It was about time I got myself a little journal to keep some of our garden records in. Got the book, now I need to make sure I keep writing in it - though the blog last year has helped. Much to do with record keeping now as the spring season approaches....
I have sown some seeds to get a start on cool season crops. Things like kale, broccoli and cabbage will go in the ground as soon as they can, which is usually mid-April. I even updated my planting records! Also I am settling on where to put all of our crops this year, you can look at the current plans on the records page.
We got our last order of seeds in last week from Pinetree Garden Seeds. They have some smaller sized packets for our smaller garden. I was really excited to get some Alpine Strawberry seeds. Those went in the freezer to be cold treated so that I can get them started in spring. Now we are only waiting on two crops for the garden - Sunchokes that will arrive in April from Jung Seeds and Potatoes I have yet to purchase.
It's been an interesting last week for weather. As I mentioned, last Tuesday (3/10) we had a blizzard with a total of 10 inches of blowing snow. This wasn't as bad as our December Blizzard, but it buried the car deeper.
After the blizzard blew through, in came the cold air... -17F in the early hours of last Thursday (3/12). That was over 30F below the average for this time of year. I guess to make up for the cold and snow, we were served with a heat wave of +47F on Sunday and Monday. Wonderfully warm days above average...but that lead to huge melt-off. The water had no where to go but our back door. Luckily the ground slopes more to the side of the house, so the water went around the house and down the street. Now we have been glad to get a couple of days back below freezing just to slow the melt some and give the water a chance to settle. It won't last too long as predictions are for warmer temps over the weekend, which might take care of the rest of the snow.
Enough of the crazy March weather...I'm off to find a sunny and dry blog to read.
14 comments:
Nothing like seed starting to put the winter behind you! I hope your alpine strawberries do great. We have grown them for a few years now and really enjoy them.
That is a handsome looking Garden Journal. I started keeping one about 3 years ago, and I refer back to my notes quite often. I always have an ongoing list of "things to do next year" in it. :-)
Sorry about your blizzard. Are you in danger of flooding there?
Hi Chris...Yes, the seed starting has really made it feel like spring is coming. Some seeds sprouted in just 3 days! I am hoping the Alpine Strawberries get well established...they will be a nice enhancement to our standard June-bearing ones.
Connie, I like the look and feel of the leather cover...just draws me to use it. I have already started rambling plans of what I want to try out in the garden.
Our house specifically should be safe as long as the dike and levees hold. Well most of the city will be fine then, but the river will have major flooding and a 50-50 chance of being the 3rd highest on record. Lots of snow this winter.
That is a nice looking journal Chris. I'm sure it will get a workout this season with all the notations you will be making in it. I'm glad you are starting to thaw out a bit, a good sign of the upcoming season.
We went thru that fast melting cycle a few weeks ago. The rivers all flooded and the roads into my farm where under a foot of water. Dryer now and expecting temps in the 50's next week.
I have Pinetree Garden's catalog here at my desk. Still doing some last minute ordering.
Marnie
Hi Perennial Gardener. I just need to make sure I keep using the journal even in the middle of the season when I can spend more time actually in the garden. I am still planning for a later start than last year, just because of the extra moisture.
Marnie, yes....that fast melting cycle sure dumps a lot of water across our flat ground. Nowhere to go, especially with frozen ground.
My first year ordering from Pinetree...I liked what I saw in the catalog though.
Hi Chris....I love the journal....I keep one, it is so useful and holds a store of information to look back on...
Alpine strawberries are great.....I grow them every year....so sweet, a real treat...
You can keep that snow......when I see yours I remind myself again...never complain about snow.......
Hello Cheryl, That will be the key...to look back over the years and see what I can learn.
The strawberries will be fun...I have yellow and white - maybe the birds will miss them.
Snow is sometimes okay in winter...but it is Spring now. Just waiting for the ground to thaw and dry out some now.
THe garden journal is a good idea! I have looked back on my blog and have had fun seeing how things have changed too(-:
The car covered in snow is a cool picture(-: I bet that makes it hard to go anywhere!
I hope you don't have to much run off from the snow melting but I do hope you get some Spring weather soon!!(-:
Cindee...It is interesting to look back at the old photos and see how things have changed.
With the car covered, we save on gas!
I think we just have to put up with the run off for a week -- everything is flat and there is no where for the water to go. At least we don't have a basement to worry about.
Very nice journal. You will enjoy it. I find my keeping track sort of fallls to the wayside come summer. I do have a good idea when I plant since I have been doing it now for 37 years...old gardens, old gardener! Soon it will be planting time.
I am waiting on a snow storm to come in. My daffodils are in full bloom. Oh well, nothing to be done.
If we get a foot of snow the daffs will be flattened!
Sherry
Chris - is any of this flooding affecting you?
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