Mid-Atlantic: February 2013

OK Everyone!

Have you had enough of this crazy weather? Do you think it will get worse or better in February?

Have you planned your spring garden yet? If so, care to share what you're going to grow?

It looks like my greenhouse won't be ready for spring planting, but hopefully will be ready to start fall seeds. Instead I'll try to cobble together my old polycarb greenhouse and it will give me enough protection to start SOME spring plants for me to sell. If not, I'll just have to be happy with selling seeds.

I wish could say I have had enough but it seems like more of the same old same old is still coming next week as well so even the though of travelling down to my garden is weeks away so I have decided to focus on planning my garden for this spring.

But I tried spinache last spring and it didn't do well as I think I planted it to late so when should you plant them since we are from the same area? Also how high did you build your trellis as mine may not be high enough as my plants grew over them by August?

Have ordered some seeds and am planning my garden this week...

My trellises are 5' high. When the plants reach the top, I just start weaving them back down.

floyd1440 wrote:But I tried spinache last spring and it didn't do well as I think I planted it to late so when should you plant them since we are from the same area?

Ditto. I'm planting 5 different spinach seeds today indoors and keeping my fingers crossed. Don't know why it won't grow for me.

CC

The height of my trellis was 6 foot the first year. They were too short for my tomatoes
I bought 2 - 10 foot sections of electrical conduit. I cut 2 foot off each end. I attached the 2 foot sections together and then to the 8 foot sections
I use a 6 foot trellis for peas and an 8 foot trellis for my tomatoes. They max out the height every year

Hey CC

My spinach grew OK but I think, from my records, that I planted the the third week of April. Now I got some spinach but it got to hot and bolted so and thinking of putting sowing the seeds in mid March?

They say as soon as the ground can be worked..........?????

floyd1440 wrote:Hey CC

My spinach grew OK but I think, from my records, that I planted the the third week of April. Now I got some spinach but it got to hot and bolted so and thinking of putting sowing the seeds in mid March?

They say as soon as the ground can be worked..........?????

Cold soil is agreeable to spinach. Mel says the plants can handle a range between 25 and 75 degrees. (pg 225)
I'm in 6a too and planted the same time you did last year and not terribly pleased. Going to plant earlier like you said in mid March this year. The planting charts (pg 253) show 32 degree soil will germinate 83% of spinach seeds and at 41 degrees, 96% germination is expected. At 50 degrees germination drops slightly to 91%. Warmer than that and the germination drops significantly. I'm going to put my compost thermometer in the mix to check temps. Mel says to plant the seeds and cover with a plastic covered cage (page225). I must have missed all the info! I think starting almost a month earlier will make all the difference.

Thanks, folks. I'll put the spinach 6-packs into the basement right now where it's about 45 degrees til they germinate. Then maybe I can plant actually babies into the SFG in March. *crossing fingers, toes, arms and legs*

CC

Only 1 of my indoor spinaches sprouted. I give up. I'll try planting them straight into the garden when it's time, tho that didn't work for me last spring.

I just planted peas outside. Anyone planting anything out side yet?

CC

I'm getting anxious to start my peas, but I need another week or so to top off my raised bed with some compost and a new trellis. Can't wait to get this party started!

CapeCoddess wrote:Only 1 of my indoor spinaches sprouted. I give up. I'll try planting them straight into the garden when it's time, tho that didn't work for me last spring.

I just planted peas outside. Anyone planting anything out side yet?

CC

I am thinking 2 more weeks. I learned last year they germinate better in cooler weather/temps. Johnny's wesite said to start them inside but everyone on this board last year said to plant the directly; so I did and they came up fine. Just planted them to late IMHO.....