NOT quite time to plant YET!!

[rawpriestess]

Gosh, we are having such a mild winter to spring transition, that I thought I could start planting, so I wake up this morning to go to the nursery, and buy some plants, and it had frozen last night. LOL

I think this is pretty funny, as I usually don'e even THINK about planting until April around here, but it's been balmy during the day, in the high 40's and low 50's I thought we were done with our frost,

No such luck-- alas, will have to wait a bit longer.

[darkchild]

I know just what you mean! It's still too cold here (AZ), but I have been actually dreaming of planting my garden. I can't wait. I have several varieties of heirloom seeds that I am already starting indoors so that they will be ready for the garden. I'm getting a greenhouse this year. I want fresh fruits and vegetables year round, dangit! :mad: ;)


Dawn

[Conscious Midwife]

My green thumb is ready.

I'm going to do some pots of tomatoes on the deck. definately some outside herbs and maybe even strawberries and cuccs.

Looks like it will be later in the year before I can get a greenhouse/ solarium room going.

[Veganforlife]

I know! I'm getting anxious. I have crocus blooming.

[carolg]

A new month, a new beginning and yesterday, the 1st I started seeds indoors. Last year I spent about $75 for plants and this year I am planning on spending little. I can't wait to see the first signs of life coming from my seeds. I got tomatoes, cukes, squash so far growing in these 6 to a tray sheets of other trays attached. It was a total of $.69 cents. I bought Eko soil as well. Tune in. I love gardening and my Armenian cukes were a killer long. I think I measured 30 or 32" for a few. No kidding.

I'm ready for gardening and harvesting.

Oh, I have fish elmusion from Home Depot, a gallon size, then bought some other stuff not sold here, but online, or some local stores a seaweed liquid.

I have Earthboxes too, but then I also have lots of land to use. I plan on indoor herb garden for all year round. I want to save and have super fresh too.

carolg

[Conscious Midwife]

Found a composting bin fin for just $40 , sounds like a good deal, but I also wonder if I can makeone myself. Especially since the one I saw isn't a fancy one that you can rotate.

http://www.composters.com/gr/earth_machine.jpg

Hmmmm. Suddenly it looks like a good deal. the website wher I found the pic is selling it for $95. I presume they are the same size, uhh or maybe not I'll have tor esearch some more.

[michigan roman]

ide just get a black tarp because black attracts/absorbs the most sun light and shall thusly make the compost pile you cover it with get as hot as possible which shall break it down into compost as fast as possible .

[michigan roman]

or if you want it in a container just buy a black plastic garbage can with tight fitting lid then lay it on its side and roll whenever you want to spin the contents around to speed decomposistion . and i dont know if youd drill any air holes in it or not , just check designs on the internet .

[carolg]

Michigan,
Personally I would make a few holes in the container or else leave it opened a wee bit for air. Keep us posted if you try this.

Once I speak to my hubby's client, who is a big composter, I am going to find out more about composting. I think he does piles only, but need to have him send me a picture so I can get a view without going to his house.

Oh, Maxicrop I used this year and this year too....order online or find out where sold....liquid seaweed.......

Life,

Have you tried the composter. How long does it take to break down the "stuff?"

I have tons of leaves that still need to break down. My husband said I overloaded the beds but I need to dig turn them under. I love my Action Hoe to the MAX from Home Depot. I can't speak for other kinds, but for me, a loving gardener, it's fabulous. No need at the moment for tiller and got away without it last year. Planning on not borrowing neighbors tiller to chop up my "fabulous, thick, juicy worms." I'm going to get some rabbit manure for free and put it soil and doesn't burn anything up.

==
Oh, I finally see life from some of the seeds I planted. It took close to 3 weeks and I forgot to soak my seeds in advance; kept them in a cool/cold place, with little light and goofed....now it's the sunroom to cook the soil and soak the seeds in advance...even tomatoes...gotta start some yellow or orange roma tomatoes too....need to think root veggies or cool weather to start outdoors...yeah!

Oh, using EKO soil to plant seeds in...comes in bag from nursery...maybe sold in bulk and have to find that out....very light and flluffy....holds water super well.....

carolg

[Mishka]

I'm starting all my seeds today. This weekend we are going to re-do our garden boxes. To make them smaller and more manageable with the weeds. All the trees are flowering here, my roses are budding. So I think it's time.
It's been in the high 70's here for over a week.
I'm looking forward to those garden ripe fruits and lettuce esp.!

[michigan roman]

here in detroit springs just starting and im about ready to put some snow peas - lettuce mix - spinach seeds in . ive already started my tomato seeds indoors to transplant late april , my highly recommended variety of PRINCIPE BORGHESE . they are early + vigorous + highly productive + great tasting = slightly acidic . about as big as a golf ball , and besides being perfect for salads theyre also heavily used in europe for drying . they also store long .
below is a pic of my garden soil last fall , nicely coated with straw for the winter . this soil has been fed high amounts of grass - leaves - wood chips for over a decade and it is filthy rich . i also spread on lime and wood ashes to lower soil acidity . garden is totally organic .

[michigan roman]

ps - i guess it wont upload the picture , it says upload of file failed .

[carolg]

Michigan,
I had my pictures too large and it would not upload untill I made the pictures smaller and it worked then.

I have the garbage pail ready for the produce scraps.

I didn't punch any holes in it, but thinking I would leave the can opened, then when I aready to roll around, cover it then without having to destroy the container.

I started seeds indoors too.

Are you soaking all seeds first even tomatoes which are tiny.

I have tons of leaves...didn't want to break down in winter, so not turned with a pitch fork and looking like it's working. I have large gardens always.

carolg....remember Armenian cukes...I need orange roma seeds and was trying to avoid ebay but more local...can't find...may find plants however...

[Conscious Midwife]

Picking up the composter in the pic above. it's 80 gallons and has air holes plus a door at the bottem so you can get the olders stuff our first. I'll get a little aereator stick thing or use an old hoe.

At this price it's not worth the troubl for me to make one. I would need to buy an 80 gallon can, hinges or the lower door and then a better drill bit than what we have for the air holes.

[michigan roman]

carolg ,

thanx for the pic heads up .

no i dont soak any seeds .

and speaking of leaves in fall when leaves start to accumulate i run the lawn mower over them before they get so high the mower cant mulch them up , i keep running the mower in the same direction (walk forward 1 pass , then pull the mower backward the next pass) so leaves pile up . i then rake em onto an old bed sheet which i then grab by the four corners in order to haul leaves to mulch pile . this helps them to break down faster . i mulch my leaves up like this as much as 3 times a week til gone . i keep sharpening the mower blade to protect motor from stress .

i also sprinkle lime on my leave pile because it helps to nuetralize the acidity many leaves contain , wood ashes also .

and whenever i have extra dirt around the yard / garden i throw it on leave pile because that quickens decomposistion .

you prob know all that but ive just got the gardening bug going so thought ide throw that out there for fun . its a disease i caught when i became a vegan 15 years ago . :cool: