Des Moines Iowa Zone 5A Here . . .

I've had such a busy year there is no way I'm doing any seed starting this year for those early crops. Looks like I need to get my broccoli, lettuce, cauliflower and cabbage transplants in the ground this coming week, though, to keep up.

Anyone seen local stores starting to carry transplants yet? From big box to nurseries, it'd be good to know if anything has started carrying transplants yet. I'd love to get planting this week.

Thanks!

It's still early for the wee plants here in my neck of the woods. I am in a zone 5a and we still have a foot of snow on the garden. Good luck finding early starts!!

No snow in Iowa! Been pretty nice over the last week or so. I was actually out smoking a pork shoulder today--quite warm!

Hoping to turn attention to the garden this next week.

Honestly, I haven't even seen them down here yet, and I think we are a few weeks ahead of your frost date with ours. I'm sure you'll see them soon, though.

Just checked out Earl May Nurseries here in Iowa. The guy said he'd just ordered the cold weather starts, so they'll be there in the next few days. Should have some broccoli, cauliflower, cabbages and lettuce at the least.

Just prepped the beds tonight--adding a scoopful of compost for each square but also a "dash" of bone meal and blood meal. Needed some extra juice based on last year's results--I'd assume my compost mix left me lacking. It was mostly manure and humus.

Judge Kemp wrote:Just checked out Earl May Nurseries here in Iowa. The guy said he'd just ordered the cold weather starts, so they'll be there in the next few days. Should have some broccoli, cauliflower, cabbages and lettuce at the least.

Just prepped the beds tonight--adding a scoopful of compost for each square but also a "dash" of bone meal and blood meal. Needed some extra juice based on last year's results--I'd assume my compost mix left me lacking. It was mostly manure and humus.

For even getting started! Playing in the dirt is much better than watching snow fall imo.

Another nice day. I'm thinking about what else to do in the yard (home with the kids today), but can't think of anything left! I've got to empty out one of my SFG beds at some point that I lost a "bottom" 2x6 in last fall, so maybe I'll pull out a tarp and work on some repairs on the box. That one could be a challenge for me!

Other than that, mybe just do some raking and such in the front beds. Have to do something now that the bug caught me!

Funny how when I have nothing better to do I gravitate over to the forum.

But, I still need netting for my trellises, and I need bird netting for my hoophouse. Once the plastic comes off, I need to keep the ravaging critters out.....mainly my dog. Do you have those complete? Those are some nice time killers.

Also, when the time comes, I know we would love to see a picture of the setup.

I've got a fenced in yard, so no real critter control. Same with the birds--just in a place where it isn't a real problem.

My SFGs are very . . . "utilitarian." Nothing too special. Here are the pics from last year. Set up is the same with the boxes this year.

https://squarefoot.forumotion.com/gallery/Personal-album-of-Judge-Kemp/Personal-album-of-Judge-Kemp-cat_u1321.htm

Just got the new transplants in!

OK, working with one 4x4 bed today and got 12 of the 16 squares in the ground in about 20 minutes.

Got:

• 3 broccoli (pacman) transplants
  
• 3 cabbage (early) transplants
  
• 4 sugar snap pea (seeds)
  
• 2 spinach (seeds)
  

Should be about it for a couple of weeks. This is my "5 weeks before last frost" planting.

Thanks for the pictures in your personal album. I love this one-it should be included in every answer to: 'How to put a box on a slope'.

boffer wrote:Thanks for the pictures in your personal album. I love this one-it should be included in every answer to: 'How to put a box on a slope'.

+1

camprn wrote:

boffer wrote:Thanks for the pictures in your personal album. I love this one-it should be included in every answer to: 'How to put a box on a slope'.

+1

Thanks to the both of you. I have to pull that one on the slope here in the next couple of weeks. One of my "floor slats" gave way on me. I need to get a stronger bottom in. Thinking 3/4" treated plywood will do the trick. May get it out and find it just needs a new screw or something, but I know I want to do something with it before the plants go in.

could you run some metal strapping under it and secure to the sides?

camprn wrote:could you run some metal strapping under it and secure to the sides?

That would work!

Now that I've been thinking on it, I think I may have just used a nail gun to put in the slats, so it may be even easier--I may just have to sink a screw in instead. If not, the metal strap idea is a good one (use the metal straps they use to hang pipes). I could do the metal strap without even emptying it. Just push the dirt to the sides and reinforce it there in the middle. If a screw or two doesn't work, I'll pick up a roll of "pipe tape" to support it.

Excellent advice!

Well, thanks! it was just my Yankee brain doing it's regular thing. Let us know if it works!

Rofl..he is building on a slope cause he is from DM!! now down south here we have some flatland.


Sorry I couldn't help that! Lucas County here! You better get some cover ready on those babies cause tomorrow night is heading for a night of freezing temps! I started mine a couple of weeks ago so they won't be ready till I am. I will plant seeds (lettuce, radish, pea arugala) about April 1st then follow a couple of weeks later with the transplants. But I have hoops ready for the plastic on mine. And more plastic jugs and coverings ready. You remember, "If you don't like Iowa weather, just wait 5 minutes." That is sooo true in April!

Wasn't yesterday beautiful?!

I used available child labor (labor laws don't apply to NaNa's garden) (spring break lol) to do the mm in my salad beds so they are ready to go. Not pictured is the 21 yr old daughter that was a huge help!

My south side is not to level but I only had a 9" difference.

Yeah Cindi, child labor helps cultivate my edibles as well. Yesterday the three year old held the garden map while I got dirty--thought it best to keep him clean for the day at least.

If possible, today in Iowa was nicer than yesterday even--it was beautiful and I'm hoping those plants enjoyed their first day in their spacious new "digs". Tomorrow night we're forecasted to hit 31, though, so it'll be a blanket night for them.

Looks like it'll be a little warmer than expected tonight. Lows should be 33-34. Is that too cold for broccoli/cabbage plants or should I just leave them uncovered?

Judge Kemp wrote:Looks like it'll be a little warmer than expected tonight. Lows should be 33-34. Is that too cold for broccoli/cabbage plants or should I just leave them uncovered?

I know this is a little late to reply, but I've heard that broccoli/cabbage, along with nice leafy greens (kale, collards, etc) can handle a little bit of frost and do well in colder temps. It actually sweetens them up.

Judge: We were in Goodes Greenhouse last weekend and bought a couple things and found out they will have almost everything out for April's first weekend. Also bought stuff to fill my first SFG boxes at Des Moines Feed and Seed on Hubbell Ave. The Vermic was in big 4sqft bags for $18 also got worm casing compost, mushroom, cotton hull compost and HQ organic compost in bigger 2sf bags there. The manager there told me that 3.8 moss bags uncompress to 9+ sf. All the box stores just fiddle with small packages of everything except for possibly the peat moss. Too bad Holub on SE 14 is gone, one of their boys now works at Earl May across from Merle Hay Mall. Gonna make my first couple frames 4'X12'X10inches cedar, wonder if I'm nuts for doing that any thoughts will be appreciated. Still plan to do 1'X1' grids but can see no usefulness in anything more than orange binder twine for the grid members. Lots of pictures show folks putting boxes almost together so this will save me buying 8' of plank for each 12' box because of less cross pieces and gives a tiny bit of space back for each one left out. I will have less outside edges for things that hang over though. Happy SFGing.

CindiLou: I like the hoops especially the stabilizer bar across the top. I plan to put them on my 12' boxes and get a little green house use from them. Here in NE Iowa they will work nice to extend the season. i put an old burn barrel around a Kale plant in November then later on use an old U-haul blanket over that on really cold nights and just plastic other times to keep my Kale going most of the winter. I run the snow blower out to and around it for a pathway to my winter greens. Hopefully the new SFG boxes with hoops and plastic will improve things next winter.

Hi westie42, I know where you are lol..I have a mother-in-law and brother-in-law in Waverly. Brother is music director or some such high mucky muck at Wartburg. MIL moved up there for his turn to watch over her lol...JK..I love her to pieces, just she wanted to be up by that son. She gardens a little on a plot...humm I don't know if she rents or if it is a community thing. She just turned 85 and that woman is more active than me! Reminds me, I haven't called her in a while. Best get that done today lol..

I used my hoops on my other garden last year just to keep beans and carrots going a while longer. Got through several frosts and light freezes. I didn't use anything to warm them though. This year hubby is saying he will build me a big cold frame. I guess there are several things I can keep going through the winter in one. Greens in winter, yum. Well I have grown lettuce and radishes in the house in the winter! Oh what we do to have our garden fix!

Westie 42

So nice to "meet" you. I noticed you have made several posts today.

Westi42 wrote:Gonna make my first couple frames 4'X12'X10inches cedar, wonder if I'm nuts for doing that any thoughts will be appreciated. Still plan to do 1'X1' grids but can see no usefulness in anything more than orange binder twine for the grid members. Lots of pictures show folks putting boxes almost together so this will save me buying 8' of plank for each 12' box because of less cross pieces and gives a tiny bit of space back for each one left out. I will have less outside edges for things that hang over though. Happy SFGing.

I think 4 X 12 X 10" cedar boxes are great. You don't really need the boxes to be 10 inches deep, because that is a whole lotta Mel's Mix. But mine are 8 and 10 indches deep because that was the width of the free wood I used. Just remember to walk all the way around the box and don't try to step in or across the middle.

Please keep us posted on your progress and we pictures.

Again, Welcome!

If any of you folks in Iowa have anything out--make sure you get your covers on tonight! Hard frost is coming. I don't know if I'll be able to keep it warm enough--may lose the plants in the ground. Heading out to put cover on right now, though. Wish me luck!