a few weeks ago, Dave came home with a mini-green house from (where else?) Lowe's. we quickly got it set up in the mud room, complete with a thermostat and heater, as well as some grow lights. Dave and his happy little helper wasted no time in starting some of our tomato seeds.
here's how they look today- very healthy, not too leggy, and they have a respectable showing of their second leaves. they are growing quite well, if i am permitted to brag just a bit! so far we've only started tomatoes, but soon it's time to start a plethora of other seedlings as well. tonight I'd like to sit down with Dave, and plan everything out on a spare calendar, so we can have a clearer idea of where we are going. Dave is in the process of building me a high tunnel (pictures later) and i hope to start some cold tolerant crops as early as the middle of April. we're still looking for a 2 bottom plow (with coulters) so i can plow up the lower garden for all my root crops. we're not having much luck locating one so far, but we still have a bit of time. i have grand plans for my lower garden. it's all good bottom land, with wonderful soil and nary a rock in sight. i plan on planting 50+ pounds of seed potatoes, 50 sweet potato plants, as well as carrots, onions, beets, butternut and acorn squash, pumpkins and watermelon. ( i think that's it!) i also have a gazillion marigold seeds. I'm going to plant them around the perimeter, as well as the individual rows, in hopes of keeping out the rabbits. I'll have to let you know how that goes!
here's our collection of seeds so far! i need to stay home just a bit more, i think. every time i go out running errands, i find myself drawn to the seed displays, and invariably come home with a dozen more seed packets! our pile of seeds does seem heavy on the flower side, but i do occasionally buy some vegetables.
I've probably bought far too many seeds, and come fall I'll be begging and pleading God to send the killing frost, won't You please? but for now, it's fun to daydream about the wonderful (and bounteous) garden that we'll have. and of course, we will all be happily working in the garden in the cool of the morning while wearing a straw hat. neither will there be any bugs.
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5 comments:
Oh My Goodness, that is a lot of seeds. I haven't even thought about our garden yet.
I bought some of those starter mini green houses, but never had much luck with them. But I never used a thermostat, or heater either. Maybe that's what makes the difference.
I had heard that Marigolds keep critters away, but have never tried it.
Do you have any secret tips for doing watermelon? Every year the kids try planting them but our watermelons end up the size of golf balls and then they stop growing.
We all should probably grow large vegetable gardens like you are. It's tomatoes, cucumbers, squash, zuchinni, basil, and chives for us...but then there is only the two of us...so good luck with yours Jennifer!
A greenhouse? Awesome!!
It looks like you will have a very impressive garden!
Hi Jennifer..."Her-husband" is my husband...it's a joke...I created a blog for him and named it Her Husband!...so I thought I'd call him that.
We grow a large garden every year. Even with the two of us since the kids are grown and gone, it helps. We give to friends and all and freeze most of it. I love buying seeds of all kinds. I think I may invest in a mini garden like that since plants are so expensive.
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