Wednesday, April 30, 2014

Rainy day

Current & Future Plantings

I shredded up brown paper bags & cardboard to mulch around shallots, onions and carrots

Water is still collecting in my "walkways" even after I put holes into the boards

Rain water passing through where my Broccoli Raab and some radishes are planted and passing through to the "walkway"

Cilantro plant from Behnke's that survived an aphid attack (lower left) and first "walkway" with some water build up

Rain water is slowly coming over the top of the sides now instead of flooding from the top. It's definitely better. I'm very lucky that cilantro likes it moist.


An improvement but some mulch is still entering the garden (not too bad though)

Some seedlings started appearing near where I planted Collard Greens. They must be from whoever had the garden last year.

I moved the seedlings (we think they are Fennel or Dill) to where I planted my own Dill seeds... Thinking I'll move these somewhere else though... probably near the Sage


Tuesday, April 29, 2014

Bay Leaf, Lemon Verbena & French Thyme

I planted French Thyme in the garden and a Sweet Bay plant and Lemon Verbena in containers outside today.

French Thyme (Behnke's)
Lemon Verbena (Behnke's)
Sweet Bay (Behnke's)

Sweet Bay (left), French Thyme (center), & Lemon Verbena (right)

French Thyme is planted in the garden between the Kholrabi and Zucchini. The plan is for the Thyme to take over the Kholrabi spot when I harvest it in two months.

Here are some of the potting soils I've used for seedlings and for new container plants.



Saturday, April 26, 2014

Pictures at sunset right before sprinkling of rain

Baby Butterhead Lettuce from seed

Random lettuce that popped up (We think it's Salad Bowl Lettuce).
Cilantro seedlings that survived the small flood (I guess they are too close together)


Radishes (large leaves) & Carrots (teeny tiny leaves at right)

Broccoli Raab (left) Butterhead Lettuce (center) & random lettuce from previous tenant (left)

Kohlrabi
Kohlrabi up close

Onions (back) Oregano (left) & Rosemary (right)

Strawberry (I think) plant from previous tenant

Calendula seedling transplanted


Herb & Flower Transplants plus a Strawberry Surprise

Today I planted some of the herbs and vegetables I have started indoors: four chamomile, three calendula, two parsley, and two dill seedlings. I also found what I think is a strawberry plant growing in the walkway that I transplanted to where the spinach are planted. I also planted additional seeds: Broccoli Raab in the uphill eastern part, Swiss Chard uphill and downhill, Nasturtium (2 additional scraped seeds since the original seeds haven't germinated yet), Spinach (scattered throughout the planting area), three carrots in the uphill north part, and four zucchini seeds in a diamond pattern. I also transplanted some Chef Jeff's Rosemary and Oregano plants that I've had inside the house.

There are also other "weeds" growing that could be celery or thyme that I've transplanted in the lower western corner where the chamomile are planted. Their leaves aren't as apparent as the strawberry ones to identify. I'll see if they come out with anything interesting and useable.

Next on the list is to set out my peppers in the cold temperatures on my deck (night & day) and begin hardening my tomatoes, cucumber and eggplants (during the day). Also I can get the leeks into the garden along with some sage and Thai basil tomorrow. I haven't really hardened my herb or flower plants before setting out (crossing my fingers they'll be okay).

The cilantro in the garden that got pulled out by that storm has recovered and true leaves are forming (they actually look like a regular cilantro leaf).

Saturday, April 19, 2014

Heavy Rain & Plot 29 Pictures

So we had heavy rain earlier this week that submerged my cilantro plants under a fast moving stream of water.

Plot 29 (before storm)

Calypso Cilantro Seedlings (before rain)


Radishes


Scallions

Collard Green Seedlings

Baby Butterhead Lettuce Seedlings

Broccoli Raab Seedlings

Plot 29 during storm

Plot 29 cilantro seedlings submerged =(

Plot 29 with some new wood to protect from water (left)

Monday, April 14, 2014

New Garden Links

Kohlrabi (Behnke's)
Honey Delight Hybrid Tomatoes (Burpee)

Additional links to veggie transplants and seeds.

Hot Peppers & Early Spring Heat

Leek (left) Impatiens (top) Parsley (right)

Cucumber with tomatoes in the background (the tomatoes are really growing well; I used some plastic to stake the Brandywines already in their pots)

Dill (left), Sage (front), Thai Basil (back)

Hot Peppers: 2 Poblanos (front row) 1 Jalafuego Jalapenio & 3 Anaheim Chiles (background)
I've been transplanting the tomatoes and eggplants using a mix of Mosser Lee No Damp Off Moss with Compost Crew Garden Soil. I started new seedlings like Cucumber, Calendula, Zucchini and American Flag Leeks in Organic Mechanics Seedling Starter. Since I ran out of the Garden Soil, I'm using a mix of Compost Crew Soil Conditioner Compost with the Seedling Starter for any new transplants. I spread some of the Compost Crew compost around my seedlings in the garden and have also fed them some Espoma Fish Emulsion(April 12). Broccoli Raab, Lettuce, Cilantro, and one Spinach seedling(s) are showing up now. Kohlrabi hasn't changed; Radishes are growing well and I think Carrots are starting to show up too. We have experienced temperatures up to 85 degrees F yesterday. They are expecting 32 degrees Tuesday night. For most of what I have planted, the cold will improve the flavor. The Cilantro might need some protection...

Notes: I've been using a step ladder to hold plants on the steps so more get sunlight. I used some clear plastic to help hold in some heat and keep it slightly more moist in the plastic. This seems to have worked well since the plants have grown. I have also been using some plastic mini green houses from Ikea. 

Monday, April 7, 2014

More Early Spring Planting

Herbs: Dill, Sage and Thai Basil

Roma Tomatoes

Three Roma Tomatoes, a Brandywine Tomatoe and Eggplants (Trader Joe's Coffee Container)

Bell Peppers

Anaheim Chile Pepper Germinating from the chile pepper plastic tub


Today I planted four nasturtium seeds in the garden and the radishes it seems are starting to germinate (or they could be weeds but I don't think so). The sketch above shows what's in the garden so far.

Indoors, I planted a new set of leeks in a plastic egg container. I also planted a yellow honey tomato, zucchini, cucumber, and some calendula in yogurt containers. I used the organic seed starting mix from the Takoma Park Coop Store (Organic Mechanics). Hot peppers are starting to germinate (Anaheim ones first).

The garden is getting some good rain today.  Last week they got rain on Thursday/Friday.