Re: February 2013 New England

NHGardener 2/24/2013, 6:12 pm

What a great schedule! I was just thinking I have to type up a chart because I need to be able to see everything, and have it organized by date of seeding, indoor and then outdoor and also transplant times.

Interesting that you're in central Mass but your frost date doesn't seem that much different than mine, which is May 13... Hmm. (seacoast, NH)

mollyhespra 2/24/2013, 6:36 pm

Nice spreadsheet, Dvelten. I'm working on a similar one but with the chores for each month in columns starting with March & seed-starting season...but I'm wondering if maybe I'm starting my seeds too soon. I'll post a copy once I'm done updating it to get some feedback from you more experienced folks.

**camprn** 2/24/2013, 8:28 pm

We got a nice layer of that really wet late winter snow. It means that sugar season is right around the corner, oooooooh yummy sugar on snow..... I can hardly wait!

And then the buds will plump and burst and the bees will fly and then the most awesome of sights.... the first dandelion. I love you

**dvelten** 2/24/2013, 8:44 pm

NHG, I'm 30 miles west and uphill from Boston, about 75 meters (245 feet) elevation, so no ocean moderation. Depending on your source, I'm either in zone 5, 6a or 6b.

Molly, my planting dates came from a merger of Johnny's seed starting calculator and the Lazy Gardener's seed starting chart. Of course, you have to start with a last frost date.

mollyhespra 2/25/2013, 9:16 am

Thanks for those links, Dvelten. I'd seen the Johnny's one but not the lazy gardener one. This is the first year I'm seed-starting on a large scale, so I know that it will be a learning experience.

My LFD is sometime between June 1-7. I could probably take a chance & put things in earlier what with global warming & all but I'd rather not risk it.

Nicola 2/25/2013, 12:21 pm

NHGardener wrote:Yup, it certainly is a winter wonderland. I measured in our previously cleared driveway: 12".

I am having ice cream. WITH whipped cream. It's that stressful.

Is that a chicken run, maybe a coop, too, toward the back of your snow-covered SFG beds?
Ice cream, when it's that cold? I've been feeling more like homemade chocolate pudding lately, but haven't gotten around to making any yet (and yes, whipped cream on top!).

quiltbea 2/25/2013, 1:09 pm

Nicola....I agree about the ice cream. In winter I keep my thermostat down to about 62 days and 59 nites so I don't buy ice cream until spring again. In winter I live wearing layers of clothes. Very Happy

But I buy the cook and serve chocolate puddings all the time and make them and eat at least one dish still warm and chilling the rest in the fridge. When I want one I warm for about 30 secs in the micro to eat. I need warm things in winter, but good things. Mmmmmm, good.

It warmed up to the 30s pretty quick today so the heavy limbs are now free of snow (we got a bit more than 7"). It just warmed and slid right off, thank goodness. That still doesn't help the snow cover in my garden which must be well over a foot right now.

CapeCoddess 2/25/2013, 3:29 pm

Mmm...yum...chocolate pudding...it's been years. I'm more of a soup and tater tots in cold weather person. hungry

After raining all weekend my usable compost pile, on the left next to my new pile, is finally starting to poke thru the snow. I was hoping to spread compost on the boxes today but that ain't gonna happen. Which means I also have to hold off on planting experimental peas and such today. February 2013 New England - Page 6 100_5113

February 2013 New England - Page 6 100_5113

Meanwhile, I keep planting and they keep sprouting. My Lilly kitty is getting a wee bit perturbed that I'm taking up all her sun bathing space, but as long as I can see tile there's room for more: February 2013 New England - Page 6 100_5210

February 2013 New England - Page 6 100_5210

She finally went to sleep with her head in the tomato pot... February 2013 New England - Page 6 100_5211

geesh...I'm such a bad mother...

CC

quiltbea 2/25/2013, 6:46 pm

CC....What a great shot. Now be a good mummy and reserve a corner just for her. She's needs and deserves her sunshine.

mollyhespra 2/25/2013, 9:06 pm

LOL! CC, it looks like you've got enough room there for the seedlings AND the kitty...you're a creative gal, pile up a bunch of books or even some cinderblocks if you have them & lay a board across them so the trays go on top of the shelf and the kitty can hang out underneath!

NHGardener 2/25/2013, 9:16 pm

Molly, I used to live in the Conway area, and I could never understand how farmers survived up there with such a short season.

And yup Nicola, that's a small coop and larger run. The run is still in process, doesn't have a roof yet, hope it's functional by spring rains.

quiltbea, I keep it around 69 or 70 here. I can't take the cold, at least indoors.

And is it ever too cold for ice cream? Laughing

CC, your perturbed cat needs a good caption - looks like she's thinking one. Laughing

mollyhespra 2/26/2013, 9:00 am

It *is* awful short for a growing season, but it's what it is, right? I've got a work deadline to focus on this week, but maybe this weekend I can take pics of my creation: a DIY seed-starting closet that looks very futuristic & sci-fi which I'll be using to start my seeds soon.

NHGardener 2/26/2013, 9:18 am

Molly - can't wait to see it!

CapeCoddess 2/26/2013, 3:46 pm

Since it's going to rain for the next couple of days I planted peas today at lunch - sugar & snow vines - and a bush snow pea which I didn't know there was such a thing. I figured all that rain will be just like soaking them for 24 hours. I didn't plant too many peas as this is just an experiment, and I didn't get to add compost to the boxes yet. I have lots of room for more peas later.

smiles

CC

**camprn** 2/26/2013, 3:50 pm

Calling for 12"+ of snow........ Shocked

heavy wet stuff, which means Spring is coming.

NHGardener 2/26/2013, 6:54 pm

camprn wrote:heavy wet stuff, which means Spring is coming.

You go girl, keep those positive thoughts coming.

It's saying around 4" I think now around my area.

**camprn** 2/26/2013, 9:33 pm

Last I checked they were talking 14" here. lots o

February 2013 New England - Page 6 90640

February 2013 New England - Page 6 Th_SnowShovel

mollyhespra 2/26/2013, 9:34 pm

About 6" all told expected up this way, which means we may get none or twice that amount.

NHGardener 2/26/2013, 10:57 pm

I'm sorry camprn. It's just your turn. I roof raked today and almost expired.

**camprn** 2/27/2013, 10:12 am

http://awaytogarden.com

February 2013 New England - Page 6 Blank_thelostgardener

http://www.plantmaps.com/interactive-new-hampshire-last-frost-date-map.php

NHGardener 2/27/2013, 11:52 am

Very apropos! Love it.

quiltbea 2/28/2013, 12:42 pm

I refuse to look at the new 7 inches of snow we have right now unless necessary (like in letting out the dogs). More is coming later today because Rocky isn't finished. Its like we're in the eye of a hurricane with nothing happening. Ugh.

My greenhouse cover came yesterday. I can't wait for the snow to melt so I can put it up.
February 2013 New England - Page 6 02-27-12

February 2013 New England - Page 6 02-27-12

Here's the box waiting, waiting.
February 2013 New England - Page 6 02-27-13

I up-potted my early tomatoes and arugula yesterday. I thought I'd try the arugula in a margarine rub instead of individual blocks. I'm keeping them far enuf apart so they will be easy to transplant later.
I'll be sowing greens today and placing on the heat mat. It almost makes me feel spring is around the corner.

NHGardener 2/28/2013, 2:48 pm

Wow! Tell us more about that greenhouse cover!

It's warm outside here - lots of snow on the ground (we only got around 3", slush included) but too warm for a coat. It won't be long now, the Big Chill is over.

My onion grass is doing well under the fluorescent. Interestingly, the seed that did the best was last year's onion seed, and usually they say onion seed doesn't keep well. The 2 new packets I bought this year aren't sprouting nearly as well. My saved onion seeds from last summer are sprouting fairly well.

CapeCoddess 2/28/2013, 3:25 pm

Yes, details on the greenhouse please, QB, and why you prefer that over a hoop tunnel.

Rain here, going on day 2. My useable compost, on the left, is showing thru the snow a bit more now. Maybe by this weekend I'll be able to shovel some off the top and put it into the gardens, altho how I'll get the wheel barrow in there is still a mystery. I think it will end up being moved pail by pail. February 2013 New England - Page 6 Feb_2710

February 2013 New England - Page 6 Feb_2710

We just don't get snow like this, guys. I've never seen my compost corner piled up like that. But I've been able to add to the new pile on the right once I figured out how to walk up that snow without falling thru, and was able to get the fork unstuck from whatever ice is still below the snow. That pile seems to be nice and toasty despite the snow, rain and ice.

Meteorological Spring tomorrow! What a Face

I'm so excited!

CC

NHGardener 2/28/2013, 4:29 pm

Nice compost piles!

I never heard of meteoroligical spring! But if it's tomorrow, I'll adopt it!

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