An update at last 5.17.15

It's been a while since I have had a chance to check-in here. However, I am happy to report that my garden is well on its way. Today I transplanted the beans (Pole Runner Scarlet Emperor), romaine lettuce (Romaine Paris Island), cosmos (sensation blend), and carnations (chaubad blend) to the garden. I also started some cucumbers indoors (about 20 plants). The cuke seeds are from last year so we will have to see what the germination rate turns out to be. The alpine strawberries are also doing well and are still inside the house awaiting transplant.

Garden Update 3.15.15

Carnation Seedlings

A quick update on the seeds that I have already started. The green chives are doing well and developing lots of roots causing the bulb to be pushed out of the soil. The carnation (Botanical Interests Chaubad Blend planted  2.28.15) are showing their baby leaves. The alpine stawberries (Renee's Garden) are about the size of a fingernail and new seedlings keep popping up. The tuberous begonia is sprouting once again  (third year now).

There's Time ..... to Grow!

Now that we are in August, some of you (like me) are probably wondering where your summer has gone as you realize that the time for gardening left is limited. But, there is good news! There is still enough time to get lots more out of your garden this year.

To name a few -
 •Beets
 •Carrot
 •Lettuce
 •Rutabaga
 •Swiss chard
 •Broccoli
 •Brussels sprouts
 •Cabbage
 •Collards
 •English peas
 •Kale
 •Kohlrabi
 •Mustard greens
 •Radish
 •Spinach
 •Turnip

Realizing that I neglected my garden for most of July, I have turned to quick growing vege's that will give me a harvest before it gets too cold. There are a number of options but below I have noted a couple of great "fast growing" varieties of fall garden veges.

Little Finger Carrots (57 days)

Pea Snow Oregon Sugar Pod II Seeds (60 days)

Broccoli Di Cicco (48 days)

Radish Cherry Belle  (24 days)

Kale Red Winter Organic ( 50 days)

Successful Seed Germination Guide

Over the years I have learned a great deal (mostly through trial and error) about how to successfully germinate seeds. Notably, my method over the years has come to vary based on the type of seed / plant I am working with. Below are some general guidelines that I have found helpful.

1. Buy high quality seeds. My favorite is Botanical Interests.
2. Large Seeds - Consider pre-germinating larger seeds on a wet paper towel for a few days prior to planting in soil. I do this for things such as peas, cucumbers, squash.
3. Tiny seeds can be sown indoors on top of the soil. I suggest misting the seeds heavily instead of watering. This method is useful for flower seeds such as peonies or any other seed that is tiny.
4. Research whether the plant requires light for germination. Most of the tiny seeds do need this and thus is is helpful to include them on top of the soil.
5. Use a light airy soil medium. You can consider using a soil-less seed-starting medium; however, I have had just as much luck with regular garden soil.
6. Keep soil moist. Forgetting to mist for a day or two could mean a lower germination rate or no germination at all.
7. Review required temperatures table below and days to germination. Keep in mind that if required temperature is not met consistently then the seeds will take more time to germinate.

VARIETY	SOIL TEMP	# DAYS TO GERMINATE
Bean, lima	85 degrees F	7 to 10 days
Bean, snap	75 to 80 degrees F	7 days
Beet	75 degrees F	7 to 14 days
Broccoli	65 to 75 degrees F	5 to 10 days
Brussels sprout	68 to 75 degrees F	5 to 10 days
Cabbage	68 to 75 degrees F	5 to 10 days
Cantaloupe	80 to 85 degrees F	5 to 10 days
Carrot	75 degrees F	12 to 15 days
Cauliflower	65 to 75 degrees F	5 to 10 days
Celery	70 to 75 degrees F	10 to 14 days
Collard	70 to 75 degrees F	5 to 10 days
Corn	75 to 85 degrees F	7-10 days
Cucumber	70 to 85 degrees F	7 to 10 days
Eggplant	75 to 85 degrees F	10 to 12 days
Endive	70 to 75 degrees F	10 to 14 days
Kale	70 to 75 degrees F	5 to 10 days
Kohlrabi	70 to 75 degrees F	5 to 10 days
Lettuce	65 to 70 degrees F	7 to 10 days
Melon	80 to 85 degrees F	5 to 10 days
Mustard Greens	70 degrees F	5 to 10 days
Okra	80 to 85 degrees F	7 to 14 days
Onion, bulbing	70 to 75 degrees F	10 to 14 days
Onion, bunching	60 to 70 degrees F	10 to 14 days
Parsnip	70 degrees F	14 to 21 days
Pea	65 to 70 degrees F	7 to 14 days
Pepper	78 to 85 degrees F	10 to 14 days
Pumpkin	70 to 75 degrees F	7 to 10 days
Radish	65 to 70 degrees F	5 to 7 days
Rutabaga	65 to 70 degrees F	7 to 15 days
Spinach	70 degrees F	7 to 14 days
Spinach, New Zealand	75 degrees F	10 to 15 days
Squash, Summer	75 to 85 degrees F	7 to 14 days
Squash, Winter	75 to 80 degrees F	7 to 14 days
Swiss Chard	70 to 75 degrees F	7 to 14 days
Tomato	75 to 80 degrees F	7 to 14 days
Turnip	65 to 70 degrees F	7 to 14 days
Watermelon	75 to 85 degrees F	7 to 14 days

 *Chart courtesy of Heirloom Seeds.

Warmer Weather Excitement

I thought the warmer weather would never come given the winter we just had in New England. Now that it's here, I'm excited to get everything started. I ordered the cucumber seeds (2 varieties) and now patiently await their arrival. My favorite seed brand is Botanical Interests and they are well worth the wait. In the meantime, I found some Burpee seeds from 2012 and put them on a wet paper towel to test germination. Could these still work? No large loss if they don't.

Also, on a side note, I started some Kale seeds and Jalapeno seeds from last year.

2014 Cucumber Variety

2014 Cucumber Variety

A Start to the Growing Season

We had another huge snow fall in Massachusetts this past week. Hopefully, this will be the last of the season as I am excited to get out into the garden and start my bidding. I doubt the snow will melt in time for any garden work to get done tomorrow. I had to start SOMETHING!!! so i sowed some onion seeds (Botanical Interests Flat of Italy) indoors. I also read that Waltham 29 Broccoli can germinate in as low as 40 degrees F and planted a row outdoors on the balcony.

Fast Germinating Flowers - Poppy / Peony

I saw my first seedling of the season today. This is the Poppy / Peoney double blend by botanical interests.  I planted these seeds only 5 days ago!!



Poppy/Peoney Seedling @ 5 days









Cucumber Progress

I have my first 5 inch cucumber though I hope it gets a bit fatter. The trellis I bought seems to  be working very well! I am excited that I am getting much farther with my cucumbers this year than I did last year.

First Botanical Interests Marketmore Cucumber

Garden Update 7/9/11

Botanical Interests
Sugar Sweetie Flower

My little garden seems to be making progress overall.  The first flowers have appeared on the botanical interests Sugar Sweetie tomato plants. The Renee's Garden superbush plant has grown significantly but has not had any open flowers.  My blueberry bush has a few green blueberries. The raspberry bush has grown and become more green, but no fruit thus far.



Alpine Strawberries - first
Renee's Garden

 Alpine strawberries - I can now see many tiny little berries (still green) developing from the little white flowers. The planter from last year has also sprouted its first flowers.

Two weeks ago I planted some Zinnia Cut and Come Again flowers by Botanical Interests and these are growing at a surprisingly fast pace.



First Blueberries (very few)

 Today I also planted some Romaine Lettuce. I ordered the seeds from Amazon and while it was supposed to be by Botanical Interests, the package said Todd's Seeds. I thought this was odd and planted the seeds regardless.