January in the Midwest!! (to be continued)

Hmmmm, I wonder what that could mean......stay tuned for some excitement!! (I figure we have a little time before talking gardening in January)

But, one quick tip: Refresh yourself with your frost dates. You may need to start that broccoli indoors this month!! Spring's a comin'...

I'll be quick again. But, as some of you have noticed, we have a new Co-Host to the region!! Please take the time to say hi to Llama Momma. She graciously stepped up and offered to help out. She has a ton of energy and we will be collaborating on a lot of things around here to keep the fun going.

Also, stop over to the Upper South and congratulate Madnicmom on her new hosting duties for that region. If you are in the southern portion of the Midwest, follow her, too. The climates are similar. She isn't gone. She promised ( ) to continue hanging around here because otherwise her contributions would be greatly missed.

Llama (Gina) and I are putting our heads together and getting on the same page. January may be the time of year to do this since I don't think anyone is hanging by a thin thread waiting for the pearls of gardening tips January contains. Rest assured, we'll get there.

In the meantime, order your seeds if you need some....don't let them get back-ordered on you. And, refresh yourself with your starting dates indoors if you like getting head starts. The longer crops like broccoli and cauliflower need to be starting soon. And, believe it or not, tomatoes aren't that far behind, either.

BackyardBirdGardner wrote:She graciously stepped up and offered to help out.

Gina, and

Windsor.Parker (Lee)

Thanks for volunteering Llama! Your biggest job will be keeping BBG in line! I'm sure Boffer and Josh will be glad to help, and Rooster will referee all.



Thanks for the reminder to check our calendars for seed starting BBG! Last year I started my seedlings in late March instead of the end of Feb. because of a vacation (have to go when Hubby feels up to it!) so this year I am starting EARLY, which means only a few more short weeks.



Happy gardening wishes to all in the Midwest!



GG

January Goose Report:

Well, it is January 7th, and I just got done with the Fall clean-up of my iris beds in the front yard. Yep, Fall clean-up! Between work and every flu, cold, sinus infection, allergy, etc. that has been common to the area, I just never got the front yard finished. Figured the snow would cover the mess until Spring when I would have more time and energy. Well, I have more time and energy now, and no snow to cover up the mess, and it is 41 degrees, so I got out the clippers and the rake and a flat piece of cardboard (5'x9') to drag the clippings/rakings back to the compost pile. 5 heaping cardboard loads later, I am done. My compost pile that was 6'x8' is now 12'x8', approx. 3' high. And..........under all that mess that was in the front yard..........my irises are sprouting. SPROUTING IN JANUARY!!!!! Makes me want to start some seeds!

Stay tuned for February Goose Report from the GNotSoWN!

GG

Goosegirl wrote:Thanks for volunteering Llama! Your biggest job will be keeping BBG in line! I'm sure Boffer and Josh will be glad to help, and Rooster will referee all.

Thanks for the reminder to check our calendars for seed starting BBG! Last year I started my seedlings in late March instead of the end of Feb. because of a vacation (have to go when Hubby feels up to it!) so this year I am starting EARLY, which means only a few more short weeks.

Happy gardening wishes to all in the Midwest!
GG

Likewise GG!

Goosegirl wrote:January Goose Report:
Well, it is January 7th, and I just got done with the Fall clean-up of my iris beds in the front yard. Yep, Fall clean-up! Between work and every flu, cold, sinus infection, allergy, etc. that has been common to the area, I just never got the front yard finished. Figured the snow would cover the mess until Spring when I would have more time and energy. Well, I have more time and energy now, and no snow to cover up the mess, and it is 41 degrees, so I got out the clippers and the rake and a flat piece of cardboard (5'x9') to drag the clippings/rakings back to the compost pile. 5 heaping cardboard loads later, I am done. My compost pile that was 6'x8' is now 12'x8', approx. 3' high. And..........under all that mess that was in the front yard..........my irises are sprouting. SPROUTING IN JANUARY!!!!! Makes me want to start some seeds!
Stay tuned for February Goose Report from the GNotSoWN!
GG

Makes me want a greenhouse!

Windsor.Parker wrote:

Goosegirl wrote:January Goose Report:
........ And..........under all that mess that was in the front yard..........my irises are sprouting. SPROUTING IN JANUARY!!!!! Makes me want to start some seeds!
Stay tuned for February Goose Report from the GNotSoWN!
GG

Makes me want a greenhouse!

If I were to get a greenhouse, we would get 6 ft of snow and I would never be able to get to it! Say, there's an idea! If I invest in a greenhouse I can almost GUARANTEE SNOW!

GG

GG,
Good weather the past few weeks allowed me to finish Fall "clean-up"!
Lot's of plants to move/save in preparation for Spring SFG!
Compost pile here expanded, too!

Since snowfall began here this morning and is forecast to continue for the next few days...
No more outside work for now!
Still keeping busy indoors however with cuttings and transplants, more inspirational reading in ANSFG, SFG planning, design, and scheduling tasks...
Which may all be conducted from my easy chair.

But wait, there's more MM to blend and store...
Lee

Windsor.Parker wrote:
Since snowfall began here this morning and is forecast to continue for the next few days...
No more outside work for now!
Still keeping busy indoors however with cuttings and transplants, more inspirational reading in ANSFG, SFG planning, design, and scheduling tasks...
Which may all be conducted from my easy chair.
Lee

I'm all for the easy chair winter work as well! Yesterday we got 1" of sleet/ice, covered by another 1" of snow, now 30 mph gusts making it hard to see the ice. Supposed to be -5 tonight. Time to curl up with the ANSFG + a few warm cats and re-read and dream
GG

My order of heirloom seeds arrived today.....along with wind and 5 inches of snow!! Spent a good part of the afternoon planning. Will start seedling trays soon....just have to figure a way to keep them warm and well-lighted so they actually grow this year! I saw in Menards a heated mat that goes under the seedling tray to keep it warm. Anybody have any experience with that? Is it something worthwhile (especially since the only place I have to put seedling trays is on the 3-season porch) or just a gimmick? Also, would a full-spectrum light work for plants or do I need an actual "grow light"?

laurainwinona wrote:My order of heirloom seeds arrived today.....along with wind and 5 inches of snow!! Spent a good part of the afternoon planning. Will start seedling trays soon....just have to figure a way to keep them warm and well-lighted so they actually grow this year! I saw in Menards a heated mat that goes under the seedling tray to keep it warm. Anybody have any experience with that? Is it something worthwhile (especially since the only place I have to put seedling trays is on the 3-season porch) or just a gimmick? Also, would a full-spectrum light work for plants or do I need an actual "grow light"?

They do work, and the full-spectrum lights seem to be fine as well if you don't want to go with the whole plant set up. I use my old heating pad (yep, the one I use on my sore back) and some ordinary 18" under-counter fluorescent lights and they work just fine - as long as I remember to turn them on and off! Make sure that you remember to turn the heat mat off when you turn the lights off at night, otherwise it throws off their growth cycle.
GG

I'm using a regular old 4' shop light and it works just fine.

Ah! a heating pad! What a great idea, Goosegirl! I think I have one, too, so I can save myself $20. I bought a full spectrum lamp for sleep-cycle issues and thought I'd kill two birds with one stone, so to speak, especially since it would be awkward to hang a large or shop light in the area where I put my seedling trays.

Thanks, Goosegirl and nKedrOoStEr!!

I'm looking forward to spring and all things garden as I listen to the beeping and scraping of the snow-removal crew outside!

laurainwinona wrote: I bought a full spectrum lamp for sleep-cycle issues and thought I'd kill two birds with one stone, so to speak, especially since it would be awkward to hang a large or shop light in the area where I put my seedling trays.

I got the 18" Under Counter lights because I knew I would have a hard time sneaking a 4' shoplight past Hubby! So far I have been using 3 that hang side by side to make a good-sized square of light, but I got 3 more for this coming season. Now if I can just get the heating pad away from my hairless cat!

GG

Goosegirl wrote: Now if I can just get the heating pad away from my hairless cat! GG

Poor Kitty! I understand.
Kitty in Winter!

camprn wrote:

Goosegirl wrote: Now if I can just get the heating pad away from my hairless cat! GG

Poor Kitty! I understand.
Kitty in Winter!

It was hard to stop watching these!
GG

Indoor update! Got my seed-starting cabinet down into the basement with only minimal complications. I cleared the way, Hubby helped get it down the stairs, and even figured out how to make it fit. Former owners put in a drop-ceiling that is NON-removable. I was ready to smack the cabinet with a hammer and let it dig a trench in the ceiling tiles as it tilted upright, but fortunately Hubby is a master solver of problems and I have the the powertools! At his suggestion I got out the circular saw and cut the 4" riser off the bottom of the cabinet to be able to stand it upright but it is now ready for me to install the lights. I have made enough noise around the house for one day. Margarita now, pics later.

GG

Now, if I can find the heating pad..... it went down to 5 below last night! I guess it finally decided to be winter. But, I am having fun planning!! Have fun planning and dreaming of spring, everyone!

laurainwinona wrote:Now, if I can find the heating pad..... it went down to 5 below last night! I guess it finally decided to be winter. But, I am having fun planning!! Have fun planning and dreaming of spring, everyone!

Watch out tonight! It is supposed to be -17 here, and you are not far from me! I need one BIG heating pad!

GG