January 2013: New England

CapeCoddess wrote:Sorry, Camp...I found the answer. It was right there on the bottom of the chart.
http://www.johnnyseeds.com/e-PDGSeedStart.aspx

I was confused since Mel says in his book that peas don't transplant well, but I guess I'll try anyway since Johnny's says to do it now. If it doesn't work, in a few weeks I'll direct plant like last year which worked famously! Can't hurt to do both and have succession planting. YUM!

Wonder if I'll get any spinach this year...


CC

CC, it is simply too early to plant peas now, just my opinion of course... I suggest maybe talking to some gardeners in your area, but I would guess that St. Patrick's day would be ideal planting time out of doors for your peas. Do rely on information regarding the needs of the plant, not computer generated recommendations as there may be, somewhere a piece of misinformation the program is working with.
Anyway, the middle of march is plenty early enough; this will allow for good established root systems, no transplant shock, etc. Also, because peas are a climbing vine and they will put out their little tendrils after their first leaves, they will want to climb something.

Have you had any contact with these folks? They will surely be able to help point you in a solid direction for your area.
http://www.capecodextension.org/

Cape......The asterisk may refer to 'if the ground can be worked.'

It can't be too wet so that it rots the seeds, and it can't be so hard you can't get them planted. The extreme cold has to be done with and milder temps on their way, except for an occasional frost.
That holds true for most crops that are cold tolerant.

As for tender roots, nearly any crop can be transplanted if you can do so without disturbing its roots. Its just easier to direct sow at the right time.

+1 what QB said. CC, here is a better idea of your average best planting dates.

http://www.almanac.com/gardening/planting-dates/zipcode/02601

NHG.....How are your bees doing?

camprn wrote:
Have you had any contact with these folks? They will surely be able to help point you in a solid direction for your area.
http://www.capecodextension.org/

Unfortunately I've yet to have any luck with my extension. The less than half dozen times I've contacted them regarding plant id or something that was going on with my perennials, they weren't able to figure out what was what. I kinda gave up on them. I guess I could try again... surely they would know if it's time to plant peas indoors yet, and why I can't get spinach to grow. geesh.

How are YOUR bees doing in this cold, Camp?

CC

So far, so good! I mean, they're still alive, so that's a good sign, altho I hear you really have to wait until March to be sure. In early winter I noticed a ton of dead bees, from on top of the screen bottom board, to piles outside the hive, to strewn over the snow, and I thought for sure one hive was toast, but on our warm days the other week, both hives were active. I have 2 hives - one with four medium supers, one with five, and I ordered one more five-super hive from Brushy Mountain in December when they had their free shipping (which is 30% of the cost usually). Have to assemble and paint that one, and I ordered 2 Italian packages, thinking one hive probably won't make it and then the new hive, but if both my hives live, I'll re-sell that extra package.

I also put a mixed pollen and sugar patty into each hive when we had some warm days the other week, one of my fears is that they'll run out of feed. I have some straight pollen patties in the freezer, next month I'll probably start with those.

Still trying to get the hang of everything, takes me a while, but I also want to start powder-sugaring them April 1st through mid-May. At our last meeting it was discussed that 6 weeks of powder sugaring early in the season like that has been found to be an effective mite control.

And yours?

I think I have one dead out, the split I did last spring (the one on the left) got robbed pretty badly before I got the robber screen on. The remaining two hives and nuc seem to still be going. I too put some fondant on just before it got really cold at Christmas time. I wrapped the hives then too. I think timing and taking ques from the bees is everything, so I will put pollen patty on next month and hope they start brooding up in March for the early tree flow and then onward to April. All the dead bees outside are normal as the girls do their housekeeping, though sometimes they go for a cleansing flight and chill before returning. They certainly are a bit more visible on the snow.


Right after I took this photo I moved the little nuc over to the right and butted it right up next to the hive.

I think I may get a local fella to build me a few of the double two tier nucs like Mike Palmer uses up in St. Albens.

I my bees.
Finger crossed.

I love the "days until spring" countdown on the main page. Makes it seem so much closer.

I have a question about using cut plastic water bottles as seedling guards.

I'm organizing around here and I was just tossing a ton of those individual plastic water bottles in the recycling bin (I hate plastic, but they were school necessities) when I remembered quiltbea I believe, linking photos here of her garden with the plastic water bottles cut into half, bottom and top lopped off, so they made a cutworm/slug protection for new seedlings.

Do I have that right? I can't trust my memory and it would take hours to find it here. If it's so, I'm reclaiming those from the recycling bin and doing some arts and crafts this morning.

edit: I did find this, where Josh made self-watering planters out of 2 liter bottles. Just genius.

https://squarefoot.forumotion.com/t2318-recycled-self-watering-containers-for-plants

NHGardner.....I use 1- and 2-liter bottles to make air-pruning pots. Someone else must make the collars since I'd not heard of them before.
I'm the one that puts a couple of toothpicks around my transplants to prevent cutworm damage.

I like the post about Josh's self-watering pots, thanks. Good idea for small plants around the garden.
I plan to use bottles to water my garden this year, by putting holes in the caps, filling bottle with water, burying them cap down in the soil between squares so that water gets to the deeper roots easier and at a slow pace. I hope that does some good. We shall see. Its an experiment for this year.

Oh dear quiltbea, and here I was sure it was you.

Googling around I found this Using plastic bottles for slug collars. She actually cuts spikes on hers, takes the English to think of making a crown out of them. It's a little more work than just the straight collar, but it might work even better, so I think I'll try it.

Looks like too much work for me. I just stick 2 or 3 toothpicks right up against the base of any crop I transplant and they eventually disintegrate into the soil. No muss, no fuss, and I've yet to lose a plant to slugs this way yet I've found them in my garden so I know I get them.

For cut worm collars I use the toilet paper tube cut in half. Lasts as long as I need, then decomposes. I do use gallon plastic milk or water jugs as cloches for transplants.

Okay. Quiltbea, that is a beautiful blog! I don't know how long you've had that, but I know those take a lot of work and planning. Now, can you tell me about that toothpick method again? I'm having trouble conceptualizing how a few toothpicks can keep a slug away.

And camprn, I saw a lot more references googled about cardboard tubes than plastic bottles. When you put your milk jugs around your transplants, about how long do you keep them on? And is it just particular transplants, like tomatoes and peppers that need more warmth, or do you do others too?

edit: The one plus about using the plastic bottles with spikes is that you could re-use them.

When do I start my onion seeds?

I'm starting to hyperventilate.

I saved onion seeds from last year's onions. i wonder if they'll grow. I may have to buy new seeds. I also have seeds I haven't used from a year ago, but I hear they don't keep very well.

LOLOL, Breathe in.............breathe out............ 2-3 weeks and you can plant those babies.

Thank you camprn.

It's like the race is about to begin. Spring Seeding Anxiety Syndrome.

NHGardener wrote:Thank you camprn.

It's like the race is about to begin. Spring Seeding Anxiety Syndrome.

psssssst... go ahead and sow just a few...

To test germination? Yup.

Spring fever is upon us awrite. I took today off from work coz it's a great day to get outside and play!

I've been browsing thru months of historical averages on this cool calendar I found this morning, just to see how soon I can get outside and stay out:
http://www.accuweather.com/en/us/harwich-ma/02645/march-weather/333623?monyr=3/1/2013

I also sowed some onion seeds early in my SFG, like last weekend. Some were planted inside the windowed box and some outside of it. Just to test.

The indoor onions are already growing. They look pretty funny, like they are folded up. I think I have a photo somewhere. Stand by...here it is:

Are they supposed to look like that? Will they straighten out?

OK, heading outside to take off the windows from the SFGs til tomorrow mid day, add some compost here and there, and maybe plant some more 'experimental' seeds.

Carpe diem, everyone one!
CC

CC, I have some little blue/purple pills that may fix your onions.
Starts with something like V....
They'll straighten up in a bit.
I'm happy you seized the day.

Kelejan wrote:CC, I have some little blue/purple pills that may fix your onions.
Starts with something like V....
They'll straighten up in a bit.
I'm happy you seized the day.

Wouldn't that be something if the onions took that in, then we could eat onions to relax.



CC

I must say Quiltbea's toothpick idea works like a dream. I used it on all my transplants last year. First time trying the method and every plant survived. Thanks QB!

CapeCoddess wrote: They look pretty funny, like they are folded up.
Are they supposed to look like that? Will they straighten out?

Patience Grasshopper.

CC, I have to say, GREAT! You already seeded your onions outdoors and they're growing? (Under the glass)

That's it. I'm moving south.

No NHG...the onions in that photo are the ones I planted indoors. Not outside. I was just out there and I don't see any onions sprouting yet, but I didn't expect to this early. But everything else is still going.

Outside the windows are kale, beets, kohlrabi, celery (from stumps), carrots and broccoli.

Under the windows are the usual beets, chard, celery (from stumps), broccoli, carrots, chives, garlic and Egyptian onions.

Can't say they are growing like mad crazy, but I could get a soup out of them if I want to later. So exhausted now tho - dug and played in the new compost pile as my contribution was immense due to the pile being frozen for at least a week. Then I got out the hedge clippers and cut back all the shrubs and perennials, til my heart was pounding like crazy. I can tell I'll be sore later, but still have more to go. Amazing how out of shape we can get in a short time. And I even work out every morning. No fair.

OK, breaks over...better get while the gettins good.
CC