three types of peas last Saturday - Dwarf Grey Sugarsnap, Snowbird and Sugarsnap. Hopefully they are hardy enough to withstand the freezing temps that are expected tonight. My buttercrunch lettuce also made it into the garden and not too sure if that will survive either. Thankfully I still have tons of seeds left to try again.
I was able to get my three different tomatoes - Sungold, Chocolate Cherry and Green Zebra - into peat pots on Sunday. I have them on top of the fridge right now and everyone except the Zebra has started to sprout. The Winterbor Kale is coming along nicely in the south facing window in the bedroom. Soon the tomatoes will join them. If the snow/rain/slush will hold off this weekend I am planning on getting the corn gluten down - better late than never. The Dogwoods from Arbor Day also need to find their permanent home this weekend. Fingers crossed that Mother Nature cooperates.

Finally - Spring has arrived!

Well, not officially according to the calendar, but weather-wise, woo-hoo!! After the torrential rains over the weekend (which I thankfully missed having been on vacation) the sky is cloudless, the temperature in the 60’s and the crocuses in bloom. The jonquils, daffodils and tulips have all broken the soil and are peeking up getting ready to spread even more spring cheer. I cannot wait to get out this weekend and get my hands dirty. It has been far too long!! I have some serious yard clean up duties to conquer. There are the straggler leaves that have been around since fall, the broken limbs and twigs from this past storm, old growth to be cut back and the cover crops to be tilled. I also need to get the corn gluten down and the salt marsh hay off the asparagus beds. Home Depot is also on the menu for supplies to finish my raspberry bush support as well as some wood to build a squash trellis. The greenhouse needs to dusted off and brought up from the basement so I can get some of my seeds started and last but not least the Easter decoration need to get put out/up. All this and I really only have Sunday to get it done. My sisters and I are throwing my mom a surprise retirement party on Saturday, so that whole day is a bust. Whew – I’m getting tired just thinking about it.