In the Garden: Inside and Out
I figured it was time for a garden update, to let you all know how all of the crops are doing. My raised beds are 100% full with spring crops now, I’m hoping everything will be ready to harvest by the beginning of June so I can fill them with summer crops. My grow lights (all 6 of them) are packed with plants, I’m hoping to harden some off soon so I can transplant tomatoes to bigger pots and start some squash and flower seeds.
The peas are all doing well, I didn’t get great germination with one kind, but they were seeds leftover from last year. So I’m guessing pea seed are best used up each year and fresh seed purchased each spring. Peas are one of those crops that seem like you never get much out of them, unless you’re growing the sugar snap and eating the pods. We’ll see how many I end up with. I would love a few pints for the freezer, but I don’t think that’s going to happen.
The garlic is all doing very well. I think I counted over 50 plants (no problems with vampires here). That should give us enough to eat ourselves, gifts for friends & family and we should be able to save a few for planting this fall. I’m very excited to try the various kinds I planted:
German White: A Porcelain Garlic – very rich garlic flavor, rather hot pungency when raw, harvests mid-late season, stores 8-10 months
Killarney Red: A Rocambole Garlic – very rich garlic flavor, very hot pungency when raw, harvests early-mid season, stores 5-6 months
Chesnok Red: A Purple Strip Garlic – very rich garlic flavor, medium warm pungency when raw, harvests mid-season, stores 6-8 months
Georgia Fire: A Porcelain Garlic – very rich garlic flavor, very hot pungency when raw, harvests mid-late season, stores 8-10 months
My onion seedlings are doing really well, they’re tall and you can see red on the base of the red onions. These will be going out soon since they can take some cold. As soon as the night temps remain above freezing (it was 26 last night) I’m going to harden them off and plant them outside.
The cabbage & broccoli seedlings are starting to grow like weeds, they are all about 6 inches tall. They’ll be going outside soon as well, I’m waiting for temps to stay in the 40′s (if you plant them out too soon the broccoli heads will be small, the soil should be about 60 degrees).
All of my tomato seedlings are doing quite well. It looks as though I’m going to have plenty to give to family and friends. I’m also hoping to have a good amount left so I can pot them up with care instructions and give them to the local food shelter to hand out to needy families.
How’s your garden growing inside & out?
Filed under Broccoli, Edible, garlic | Comments (17)
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Your cabbage and broccoli are impressive, and so filled out. I love the idea of giving some tomato seedlings to family and friends and the food shelter.
Lets see, my garden is growing for sure! The eggplant seedlings are flourishing in the new pots under the grow lights, though its still hard to imagine these little things will bear eggplant. I guess I just have to trust nature though, huh? I planted opo squash again, since the first batch suffered for lack of grow lights, as well as cilantro last weekend, and have been checking them *several* times a day in hopes of seeing that first green. The strawberry and blueberry plants came right back to life after I got them in pots, and I’m hoping the weather is good so as to move them outside soon. Have you ever planted either of those?
Mangochild’s last blog post.. Seedling Update: Transplanting and New “Adoptees”
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I put in strawberry & blueberries last year, but I put them directly outside after I got them.
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COOOOOL. You’re way ahead of us. I got all excited yesterday because one of my bell pepper plants finally came up. Still no sign of my leeks at all, even though the onions are already up. I seem to be cursed when it comes to leeks. We’re a long way away from putting anything in the ground, though, so they have some time.
kristin’s last blog post.. A Matter of Life and Death
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I love those photos of your peas. Mine are just coming up right now. I’ve got my broccoli in the garden surrounded by water filled soda bottles and under a row cover. I’m hoping that means they won’t button, but only time will tell. If they do well there is always the fall.
Daphne’s last blog post.. Edging the Perennial Bed
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We have various things starting but i am most excited about our garlic! We do german white and chesnok red as well. Music is my favorite though. Anyhow, it is doing great so far!
warren’s last blog post.. Yeah, I eat salad…what of it?
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Everything looks so lovely, Susy! and so healthy! Great job!
deborah’s last blog post.. April is the cruelest month…
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Everything is looking wonderful. Im sure you will enjoy all those tasty veggies. Especially the garlic!
michelle’s last blog post.. Let the Plant Hording Begin!
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We are super excited about the garlic, we eat garlic in everything! I’m also super excited about all my onions. I hope they grow really nicely and store well. I would love to not have to buy onions next winter.
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Everything looks really good. I like that idea of giving extra plants to a local food shelter. I wouldn’t have thought of that. Thanks!
Sande’s last blog post.. A Fond Farewell to Brown
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I think that donating plants is a great way to encourage people to provide a little more for themselves. Tomatoes are so easy to grow in a pot and if people see how easy and how great it is to grow their own veggies, they might be encouraged to grow more things next year. Providing for yourself can be an empowering thing!
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Your seedlings and transplants look so good. Now that I finally have a new light system up, I am hoping that my indoor starts will do better.
Andres’s last blog post.. Seed Starting Setup
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What a great idea for your extra seedlings. I wonder if our food bank would take them…
Stephany’s last blog post.. No turning back now…
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I put my onions out in the cold frame about a week ago, they are enjoying all the sunshine we had this past week. The broccoli’s I potted up a week ago and they are living in the cold frame as well. It is surprising how fast they bulk/stiffen up once they get real sun. My recommended plant date for brassica’s is April 20th but I think I will hold off another week so they can root into their new pots.The inside stuff is doing well, the tomatoes & peppers are getting huge. I’ll do a photographic update tomorrow.
Dan’s last blog post.. My first compost post
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Your peas look great! Well, everything looks great. Way ahead of me:)
Teri’s last blog post.. 105/365
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I love the idea of donating your extra seedlings. That’s wonderful! You’re so thoughtful!
Allie’s last blog post.. My Oasis to Rally Upon
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Hi,
I love your blog and pictures! Your seedlings look healthy and happy. I’m new at starting veggies by seed and so far so good with the sprouting. I was hoping you could offer me tips on when to transplant my tomatoes to larger containers (what to look for) right now they are pretty small but have the two leaves (seed leaves?) at top. I was thinking when it’s time to move them they should move to a 4 inch pot? Also at that point should I keep the light on for them :) Thanks ahead for any advice!
Sarah´s last blog ..My Seedlings
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I wait until my plants have a few true leaves to transplant (of course it depends on what size pot you have them in originally. You don’t want the root to become potbound in the pot, so you can monitor the roots. When you start seeing them on the outside of the soil in the pot you can transplant to a larger sized pot.
Here’s a great post that explains my transplanting system for tomato seedlings: http://chiotsrun.com/2009/04/20/repotting-tomato-seedlings/
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