(Almost) The First of April

I got a bit crazy today and started planting some of my starts. I mean I did harden them off for a week in the open greenhouse so I think they will do fine. I planted a few cauliflower and brussel spouts in addition to the leeks. I do have a lot of backup starts in case these don't take too kindly to the weather and/or real sunshine.

I also spruced up the yard thanks to my female parental unit donating a lot of great lawn stuff to me. The cucumbers in the grow house also started to sprout. I'll keep those nice and toasty next to the tomato starts. Updated pictures below:

End of March

Outside

The deer netting has kept the raccoons at bay which is always the good times. The peas, carrots, onions, Swiss chard, and garlic are safe (for now). I planted the finger carrots in the raised beds and have mowed the lawn for the first time. The onions have sprouted and are above the soil. I moved the mini greenhouse outside in anticipation for the cabbage and Brussels sprout starts.

Inside

The starts moved from 3” to 5” pots. I also added another light and cranked up the heat just a bit to keep the tomato starts from turning purple. Inside the real house I started the cucumber seeds which will eventually in a few weeks be moved out to the grow house.

I moved the cabbage family starts out to the outside greenhouse. The tomatoes will remain inside for another month or so. Everything is going pretty well but the big test will be to get these great looking starts acclimatized to the outside.

Mid March Update

Inside

Starts are now all in 3" or 5" pots and the first phase of hardening has begun. I added a fan in the shack to move the plants back and forth to promote root growth. The temperature has also been reduced down to 50 degrees so root growth can continue and to get them ready to be outside. Video below:


Outside

Horseradish, hops, peas, onions bulbs, and Swiss chard planted. The damned raccoons love the Swiss chard/ beet seeds and dig it up every year. I wasn't fast enough this year and they came in within 12 hours for the Swiss chard seeds so I had to replant and then cover with black deer netting. This always seems to work well.











































Nyla also has been helping me outside by chewing all the sticks I use to mark the rows.











































Also to note, rhubarb is now up.

True Leaves Out and Hops Growing

The true leaves came out for most of my starts dispute the temperature being near freezing every night. Senior Campbell's hops just emerged from the pots he gave me. That is all...