Obesession

I'm soooo looking forward to getting the plants in the ground. Several times per day I inspect them. I'm surrounded by them and distracted by them. Helicopter gardener? If they're outside, I will have to dress nice enough for neighbors and put on shoes. Grow, baby, grow!

Garden fury has started.

It was cold and rainy and then I left town. When I got back, my garden plot had been raked several times and my neighbor Alexi told me he had to clean up a lot (though my plot is still cleaner than his). Fences and... gates are going up. Plant stakes are going in, and rows are marked. There are LOTS of onions already in, I've got nothing and I feel shame. I'm waiting for warm weather, so there. Plus I'm going plant shopping at the farmer's market tomorrow.

April 29

MOSTLY chartreuse green peppers, but I've also started some green beans and more squash.

Brussel Sprouts

Teeny tiny brussel sprout. It's not looking good. This is the best of the three. They've all laid down.

CP1

Only 1 decent sized tomato left. The rest of the plants are peppers.

CP2

 Soda Bottles

Mixed Tray

Soy Beans

I don't quite know why these look so weird, but they are getting more leaf sprouts, so I hope they will outgrow the awkward phase.

Squash

Seven seeds. One sprout. These are seeds I kept from the squash I grew last year, so I'm not sure how much success to expect.

Seed stretch

I figured out what "seed stretch" is. My seedlings were getting tall, but only had 2 leaves and were very thin and fragile. Some of them died at a certain height. They're stretching to get to moving air. When they get there, they grow more... leaves. I've cut the containers down to soil level. They can catch the breeze, but the cat has better access. So far she's only really after the soybeans. Gonna hafta lock away everything while I'm away. Learning, learning, learning.

It's a sunny day

It's a sunny day and the first warm day in several. I can hear my neighbors hammering away at tomato and pepper stakes. Last year we had at least 2000 pepper and tomato plants. I want to go play too, but I've got a deadline for some online stuff I must finish first.

It doesn't look good in the land of seedlings.

A few days ago, everything turned an awesome deep green. Some things are growing tall, but seem too spindly, and they could really use sun.

April 18

Second round of almost 72. Chartreuse green sweet bell peppers.

Brussel Sprouts

Such a little tiny sprout will hopefully be a 3 foot stalk o'sprout buds.

*fingers crossed* 

CP1 

CP2 

Soda Bottles 

Mixed Tray

Squash 

Soy Beans

The soybean sprouts are 3 days old and freakishly big compared to everything else.

Squash seeds

Today I'm starting the "Oh-my-God-I-think-it's-going-to-eat-me squash" seeds from last year. Hundreds of feet of vines from 4 plants that pulled down and broke everything it climbed on. Neighbors have asked for seeds. I'm gonna give them seedings, cuz I like them lots.

The garden is going to be tilled on the 21st.

I wanted a full plot, but I only get 1/2 because it's all sold out. The guy in charge said "we are old people" "next year, you take my garden, I don't want" and the unspoken - maybe someone will... die. It cost me $3.25. Seeds are coming along gangbusters - soybeans freakishly so. Garden neighbors were pretty hard on me last year for wasting space. It's gonna be loaded up this year. Dad's gonna help me with climbing structures and manure.

April 15

Checkin out the merchandise. She didn't bite a thing. 

CP1

Look! My babies are having babies! Ok, that's not quite right. The two-leaf sprouts now have 4+ leaves. When I transferred these, I thought they were peppers, but it looks like they may be tomatoes. So Poof2 is peppers? Time will tell. If these are tomatoes, they are cherry tomatoes.

CP2

Just transplanted from the starter kit to the cheesy poof so everything is kind of wonky. In a couple of days, it will look better.

Salad Bowl

The seedlings seem to be doing something called seed-stretching. It comes from having a closed cover. More research is due. 

Soda Bottles

Day 1. Soil and seeds. Nothing to see, really. These are the big beefy kind of slicing tomatoes. Or should be. We'll see.

Lots of seeds for one little corner of window.

More stuff in the dirt

Yesterday I was in the garden after the rain. I planted the hanging baskets (herbs) and lemon grass (contained this year). Also squash and bean seedlings, peas, sunflower seeds, cucumber seeds, more carrots. I still have 3 3'x6' plots to plant and room for 2 more herb plants and I think I'm going to add some flowers. I don't think the neighbors are going to dog me for not growing enough stuff this year. It scares me to think about the output if all is successful.

April 5

I took the lid off the tomato seedlings so I could take a picture. Guess who showed up for dinner? She didn't get any, but came close. The tomatoes haven't sprouted as well as the peppers.

CP2

I had the container next to the window, but it's Emma's perch. I moved them so she could look outside. She hasn't tried to get them once.

Salad Bowl

I'm running out of surfaces that get sun. 

Salad mix is already sprouting!

Salad mix is already sprouting! Soooo satisfying and makes me a little proud. Maybe it's like being a parent. Except you can eat the little ones and always get more in a week or two.

First planted CP1

Chessy poof planter #1 is set and has sunned (successfully) for a whole day. I believe the seedlings are peppers. Cheezy poof (CP) #2 will get cherry tomatoes. Plastic hanging basket liners hinged with zip ties have been planted with salad mix. Soda bottles are still in production. Thirty-six of the 72 cell seed starter are partially prepared for the next set of seeds.

I spent a lot of time at Home Depot.

I got cardboard flat flats (FREE). Also a variety pack of zip ties, a micro hack saw, veggy soil, seed starter soil, more seeds, a giant funnel and a Coke. One cheezy poof container is loaded with soil and seedlings (very hard to relocate at this size). Six 24oz Coke bottles have lost their necks. There is dirt firmly packed under my nails. There is also soil on the couch and the floor in front of the couch. I guess it's one way to get my toes in the dirt.