Any day that the wind isn't blowing, and the temperature is above 50-55F, the larger seedlings get to spent the day outside on the front porch. I start them off in a sunny spot, which soon is shaded by the big pine trees. After a time in the shade, they are moved to the other side of the porch for another hour or so of sunshine. The large tomato plants have made several trips to the front porch, but the weather was too windy and cold for the past couple of weeks. The largest now has 8 baby tomatoes, but I noticed the second largest was dropping blossoms rather than forming fruit. I shake them several times a day, but maybe they just want a bit of a breeze and some sunshine.
Some of the tomato seedlings have been potted up from 6-packs into 5 oz. plastic cups. These will probably be potted up into 16 oz. cups a couple of weeks before it's time to plant them outside. A few varieties were either slow or non-germinating, and seeds for those have been started again.
Peppers and basil are still quite small, but coming along nicely. There were a few varieties of peppers that had to be planted again also, but I'm sure I'll have plenty even if they don't germinate.
Flowers and brassicas. Most of the flowers were planted in the past week or two, but they're growing quickly and I hope enjoying their time in the sun. The brassicas have been going out for the past week, but this is the first day they've enjoyed sunshine.
Remember this picture from yesterday? I had planned on using that freshly dug strip for my broccoli. Well, I've had a change of mind.
This is my lettuce bed....and my junk corner. C'mon, admit it. You have a junk corner too, don't you? This is also a problem area. The back door of the shed opens here, but there isn't enough room to maneuver a wheelbarrow or garden cart through to the garden, as the lettuce bed is too close. I've decided to use the kennel garden bed that I'd planned for broccoli, and make it into a netting covered lettuce bed instead. I have a long, narrow window that was the inside pane of one that got broken a couple years ago. It would fit beautifully here, and could be made into a cold frame next fall! I'll move the existing lettuce bed back against the fence. The netting can be removed, so I could still access the bed from three sides. That would give me another 2' outside the door for moving equipment in and out, and the raised bed could be used for the broccoli and some cabbages as well. What do you think?
sounds great! i want john to make me a cold frame. and i have a few junk corners.=)
ReplyDeleteKelli, I've never had a cold frame. The blog makes it sound as though I'd put it behind the shed, when I'd actually put it in the kennel garden where it could get some sun.
DeleteI wish we had a junk corner. I could use one. The closest I have is between the compost pile and my little shed. But that is in full view of my kitchen window and the back yard. Basically my yard is too small for a real one. I miss having a spot where I can toss my stuff.
ReplyDeleteAnd any plant that lets you get in and out of a shed is a good thing.
Daphne, it's only junky through the winter and early spring. Except for the ladder, everything else gets used in the garden.
DeleteI wish I could have a junk corner, but the neatniks I live eith would never permit it! I have to make constant threats just to be able to keep the potager covered with leaves all winter.
ReplyDeleteYour seedlings are lookimg great, and thise 'Mini Gold' tomatoes look awesome. We have a freeze warning tomorrow night, it will be interesting to see how everything fares...
Ed, I luckily live with no neatniks. In fact, I'm the one who nags to keep things cleaned up, but I do like my junk corner. Nobody can see it but me! I am, however, quite happy once it's cleaned up for the summer.
DeleteUm...I think my junk corner is my house....At least during gardening season.
ReplyDeleteAlison, I'm guilty of that right now, too! I did catch up with the laundry, between digging garden beds, this week. My vacuum cleaner is getting lonely in the closet though, and I'm getting close to being able to plant in the dust on the end tables ;-)
Deletelol on planting in the dust. we're on floors tomorrow b/c we potted plants in our dining room or now our growing room/office? ha. i think the "dining" might be directly from plant to table without even leaving a chair. lol
ReplyDeleteYour basil looks like mine and your tomatoes are looking great. Wondering about the ones that are losing blooms. Might be a temp change or a watering issue too? or a light issue? I read something about that but cannot remember b/c I inhaled too much dirt today digging more taproots out of the weed bed that we're acquiring this year. We're starting to get visitors and our "just corner" is next to our garden covered with a very conspicuous tarp. lol Our garden leader calls it our "encampment" since we bring in folding chairs, a little table and so on. We live out there more than our patio though. T got the 2nd plot ready for the peas and I bailed on planting them b/c I was engrossed in digging taproots and it had started raining COLD sprinkly rain. So tomorrow, rain and housework. booo! I do agree about getting room for the in and out near the door and think the cold frame will be great but hope it'll get SOME sun in winter thru the window. Otherwise I'd put the coldframe somewhere that gets more sun in winter. I want one too! We had cabbages and mache (corn salad) that overwintered and now the cabbage is heading up....and we have to dig it out and transplant it. Do you think it'll survive the transplant and keep growing their little cabbagey heads? hmm
Amy, the four large tomato plants get identical care. Odd how different they are...all from the same pkt. of seeds. I do see one tiny tomato forming or the plant that dropped its blossom.
DeleteI'm no expert on it, but I doubt the cabbage would survive a transplant. If you were lucky enough not to break the taproot off, maybe. I wouldn't count on it though.
I'm freaking out right now since my tomatoes are much bigger than most years, and I started them the same time! We had a cold front come in today and I can't harden them off quite yet.... I sure hope they don't keel over!
ReplyDeleteErin, I thought mine were much smaller than previous years, so I looked back to my March 30, 2011 post and saw that they really are a bit behind. My peppers are more behind than my tomatoes, but I was potting into the 16 oz. containers last year, and into the 5 oz. containers this year.
DeleteGranny, I am all for moving the lettuce bed from the junk corner to the kennel garden. That bed must cause you some grief whenever you are carrying stuff from the shed or corner. I am clumsy by nature and would try to avoid placing a bed there all together because I just know I would end up tripping and falling into it.
ReplyDeleteYour seedlings look very happy to be in the sun.
Rachel, if I fell into the lettuce bed, the netting would catch me, LOL! It will be a bit of a problem though....I'm not moving that garlic again! I'd just have to maneuver around it for the time being.
DeleteAh, I didn't notice the garlic. Nope you can't move the garlic now especially since it is growing so well. Just be careful :)
DeleteI think it should be OK. It's not directly in front of the door, so the wheelbarrow can be pushed straight out, then turned and pushed around the garlic. It's the turning between the door and the raised bed that is impossible.
DeleteThe seedlings looks so happy sitting in the sun - After ridiculous heat - we're more seasonable again - and I am happy for that!
ReplyDeleteDavid, at least we are expecting "normal" temperatures for the next ten days. Maybe spring is here after all.
Deleteeverything looks lovely even the junk corner :)
ReplyDeleteThanks, Mrs. P. Seedlings lovely, junk corner not so much ;-)
DeleteI'd love to have a cold frame! I've got far more than a "junk" corner where the turtles live, a little bit of extra plants, a lot a bit of compost... I think the broccoli will do great there! Broccoli is a big plant for little return (in my opinion, and I always have issues with cabbage loopers...) Your seedlings look great!
ReplyDeleteThat's not a very junky junk corner! I think your plan sounds good.
ReplyDeleteI really need to start the rest of my tomatoes this week. You are going to be way ahead of me in the tomato department this year!
Robin, if our weather would just behave (wind yesterday, rain today) I'd get that junky corner cleaned up!
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