April and Spring

April is here and Spring is showing some signs of arrival. We have had a wet winter, heavy snow in spring, record river levels, and below average temperatures. Even though the yard is snowier and wetter than last year, things don't seem to be too far behind.

Above is a photo of ladybugs in the south foundation bed -- it was actually taken March 20. It is interesting to see this bed come to life first...the beetles are the first moving insect of the garden! I really must make better use of this early bed with its heat.

No outdoor seeding yet, things are way too wet still. I will try to transplant some lettuce this year and see if we get salads sooner than direct sowing. If that works, then I will repeat again.

(lettuce seedlings, 7 days old on 4/5/2009)

Cool-season transplants are growing nicely...

(early cool-season seedlings on 4/5/2009)

Some are chomping at the bit to be put out. I may start some hardening off so they can go in as soon as the garden is ready. I see some round swiss chard leaves, and the kohlrabi and kale are hard to tell apart at this point (kale is on the end).

(closer view of seedlings on 4/5/2009)

But, as you see - that last 12 inches of snow is holding on still. That is probably good though as the river levels are still falling (they will rise again come this weekend maybe). I do know it is spring...robins are singing, staying in the trees - what is up with all that white?

(snow from late March storm 4/5/2009)

This is the first vegetable showing its green. Walking onions I planted last year. I am hoping they will take off in their second season. I think I will be happy with this perennial giving a yearly supply.

(walking onions 4/5/2009)

In the south bed, day-lilies are sprouting nicely. They are a bit water-logged this spring, but about as tall as last year.

(day-lily in southern bed 4/5/2009)

I think this some kind of crocus I planted last fall. Either way it was planted last fall and it is coming up now.

(bulb in southern bed 4/5/2009)

I'm getting excited to get out and plant and see what is coming back under the snow!

Happy Rock!

We have a happy rock! This pet rock has been passed down from my mother. I loved it as a kid and now it smiles even on the cool and wet Monday morning when I took this picture. Just as well, I'd rather work on a cold wet day than miss gardening on a nice sunny day. My wife saw this huge coffee cup in the store - it turns out to be a planter, so we had to get it.


Blooms other than crocus are just on the verge of showing. A couple sunny days should do it!


Apparently I don't have to be ashamed to love my dandelions.


I wasn't really prepared that the nasturtium emerge with such energy (after 6-days). They were bursting out of the plastic greenhouse cover.

Recently Sprouted:

• From 04/05/2008
  
• Sugar Snap Peas (4/21, 16 days)
  
• Snap Peas Sugar Ann (4/21, 16 days)
• Shelling Peas Strike (4/21, 16 days)
• Radishes (4/21, 16 days)
• Swiss Chard (4/21, 16 days)

Rabbits, Vegetables, Spring - Oh My

Wow. It's been a nice few days and a great Saturday. Friday afternoon we came home a took a stroll around the perimeter. Oops, rabbits. I spotted evidence they have been in the tulips and crocus. We were walking the dog, so I plucked some of her loose fur and scattered in the bed. Maybe it will help?

I can't complain too much -- the last couple years they have only destroyed one plant that mattered. Although we never get tulips on the North side of the house (that's the rabbit run). Our vegetable garden is safe because 1) It's located near the house and 2) It's watched by Dakota our fear inspiring husky. Okay, actually she's a big baby and I think the rabbits just taunt her from the edge of the yard. As you can see Dakota loves that she can lay in the grass now that the snow melt has dried.



We have seedlings sprouts from a 04/05/2008 planting: leaf lettuce, bibb lettuce, spinach, and I'm pretty sure one pea.



Actually these were sown before our almost last snow. I figured the snow wouldn't last and I wouldn't have to water them in -- a gamble, but maybe it will work out. So, that's 14 days germination time for the lettuce, spinach, and kohlrabi. I won't count the peas yet since it's one sprout. To my surprise the radishes haven't broken the soil yet.

The seeds that germinated indoors from 03/26/2008 seem to be doing okay. I transplanted the lettuce and swiss chard in a container outside. That just leaves four tomatoes that are really taking off now. I will have to pot those up a couple times before they will make it outside. Also there are two cinnamon basil plants -- they're look fine and really smell like cinnamon!




The Planting Update:

• Today (04/19/2008) direct sown
  
• Sugar Snap Peas
• Echinacea
• Kohlrabi
• Carrots
• Snap Peas Ann
• Bibb Lettuce
• 04/14/2008 started indoors in 9-cells
  
• +Echinacea
• *Cinnamon Basil
• +Nasturtium
• +Lavender
• +Johnny Jump Ups
• -Parsley
• +Wild Flax
• *Purple Alyssum
• On 04/19/2008 (5 days) + some emerged, * fully germinated, - no germination yet
  
• (04/13/2008) direct sown
  
• Sugar Snap Pea
• 04/12/2008 Transplanted seedlings from 03/26/2008
  
• Leaf lettuce
• Bibb lettuce
• Swiss chard
• 04/05/2008 direct sown
• Snap Peas Sugar Ann
• Shelling Peas Strike
• White Kohlrabi Hybrid
• Radishes
• Swiss Chard
• Spinach
• Leaf Lettuce Mix
• Bibb Lettuce

We've got long seedlings

I read recently at Skippy's Vegetable Garden about leggy seedlings. These are what I think are some cauliflower seeds I started a week or so ago. They are very long.

I will try to give them more light and try some tips people have mentioned for broccoli like burying part of the stem when I transplant it.

(The other seedlings are basil.)

Seedlings Emerge

Well, only a few days later and some of the seeds I planted are sprouted. Right now I have some lettuce in the middle rows and some swiss chard. See the bright red stem!

I followed some other gardener's leads and started some planting records as well. I will try to update those through the season.