Re: Second Year SFG in Canada

CapeCoddess 5/7/2016, 11:24 am

Those both look so nice, TD! I don't think I've ever seen six foot Venetian blinds. So when you bend down to the ends and tuck them into two sides of the Mel's mix are they attached in any way or are they left loose?

**trolleydriver** 5/7/2016, 11:29 am

CapeCoddess wrote:Those both look so nice, TD! I don't think I've ever seen six foot Venetian blinds. So when you bend down to the ends and tuck them into two sides of the Mel's mix are they attached in any way or are they left loose?

I just leave them loose. BTW these could be made from shorter lengths of blinds. You would simply join the shorter slats together with the bolts at the intersection points.

The problem with the aluminum Venetian blind slats is that they can get bent/kinked and they are not all that easy to take on and off. I left mine on over the winter and they were not damaged at all by the deep snow that we get.

Sometime in the future I may try ripping some 1 x 4 (or similar) boards into strips that can be made into a grid. But for now I use what is at hand and does not cost me anything.

**Kelejan** 5/7/2016, 3:04 pm

Scorpio Rising wrote:TD, great pics! Mel is proud!

My thought exactly, Scorpio. I love you

**trolleydriver** 5/10/2016, 2:27 pm

I have started to build the 2x4 Table Top following the "proven sanderson method". So far I have the wood cut to size for the box but not yet screwed together. I'm using three-tier 2x4s for the sides and 3/4 inch waterproof plywood for the bottom. I still have to get the wood for the legs but I think I may already have some 4x4s in the shed. So here is what it looks like so far.

Second Year SFG in Canada - Page 10 IMG_1664_zpslgxyjsn6

Second Year SFG in Canada - Page 10 IMG_1664_zpslgxyjsn6

And while I am posting photos here is a close up of a Lobelia seedling growing under the lights in the basement.
Second Year SFG in Canada - Page 10 IMG_1659_zpsbcfgchel

Second Year SFG in Canada - Page 10 IMG_1659_zpsbcfgchel

**sanderson** 5/10/2016, 4:37 pm

trolleydriver wrote:I have started to build the 2x4 Table Top. . . So here is what it looks like so far.

Second Year SFG in Canada - Page 10 3170584802

**trolleydriver** 5/11/2016, 2:01 pm

The following seedlings were started indoors and went outside for the first time today. Front left = Beets; Back Left = Beets; Front and Back Right = Lobelia.
Second Year SFG in Canada - Page 10 IMG_1671_zpsfjkltg5v

Second Year SFG in Canada - Page 10 IMG_1671_zpsfjkltg5v

The following have been going outside during the day for several days. Front left = Calendula; Back left = Marigold; Right = Pak Choi.
Second Year SFG in Canada - Page 10 IMG_1672_zpsxxugp35w

Second Year SFG in Canada - Page 10 IMG_1672_zpsxxugp35w

And these Tomatoes have been spending time outside for the past couple of days.
Second Year SFG in Canada - Page 10 IMG_1674_zps7u2xg3td

countrynaturals 5/11/2016, 2:51 pm

Trolley, I think some tomatoes invaded your beets in that top pic, unless my eyes are playing tricks on me or I'm not reading your post right.

**trolleydriver** 5/11/2016, 3:15 pm

countrynaturals wrote:Trolley, I think some tomatoes invaded your beets in that top pic, unless my eyes are playing tricks on me or I'm not reading your post right.

I actually wrote it wrong ... should have been Back Left = Tomatoes. Very Happy

Windmere 5/11/2016, 4:06 pm

Trolley, those are some beautiful seedlings. You're certainly off to a good start with such strong plants.

**trolleydriver** 5/12/2016, 9:40 pm

Got some transplanting and seed sowing done in the SFG today. It was a beautiful day ... near 80 degrees Fahrenheit.

Transplanted from seedlings that were started indoors or outside under cover:

Kohlrabi
Pak Choi
Broccoli
Bunching Onion
Beet

Sown from seed:

Daikon Radish
Kale Mix
Spinach (Long STanding Bloomsdale)
Sugar Snap Peas
Turnip
Swiss Chard (Bright Lights)
Carrot (Red Cored Chantenay)
Lettuce (Romaine)

Kohlrabi started in "winter sowing" container.
Second Year SFG in Canada - Page 10 IMG_1682_zpsk9fxwapx

Broccoli started in "winter sowing" container.
Second Year SFG in Canada - Page 10 IMG_1683_zpswd365vae

Tulips ... first ones bloomed today which is also the first day of the Ottawa Tulip Festival.
Second Year SFG in Canada - Page 10 IMG_1686_zps9lno20b3

Chives carried over from last year.
Second Year SFG in Canada - Page 10 IMG_1688_zpskqmz8fin

Garlic in the middle.
Second Year SFG in Canada - Page 10 IMG_1689_zpsgkzuvvvw

Volunteers in the foreground ... possibly from last year's Coriander.
Second Year SFG in Canada - Page 10 IMG_1690_zpsrtjzuokx

Second Year SFG in Canada - Page 10 IMG_1691_zpsjdmuaor9

Beets.

Second Year SFG in Canada - Page 10 IMG_1699_zpsfdmc69bn

Overview.

Second Year SFG in Canada - Page 10 IMG_1696_zpso1jogvcl

The above photo is quite a contrast from what it was like not too long ago.
Second Year SFG in Canada - Page 10 DSCN9669_zpsjujlajqk

**Scorpio Rising** 5/12/2016, 10:43 pm

Hail Spring! Lovely! Your plants look great! All good eats! Except marigolds and calendula..

**sanderson** 5/13/2016, 3:29 pm

Scorpio Rising wrote:Hail Spring! Lovely! Your plants look great! All good eats! Except marigolds and calendula..

Ditto!

countrynaturals 5/13/2016, 4:47 pm

Scorpio Rising wrote:All good eats! Except marigolds and calendula..

Ahem!

Calendula / marigold
A great flower for eating, calendula blossoms are peppery, tangy, and spicy — and their vibrant golden color adds dash to any dish.

**Turan** 5/13/2016, 6:11 pm

Such a pretty garden! I especially like the contrast from winter to now. So reassuring Very Happy

Calendula petals, at least, are good in salad and rather pretty. Not as tasty as nasturtiums though.

Just being curious, is that square of beets or actually of radishes? The leaves look like the cole family.

**trolleydriver** 5/13/2016, 6:30 pm

Turan wrote:Such a pretty garden! I especially like the contrast from winter to now. So reassuring

Calendula petals, at least, are good in salad and rather pretty. Not as tasty as nasturtiums though.

Just being curious, is that square of beets or actually of radishes? The leaves look like the cole family.

Thanks Turan. I'm pretty sure they are not radishes because as far as I can remember I never started any radishes indoors. At least I had no intentions of starting radishes indoors. But I could have had a brain glitch and took seeds from the wrong package. We shall see what happens as they continue to grow but I will be disappointed if they turn out to be radishes. BTW I've got some Nasturtium seeds that I will sow outside soon.

**Scorpio Rising** 5/13/2016, 8:11 pm

countrynaturals wrote:
Scorpio Rising wrote:All good eats! Except marigolds and calendula..
Ahem!

Calendula / marigold
A great flower for eating, calendula blossoms are peppery, tangy, and spicy — and their vibrant golden color adds dash to any dish.

Really?. I did not know that. They smell like they wouldn't taste good....ya know?

countrynaturals 5/13/2016, 10:16 pm

Scorpio Rising wrote:
countrynaturals wrote:
Scorpio Rising wrote:All good eats! Except marigolds and calendula..
Ahem!

Calendula / marigold
A great flower for eating, calendula blossoms are peppery, tangy, and spicy — and their vibrant golden color adds dash to any dish.

Really?. I did not know that. They smell like they wouldn't taste good....ya know?

I know, but I just couldn't resist an opportunity like that. Embarassed

**Kelejan** 5/14/2016, 12:18 am

countrynaturals wrote:
Scorpio Rising wrote:
countrynaturals wrote:
Scorpio Rising wrote:All good eats! Except marigolds and calendula..
Ahem!

Calendula / marigold
A great flower for eating, calendula blossoms are peppery, tangy, and spicy — and their vibrant golden color adds dash to any dish.

Really?. I did not know that. They smell like they wouldn't taste good....ya know?
I know, but I just couldn't resist an opportunity like that.

Country Naturals, I thought that as well but you beat me to it. I must admit I have eaten nasturtium flowers but not marigolds.

**trolleydriver** 5/14/2016, 2:30 pm

The plants being hardened off are still doing well. I still have more seedlings indoors under the lights. They will need to come out soon.

Second Year SFG in Canada - Page 10 IMG_1700_zpsbzfnvtt8

Second Year SFG in Canada - Page 10 IMG_1700_zpsbzfnvtt8

The flower plants in the background are store bought.
Second Year SFG in Canada - Page 10 IMG_1701_zpsuztk0ddi

Almost all of the tulips in the SFG boxes are now blooming.
Second Year SFG in Canada - Page 10 IMG_1702_zpsds3tts7x

Second Year SFG in Canada - Page 10 IMG_1703_zpsw2zeurzm

Second Year SFG in Canada - Page 10 IMG_1704_zpsmf81gvsb

Second Year SFG in Canada - Page 10 IMG_1705_zpspely4fnk

Second Year SFG in Canada - Page 10 IMG_1706_zpsim9cmux1

CapeCoddess 5/14/2016, 4:33 pm

Those tulips in the SFG are magnificent!!! I love how there are so many different ones!
Second Year SFG in Canada - Page 10 2027012869

**trolleydriver** 5/14/2016, 5:19 pm

Thanks CC.

Just minutes after I posted the pictures of the tulips in my previous post, I looked out of my home office window and something did not look right in the SFG.

This is what I found.
Second Year SFG in Canada - Page 10 IMG_1707_zps80i4bdkr

Second Year SFG in Canada - Page 10 IMG_1707_zps80i4bdkr

The flower head was taken right off the tulip (see the bare stem in the middle of the picture).
Second Year SFG in Canada - Page 10 IMG_1709_zpswnrdaorj

There were holes dug in other squares.
Second Year SFG in Canada - Page 10 IMG_1708_zpsifyyturl

Until I can make some more chicken wire cages I will try the plastic fork method. darn funny

The one existing cage that I have available is not tall enough and my other existing cage is being used to protect the box with the strawberry plants.
Second Year SFG in Canada - Page 10 IMG_1711_zpsde0t1yam

Second Year SFG in Canada - Page 10 IMG_1711_zpsde0t1yam

What did this damage? We have rabbits, chipmunks, cats, raccoons, squirrels and birds that frequent the yard. My bet is on a squirrel.

**Kelejan** 5/14/2016, 6:57 pm

At least it is not a bear. They only flatten plants. Sad

CapeCoddess 5/14/2016, 7:09 pm

Rabbits take the heads off my tulips. Sad

At least that's always what I thought it was. But now that I'm reading about it they say it's squirrels. Good guess, TD.

**Scorpio Rising** 5/14/2016, 9:35 pm

CapeCoddess wrote:Rabbits take the heads off my tulips.
At least that's always what I thought it was. But now that I'm reading about it they say it's squirrels. Good guess, TD.

It's squirrels. Eye witness unfortunately last spring. Every one of my red bulbs. Second Year SFG in Canada - Page 10 950477

**sanderson** 5/15/2016, 4:44 pm

Oh, no! I see you use the 4/square spacing for your forks. Wink

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