Re: APRIL! N&C Midwest

DorothyG 4/13/2014, 11:51 pm

I have onions, lettuce, radishes, peas, and turnips up. Just when I thought I was batting a hundred, don't you know it, a hard freeze warning for Monday night through Tuesday late morning. This evening we had buckets of rain and some wind. Yesterday the high temp was 82. Missouri weather Rolling Eyes

**sanderson** 4/14/2014, 3:59 am

I'm beginning to think that over-wintering garlic is designed specifically to give the end-of-winter gardener hope! I love you

Sort of like daffodils. APRIL! N&C Midwest - Page 2 274447

Goosegirl 4/14/2014, 7:48 am

DorothyG wrote:I have onions, lettuce, radishes, peas, and turnips up. Just when I thought I was batting a hundred, don't you know it, a hard freeze warning for Monday night through Tuesday late morning. This evening we had buckets of rain and some wind. Yesterday the high temp was 82. Missouri weather

Completely understand - Wednesday was 79, right now it is 19! Keeping myself consoled with seedlings. My pepper starts are doing better than in any other year, and my toms are ready to be potted up. Will do that tonight after work, as I watch the snow...

GG

**AtlantaMarie** 4/14/2014, 8:57 am

Ouch, GG... Again, glad I live in the South...! Although we're supposed to get down to 34 tomorrow night.

herblover 4/15/2014, 8:13 am

79 on Sunday; snowing this am; gotta love April in the Midwest!

jwesley 4/15/2014, 8:28 am

Only had a light dusting at my house today... I covered my SFG and delayed transplanting a few things I wanted to last weekend. On the bright side the Radish's I planted germinated wonderfully, and the spinach seems to be coming up too!

**llama momma** 4/15/2014, 12:50 pm

I'm northeast of you towards Columbus, at this hour the dusting is nearly all melted. It sure was sad to see the garlic and asparagus with snow around them. After it becomes more balmy this afternoon closer to 36 degrees I'll be sure to cover them tonight, suppose to drop to mid 20's. I hope the newly arriving hummingbirds find each other to hug and keep warm!

elysia 4/15/2014, 4:16 pm

sanderson wrote:I'm beginning to think that over-wintering garlic is designed specifically to give the end-of-winter gardener hope! Sort of like daffodils.

right!

bonnie0128 4/16/2014, 12:54 pm

Got another light dusting of snow last night but it looks like that should be the end of it with temps predicted in the 60s starting tomorrow.

My seedlings are emerging (except the peppers - darn things!) and the zucchini and cocozelle are going crazy. I think I'll try to up-pot them tomorrow (they already have a true leaf). Can you bury the stem like you do with tomatoes?

Don't think I'm going to get much planted as far as a spring crop goes - may try to throw the carrot seeds in this week but I still have to weed the beds (they get terrible over winter) and get some compost.

Thankful for sunny days on the horizon!

R&R 1011 4/17/2014, 2:31 pm

My peppers are just now coming up. Took them 4-8 weeks to sprout, goodness picky things. I think Im going to get my strawberries, potatoes, broccoli, and cabbage in the ground soon. Going to get my wood and vermiculite today.

My grandmother who has always had beautiful flower beds expressed interest in doing a small raised vegetable bed, so Im going to bring a 4' x 4' box over her place tomorrow with mels mix and a few seedlings. flower

Goosegirl 4/17/2014, 10:56 pm

Potted up 24 'maters, 6 each of 4 varieties. Planted 28 pots of flowers and herbs: 3 Parsley, 4 Dill, 7 Love-Lies-Bleeding, 7 Autumn Beauty Sunflowers, 7 Calendulas. Never tried flowers before, so will be interesting to see how they do. 12 peppers (6 each of 2 different varieties) are doing great - better than in any other season, but not quite big enough to pot up yet. Supposed to be 53 tomorrow. We shall see. Gave the onions a haircut and used the clippings in egg salad. Can't wait to try it tomorrow after all the flavors meld!

GG

PS - also going to buy a wheel barrow tomorrow, make it easier to sift stuff and move compost. At almost 50, my lower back rebels now and then, so I am giving in and admitting that I need help and see TT's in my future!!!

bonnie0128 4/18/2014, 9:03 am

Feeling a little discouraged this morning. While tending to my little starts, I realized just how poorly they are doing (for the most part). Very few of my peppers sprouted - and the ones that did look unhealthy (a few cups even have a white fuzzy mold in them even though I was careful not to over-water). The majority of my tomatoes have the seed shell stuck. The mix I used to plant some flower seeds must have had some weed in it because all the cups have weeds growing (and I don't know what is weed and what is the flower). And everything seems tall and lanky. Last year I was so haphazard about my seed starting and everything did great. This year, I tried to be careful/mindful, followed the "rules", etc and bupkiss. I wonder if the seeds I got are just inferior. Don't know if I really have time to start any more but I'm going to go buy some pellets this time and at least try some more tomatoes. And my son was SO excited about his favorite orange bell peppers Sad

I guess this is part of gardening life.

**AtlantaMarie** 4/18/2014, 9:12 am

I'm sorry, Bonnie. Where did you get your seeds?

Apparently a lot of us have had problems with seed shells sticking to the 'maters this year. I just pulled them off (VERY gently) finally.

I think I've got some orange bell pepper seeds hiding in the fridge somewhere. Want me to check & send you some if I can find them? (From the grocery store veggie bins)

I lost a bunch of stuff in the freeze the other night. And had 40% of my okra lost due to damping off when I first seeded them.

bonnie0128 4/18/2014, 9:35 am

AtlantaMarie wrote:

I'm sorry, Bonnie. Where did you get your seeds?

I got most of them from seed sellers on ebay. Most also have internet sites so they seem legit. I couldn't afford the catalog companies this year

Apparently a lot of us have had problems with seed shells sticking to the 'maters this year. I just pulled them off (VERY gently) finally.

I tired a couple and they are *really* stuck. It doesn't help that they are spoon and small cherry varieties so the seedlings are very fragile.

I think I've got some orange bell pepper seeds hiding in the fridge somewhere. Want me to check & send you some if I can find them? (From the grocery store veggie bins)

I didn't know if I could do that - just plant seeds from a grocery bell. I thought it'd likely be a hybrid. If you've had success with them though, I guess I could either go buy a pepper or take you up on your offer.

I lost a bunch of stuff in the freeze the other night. And had 40% of my okra lost due to damping off when I first seeded them.

That's awful Mother nature surely hasn't been kind to us gardeners this year. And I hear we're in for quite a temperamental summer too. Is damping off when mold grows? What should I do if one cup is developing mold and has a good seedling?

Thanks for all your help and kindness!

**AtlantaMarie** 4/18/2014, 9:48 am

Gotcha. And I understand. I got most of my seeds from Baker's Creek when they went on end of the year clearance at a local "prepper" shop.

I suspect you're correct on the bell being a hybrid. Didn't realize you also focus on heirlooms like me. Haven't tried to grow those peppers. Didn't think about the hybrid factor when I saved them. who?me?

Damping off - yes. Toss them and start over. (Sorry...) The mold is actually vericullum wilt. (spelling?)

Sticky seeds - hmmm.... not sure what to tell you there....

bonnie0128 4/18/2014, 10:06 am

AtlantaMarie wrote:Didn't realize you also focus on heirlooms like me.
...
Sticky seeds - hmmm.... not sure what to tell you there....

I am just starting to focus on heirlooms this year. I'm not against hybrids if they are organic/non-gmo...but thought I'd avoid them when I can since heirlooms are so important. I think it's so exciting to grow "unusual" varieties (even if they aren't so different from our old standards) and I'm still *reading* my heirloom seed catalogs like they are textbooks or something! It's so fascinating to see the history and so many varieties (esp tomatoes and melons)! I wish I had more room! I'm getting crunchier month by month. Wink

I wonder if a quick soak of the tomato seed would help soften the shell or if it'd cause it to rot. Hmmm...might be worth an experiment with a seed or two, I guess.

**AtlantaMarie** 4/18/2014, 10:11 am

Baker Creek is a great resource then, Bonnie. They have a free catalog and one that is $8 with more info.

Since I'll be using this as a business, they were kind enough to send me the $8 for free!

**sanderson** 4/18/2014, 7:07 pm

Bonnie, I feel your pain! Very Happy

bonnie0128 4/18/2014, 7:18 pm

AtlantaMarie wrote:Baker Creek is a great resource then, Bonnie. They have a free catalog and one that is $8 with more info.

Since I'll be using this as a business, they were kind enough to send me the $8 for free!

I have the free one and I've been reading it intently. I wish there were pictures for every type though and that the pictures were with the descriptions.

bonnie0128 4/18/2014, 9:49 pm

The answer to our woes? Spit on your stuck seed shells/"helmets"

Laughing

LOL, I don't know if it'll work but it's worth a shot, right?

Here's what I'm referring to: http://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/seeds/seed-coat-stuck.htm

jmsieglaff 4/18/2014, 10:26 pm

In the past I've had issues with finches eating my pea shoots. So I've covered them with bird netting, problem solved. The finches never touched anything else in the garden. So this year where I have the peas, I also have spinach and radishes covered. In another bed I have more radishes and arugula sprouting and suddenly one day I go outside and see the little seedling leaves are eaten back nearly to the stems--to the point I'll likely have to replant. It's the finches, I've seen them doing it and the radishes under the net are fine. Anyone have issues with finches? I wonder why the problem suddenly--maybe not much else to eat?

**AtlantaMarie** 4/19/2014, 8:23 am

Interesting thought process in that article, Bonnie. I'm always afraid I'm putting my seeds too deep. Especially the small ones.

I agree that there should be more info in the catalogs. (And not just Baker Creek.) I'd like to see pH ranges, rotation info, etc. It's a pain having to search all over the internet for the info.

Jimmy, I'd agree with your assessment. They want greens just as much as we do.

RJARPCGP 4/19/2014, 2:44 pm

Goosegirl wrote: I think I may start some flowers indoors next. Never tried flowers. This is a COMPLETE experiment!

GG

Indoor flowers are my specialty! I had marigolds blooming at least since late December!

Goosegirl 4/19/2014, 7:31 pm

RJARPCGP wrote:
Goosegirl wrote: I think I may start some flowers indoors next. Never tried flowers. This is a COMPLETE experiment!

GG
Indoor flowers are my specialty! I had marigolds blooming at least since late December!

I may need to pick your brain later on in the season. I have my flower seeds planted, but I noticed this morning that there was WAY too much water in the bottom of the self-watering seed starting tray. They may have been swimming in a bog for a few days! I poured off the excess water and set the tray outside to dry out a bit since it is 69 today. I will give them a week to start some activity, then I will reseed if nothing happens.

Thankfully my 'maters, peppers, onions, and basil are doing great! Also came across a box of narcissus bulbs for forcing that I bought on clearance 2 months ago - stuck them in the pot and they are all sprouting nicely!

GG

PS - since it was so nice today, I mowed up the leaves. Emptied the mower bag at least 4 times, maybe more. Could not see any grass clippings, but LOTS of finely chopped leaves now starting this season's compost pile!

Rick Seeger 4/21/2014, 7:13 am

Completed the first stage of a major renovation to my main SFG area of the yard yesterday. I installed a 38" high decorative fence around the entire area of my SFG beds to deter my nosy / helpful / curious / hungry beagle. She doesn't seem to care for it, but the plants will be happy I hope. I have also put out my hummingbird feeders and hope to see the first one by the end of the week. Kind of interesting to see on the map how they seem to be avoiding WI, MN, and upper NY for the time being. Lots more to do this week - add compost to my SFG beds, plant some radishes, and develop some spots around the inside of the new fence for perennials to be planted - my real motive for the whole project is having less lawn to have to mow! Have a great week everyone!

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