Beginning to look like garden season

Today under the lights there are

1 curly parsley
1 Italian parsley
2 wonder bell peppers
1 sweet banana pepper
7 broccoli (one has to be replanted..didnt germinate)
2 Romanesco Broccoli
4 Brussel sprouts

Still have several parsley and peppers to germinate

Just planted

6 Marglobe (D) heirloom tomato
2 rutgers (ID) heirloom tomato
4 ground cherrys


I am going to have to move my heat mat to another place soon
as more have to go under the lights after germination.


I have much more to start of course. From herbs to cucumbers. Our last frost date isn't till May 5th. I am going to have to bring in my grow shelves soon and set them up....probly upstairs this year.

you are an inspiration Cindilou your little babies look nice and healthy.

It was looking like gardening season until this weekend. Another frost last night and a dusting of snow possible tonight in close by areas. But I'm not in as bad shape as the areas destroyed by tornados and then snow. So tragic. I hope our forum members are safe.

Kay

Me too Kay. They've had a rough few days

We could hit 70 today!! And tomorrow!!! And snow on Wednesday

Cindi, your little ones look great. I am starting some of my seeds later in the week and over next weekend.

Update time....

Well we have recovered from the seed tray hitting the floor. I will restart several tomorrow as I dont know what kind of tomatoes I got lol..or pepper. And Only one lettuce. I know I started ground cherries from Diane but have to be sure I got them started...

Doing good under the lights. Tomorrow is up-pot day for several.




They are set on a 16 hr timer and get lots of light..

Went and checked all beds today.

Asparagus is up! well a couple of stalks! First year so no picking lol..

Potato onions look weird lol...clumps for some and single for others! But boy have they grown!

Garlic...yup I can grow garlic...I think all 120 bulbs came up! My daughter and sister are very happy lol..

A few lettuce and radishes up that I planted on the porch rail planter.

I have cow manure! rofl..oh my, kept saying I had to go buy sh*t before the store sold out lol...I will get more varieties this week in the big city.

The cherry bushes I planted last year are blooming! Only about 3' tall! I planted those when I thought the cherry tree wasn't alive..appears it is lol..

All my fruit trees are getting leaves. Someone decide to go through and break three limbs on my little apricot tree late last fall...I was so not happy Two branches I cut off. One hubby wants me to try to tie up and try to save. I would rather just buy a new tree...oh well..will let him see what happens when a tree gets damaged badly.
This is my little orchard's third year. The little trees are doing great. Maybe I'll get some fruit of some kind this year!

Rhubarb is at least a foot tall!

So far out of 3 blueberry bushes I planted I have two that are showing a little green.


Hubby heard bullfrogs yesterday so NOW he agrees it is spring .

Was an upsetting day yesterday....

My bunny Milo passed away..no idea why! grrrr First pet rabbit I ever had...kids had them but not mom! Oh well..will wait a while before I get another one!

So I went and played in my greenhouse!
Had to up pot stuff..still have more to do but...

Went to see the Village People instead Don't care who laughs I still like them..and yes I have been being teased by kids and hubby lol...It was a fun night with my sister!

A little buffet..a little gambling..then the concert..home by 10...oh I am getting old!

broccoli, mariglobe tomatoes, brussel sprouts ....for now


Felt much better..gardening always helps when I have a problem


(appreciate the picture cause it was a rare moment! I hate cameras!)

Oh CindiLou-

I am sorry to hear about Milo...and I think many of us still have a secret love for the Village People.

I think that is a FANTASTIC picture! You definitely look like you are enjoying yourself and with the sun shining down, it looks wonderful!

Don't even get me started on how cute that greenhouse is...if I send you my tomato seeds that should've been started 10 days ago, would you start them for me? I WILL get them started TODAY even if I have to play hookey from working for a few minutes to at least stick 'em in some vermiculite!

I LOVE seeing your updates! Thanks for posting!

I'm sorry about Milo. My husband and I got 2 bunnies for my 11yo daughter for Christmas. They both died and it was about a month apart from different causes. So sad. We had bought a replacement after the first died so she still has one.

Anyway, I know how sweet they are and how they can suddenly die, too. :-(

Babies are starting to look sooo happy!



I also got bushel-birdhouse-dipper-loofah gourds on the heat tray. Also some sugar pie pumpkin. I need to get squash, melon, zucchini, and watermelon in the plugs tomorrow...

I have done two plantings of cool weather greens and radishes. I have arugula, sweet mesclun and 'Easter Egg' radishes up.

You went to Osceola! Did you like the Village People??

So sorry about your rabbit.

Plants are looking good!

I go to Osceola a lot.. use to live there even. I loved the Village People!


Today my daughters that live here in town came to help "make dirt". Alex and Danny had a blast getting dirty and not getting in trouble!

400 lbs of composts and two bags of vermiculite and peat moss later

The determinate tomato bed is done.


Potato bins are ready to plant.


And the bed bed it ready to plant..just trim the landscape fabric to do.



And the new area is starting to take shape as a garden.


Thursday we will do one of the 4x6s. The other one can wait a couple more weeks.

I am exhausted so gonna head to bed and get a great nights sleep!

Cindi ~ I was beginning to think you were Super Woman!! The last line let me know you are just a hard worker. Gardens look great! I bet your grandkids had fun today. I'm enjoying these warm days and wish the temps weren't so up and down. Being my 1st year, I'm not prepared with covers for my SFG except buckets over the top! I'm still a little squeamish about planting my tomatoes and flowers. (Back and forth - back and forth)

Sleep tight!

I wouldn't plant tomatoes yet. Unless you have hoops and plastic or some sort of cover. At night it is still cool for them. They love the warm (not hot hot!) weather. I do have hoops so will be putting mine out this week. As for flowers, you can put them out. Just be prepared with old sheets or something to cover in the event of frost warning. Your in 5b so you can do it a little earlier than me frost wise. Your frost date is April 27 while mine is May 5..most of lower Iowa is 5b but I happen to be in a pocket about 10 miles in diameter that is 5a

Here is a link for you dates.
http://davesgarden.com/guides/freeze-frost-dates/index.php?q=50801&submit=Go

Hey that is a good picture of where my grandbabies live lol..they live in that brick building in the background! That is all the farther they have to walk to NaNa's. My oldest daughter is the one I am expanding the garden for lol...She walked up to help, but after they went home and showered...then brought the car back up for supper!
Hubby grilled for us. Pork loin chops, bratwurst, mac/cheese, and corn! He is sooo sweet!

I finally have potatoes coming up! These are Kennebec, indeterminate type. I have been watching for the little guys to show! So far only a couple per box. I planted 5 per box so will see.




Got my celery planted. Experiment for this year.

Made MM for one of the new 4x6 beds. This one will have broccoli and brusselsprouts in it. I will do the grid and plant in the morning.
We will do the last 4x6 tomorrow.



We asked Danny to get the bucket out of the way ( our measuring equipment). He knew that first we did peat so he decided he would fill the bucket. And he was not about to let anyone help!


Alex was leveling the bed as we filled I love child labor!



I put my mariglobes in yesterday. I am going to do the french weave with them.


The girls always laughed about what the mm looks like as it is rolled Grown women find the weirdest things funny when they are getting tired!

We finished the last of the 4x6 beds yesterday.

This is the garden area now..I have 2 4x4 to move over here in the fall when they are done with the season. But at least I dont have to mix MM!



I have strawberries getting ripe so time to cover the bed.
I used the covers off the 4x4 beds after they were done.


I have baby potato plants! Just a couple in each box but maybe more will come up!



I planted the cart my oldest got me for Mother's Day. Was fun to plant flowers for a change!

Your garden is looking great! I love that cart, too. How pretty Thanks for sharing.

@CindyLou.....Having a flower cart or pots around the garden is really a lovely thing. It adds brightness to the area and is so pleasing to the eye. Very pretty.

Was a busy week in the garden.

I got the 4x6 beds planted.

I harvested two squares of garlic for other stuff. One is pie pumpkin, the other is loofah. Theoretically the pumpkin will grow along the ground and have full range after the garlic is harvested. The loofah will grow up and over the frame that is over the bed.



The second bed ..from the broccoli to the carrots are covered with tulle.



The third bed has beans, stevia, nasturtiums, and cilantro.

Also planted 4x4 bed...replant of cucumbers, pole beans, and red kidney beans.

I need to take some pics for my records lol
We are still harvesting lettuce, radish's, and arugula from salad beds. Celery has survived so far!
Herb bed bed is doing great. Everyone seems to have that one as a favorite.

Got the second layer of mm on my potato bins.

Topped the week off with cleaning out my 16" above ground pool and filing it. Wish I had that done BEFORE doing the garden! Would have loved a swim each day!

Today I am planting half a 4x4 (potato onions in other half) with royal
burgundy bush beans. They grow purple but turn green when
cooked...thought the grandkids would get a kick out of that.

The garlic is doing great!

they are pretty!


Lots and lots

Don't know what is munching on my potatoes....

First line of defense....



So much for tonight...will deal with more later lol..

We are finally getting some rain. It has been dry this month so I have had to water a couple times a week.
Have had three extra grandkids, 13/12/7 for the last three weeks so I was really tired. This was plus the 6/3 ones I have regular.

The herb bed bed isn't growing too fast. It all looks good, just slow.


Celery is really slow growing.



Lettuce and peas are just about done. Will have to figure out what to put there or save till fall planting.


The red husky cherry is loaded already,


I need to get another strand or two on the french weave. These are mariglobe (determinate). Several tomatoes on it now.


Time for the next planting of blue bush beans.


Swiss Chard and carrots are growing well on the end with brussel sprouts.


Peppers are on the opposite end with broccoli going crazy behind them.


Biggest sweet banana peppers, there are a few little bells also..


The garlic is ready ..the early kind...will have to get that done tomorrow.
I have loofah on one end and sugar pie pumpkin on the other. Theoretically the loofah will go over the top and the pumpkin on the ground once the garlic is done. They are really slow growing. Seems all my squash type are slow this year.


Zucchini is a little small yet.


Musk melon is starting to get going.


Kidney beans are doing great. Cucumber and pole beans in the back. They are about ready for me to string the cords. Will have to get that done in the next few days.


The potato onions are ready! I got them pulled...I will spread them out tomorrow and take a pic..was a nice harvest for the first year. Now to make sure I understand how to work them lol..
more squares for royal burgundy beans lol..
This square was based on Mel's first book. I pulled the onions and it was soo dry! I will do the beans in it, then this fall this one will be moved and switched to MM.