Hello from Central Ohio

bgardner 4/3/2020, 4:25 pm

Brian here. I've been gardening for over 40 years, and only this year have decided to do Square Foot Gardening. I also grow a large area of hardneck garlic, with an annual yield of about 150 lbs. I can't wait for my transplants to come out from under the lights and get into the new raised beds. At an unprecedented time like this, stress is all around, and I can't think of anything better than digging in the dirt and watching new life come up.

Everyone stay safe!

Brian

OhioGardener 4/3/2020, 4:36 pm

Welcome aboard, Bgardner, from an old gardener about 50 miles west of you! I agree that working in the garden during this trying time is very good therapy, and soon you'll get tomatoes from it. I transplanted the Kale, Spinach, and Swiss Chard from under the lights and out into the raised bed. I also have Radish, Lettuce, Carrots, and Beets that were direct sowed in the bed up and growing. It'll be another month before I can plant out the peppers and tomatoes, though.

countrynaturals 4/3/2020, 4:51 pm

$glad you\'re here$ BGardener, from Northern California.

bgardner 4/3/2020, 10:22 pm

@OhioGardener: wait, I could have already started lettuce and carrots directly around these parts? I'm just now starting lettuce inside and planned to direct sow carrots in a week or so. I have so much to learn.

ralitaco 4/3/2020, 10:42 pm

Brian, welcome from Coastal NC. You have found the best forum on the web. We love pictures, and everyone is willing to help.

OhioGardener 4/4/2020, 8:28 am

bgardner wrote:@OhioGardener: wait, I could have already started lettuce and carrots directly around these parts? I'm just now starting lettuce inside and planned to direct sow carrots in a week or so. I have so much to learn.

We're about 25 miles or so north of Dayton, so I would think Worthington is probably the same temperate zone we are. Looking at my journal, last year I planted Beets, Radishes, Carrots, and Spinach on March 15th. This year I planted them on March 8th. All are very frost tolerant, and will even take a light freeze. One year after I planted the seeds we had several inches of snow and I thought that I would probably have to re-plant them. But, as soon as the snow melted, the seeds all came up.

Interesting side note: A number of years ago I worked at the old Methodist Children's Home there in Worthington, and I volunteered time to work with one of the staff and kids to plant and maintain a garden. I even helped them set up a worm bin, which the kids used to grow fish bait for themselves.

**Scorpio Rising** 4/4/2020, 8:41 am

Welcome to the forum, bgardner! I am also from the Buckeye state, so glad you decided to give SFG a try! You will find because the beds are raised, you can get a jump start on regular ground farming. I am a little behind OG, about an hour and a half north of you. I have radishes and spinach, turnips, Swiss chard, broccoli and Bok Choi in my cold frame right now. I planted sugar snap peas on or around St. Patty’s Day, but some critter ate them all! All of this is direct seeded.

On the lights is lettuces right now. My germination hasn’t wowed me this year, though...

A really wonderful treasure if the SEARCH box in the upper left; tons of great info, not much new on here!

Also, join us on the N&C Midwest regional thread!

**AtlantaMarie** 4/4/2020, 9:51 am

Hi Brian. Welcome from Atlanta, GA! Glad you're here!

OhioGardener 4/4/2020, 10:00 am

Scorpio Rising wrote:On the lights is lettuces right now. My germination hasn’t wowed me this year, though...

Remember that lettuce is one of the seeds that has a physical thermal dormancy, and they will not germinate of the soil is above about 70°F. To get lettuce to germinate in the heat of summer, I plant them in trays and put them in a cooler with some ice - they love the cool damp environment and promptly germinate. I can then "sun harden" them and plant them in the garden.

**Scorpio Rising** 4/4/2020, 2:22 pm

OhioGardener wrote:
Scorpio Rising wrote:On the lights is lettuces right now. My germination hasn’t wowed me this year, though...

Remember that lettuce is one of the seeds that has a physical thermal dormancy, and they will not germinate of the soil is above about 70°F. To get lettuce to germinate in the heat of summer, I plant them in trays and put them in a cooler with some ice - they love the cool damp environment and promptly germinate. I can then "sun harden" them and plant them in the garden.

Good point! I can’t remember if I have the heating pad on or not, if so, it’s going off. In fact Might just bring them up and make room for maters and pepper seeds! Thanks, OG!

**sanderson** 4/7/2020, 6:05 am

BGardener, Welcome to the Forum from California! $glad you\'re here$

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