February 11, 2014 - Seedlings in the Snow and Baby in the House



It warmed up to 48F this afternoon, so the lettuce and onion seedlings got to go out to the front porch to enjoy a bit of natural daylight.  Tomorrow is supposed to be even warmer, so hopefully they will be able to have an entire day outside.


Great-grandbaby Amaya came to visit.  Can you believe she's already four months old?  Such a sweet, precious happy baby.

31 comments:

  1. We have compared harvest totals and you've proven your strength. How can we compete with this! You've got us now! And she's so wonderful! Thanks for posting.

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    1. Jody, do you mean I've already got you beat with the 1.6 ounces I've harvested in 2014? LOL! I might even have 1/2 ounce of lettuce to cut by next week!

      She's a little beauty, isn't she? She really brightens our day when she comes to visit.

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  2. We really don't need to hear about your balmy weather Granny :) It's 5 right now and we are expecting yet another big snow storm tonight in to tomorrow!

    That's one beautiful great-grandbaby you have!

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    1. I've been watching the news, Robin, and I feel so sorry for you guys with all the ice and snow and frigid temps! I promise I won't tell you it's 57F in the shade here today. Ooooops! I told.

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  3. Right now it is 6F here. I want some high 40s. And it must be so nice to have a great-grandbaby. I want a grandbaby someday. So far it isn't looking likely.

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    1. Daphne, I did the happy dance when I got up at 7 this morning and it was 47 degrees! Awww, I wish I could share Amaya with you.

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    1. Kelli, her mother was a good baby, just like she is. I'm going to enjoy every minute of it before she hits those terrible twos!

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  5. That's a lot of onion seedlings! I've yet to be able to grow a decent sized bulb, which is why I'm sticking to scallions, chives and leeks this year. Unfortunately, we are still in the throws of here. It's been brutal so far and doesn't seem to be letting up anytime soon.

    And how can you not squeeze those cheeks!

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    1. Thomas, that is a lot of onion seedlings, but I figure only half of them will survive to be planted. I've not grown my own bulbing from seed before, I've always purchased the plants. I already managed to drown a few when snow melted from the roof and landed in the container. I thought I had them protected from the dripping, but evidently misjudged!

      I can't squeeze those cheeks, I'm too busy kissing them! I'm quite sure Amaya thinks Great-grandma is trying to eat her face :-)

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  6. I am so jealous of those onion starts. I should be looking at the same thing here at my house. Saturday is set aside for seeds!

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    1. Jody, don't get too jealous yet! Most are looking pretty good, but some are quite wimpy. At least I'm getting an early enough start on them. If they aren't robust plants in another month, I can buy plants at our local feed store. Although I have bought spindly plants there before that made big, beautiful bulbs, and I've purchased big healthy looking plants that didn't perform nearly as well. Mabe wimpy plants are better :-)

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  7. What a grin!

    I can't even think of seeds yet. It's been below zero lately. This weekend we're finally supposed to warm up above freezing at least. Looks like the chickens may get their coop cleaned out if we can get the poop thawed enough. FUN!

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    1. Langela, yesterday morning we had 6" of snow on the garden, and today we have none! I'm sure not complaining about our nearly 58 degree sunny weather, but will you please send a few chickens over here. I'll feed 'em if they fertilize my garden for me. Heck, you might as well send Mr. Farmer too, I have a few chores that need tending to ;-) Oh...I'd feed him too.

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    2. I know. The chicken poop is awesome in the gardens. It composts so nicely. the only problem with the hens free ranging is that they also dig up EVERYTHING. Nothing is safe from their scratching. I let them out before anything gets planted, but not after spring clean up. They love a good dirt bath and will dig holes and flip dirt and mulch everywhere. But it's so nice to see them out in the yard. As for Mr Farmer, I need him first. My list has gotten quite long over the winter. :)

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  8. You must have been so happy to have warmer temperatures. I bet your snow is already gone. The onions look good! Lettuce too. I just sowed some onion seeds this weekend.

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    1. Rachel, from 6" (up to a foot in the garden, where it drifted a bit) to none in a period of about 30 hours was crazy! I even have my tomato plants out on the porch today, sitting inside of a big plastic container to shield them from the wind. I'm hoping the wind makes the onions a bit sturdier.

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  9. That is one adorable sprout. Amaya of course. Onions can't be adorable can they? ha. Onions are looking good. Didn't want to try that this first year but maybe next year. Actually, I have a question. I know garden veggies taste a hundred times better than store bought produce but what about onions? Is there a big difference between store bought and garden fresh? I'm not sure I've ever had a garden fresh onion.

    By the way, I love the name Amaya, it's is SO pretty.

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    1. 1st. Man, that's a great question! No, I don't think the mature onions taste any better than store bought. They are much cheaper home grown from seed, but we have one Hispanic supermarket that seems to always have cooking onions on sale for a decent price. Walla Walla onions are much more expensive, because they aren't "keepers". They are for sale in the stores for a very short time, and the prices are quite high. Of course, I live 40 miles from Walla Walla, and can buy them by the 50 pound bag from roadside vendors. One thing that's hard to come by are the early sweet salad onions. I plant my sweet onions quite close together (3-4") and pull many of them, about every other one, young and green. From one pkt. of seeds, I've already planted 200 seeds. There are probably at least that many more in the pkt. The packet cost me $1.40. At the cheapest, I'd pay 99 cents a pound for Walla Wallas at the grocer, much more at some. When I buy plants, I get about 50 pounds from 100 seedlings. I could probably easily grow 200/300 pounds from one packet of seeds (assuming all germinated and survived)!

      Thank you from Amaya, who is as pretty as her name! I was sure we'd end up calling her Yaya, but we don't.

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  10. Such a happy looking baby! Glad you got some nice weather to put your seedlings out! Nancy

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    1. It was even nicer today, Nancy! It's supposed to stay this way for the next five days, then drop back down to freezing at night. I'll take whatever "warm" weather I can get! At least I'm getting some much needed exercise hauling the seedlings out and back in each day.

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  11. That's a pretty little baby you have there. Lucky woman!

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    1. Thank you, Dianefaith. Yes, we're all lucky to have that sweet little thing in our lives!

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  12. I see the similarity. Little Amaya is the human equivalent of those tiny onion seedlings that need nurturing before they come to maturity! Both lovely in their own way.

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    1. Mark,I love just about all little sprouts, human or vegetable!

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  13. Amaya is adorable! What fun you must have with her! I keep coming back to enjoy your gardening exploits since my own are down to nothing right now. Things keep getting in the way, but soon ...

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    1. Thank you, Jean. Yes, we sure do have fun with Amaya. Great-grandpa is getting very good at making funny faces and silly sounds, and he can always make her smile and actually giggle. She just kind of tolerates the grandmas, the grandpas are her favorites.

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  14. lovely looking seeds, but not quite as lovely as Amaya :)

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    1. Awww, thank you Mrs. P. You'll have a beautiful baby of your own in about 30 days!

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  15. Nice looking lettuce and onions! It's nice to have some "warmer" weather after all the snow storms we've been having.

    I've got some swiss chard started myself, but it's growing painfully slow. Or maybe I'm just impatient. ;)

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    1. Nate, I've never had much luck growing lettuce indoors, but this year I'm trying to keep the plants cooler, rather than under hot lights. It seems to be working, as I picked enough for a salad for myself yesterday! I will be starting my spinach indoors in two weeks. I forgot to buy chard seeds, so I'll pick some up and start them about the same time. I have some overwintered spinach out in the garden, so not getting in a big hurry to plant more!

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