oh my,can't wait for spring....

I can't stand being so cold!  Well the house is a normal 70-72 degrees but I am at the end of a cold that started two days ago.   So I am sitting here with chills, not very happy!

January 26th, month is almost over.  I have been happy to see my seedlings popping up that were planted last week.

Here are my geranium seedlings.  Happy to report all 13 seeds have sprouted.  Misspoke myself last time, these will be planted in individual cells when the first true leaves come out, not the second.  

These are yellow onion seedlings popping up, will put these here and there around the vege bed.

Was happy to see this, it is (common) lavender finally sprouting.  The seeds were a few years old and not sure if they were viable.   Hoping for a few more in the weeks to come.  Probably will get fresh lavender seed if no more pop up.

Last picture for today is snapdragon seedlings.  I put a ton of these seeds in this pot, again because they were old.  Will let them grow to a few inches before I even attempt to separate them.

So when I need a touch of spring I go and look at all of these.  My big grow light setup is in the converted garage room where it is alot cooler than where they are now, but I have some soil heating coils.....not sure if will use it or not.  Plants I have indoors to overwinter are on the shelf, just didn't put on the lights yet as it gets sun most of the day and they are ok.  Seedlings, however, are a different story and will need the lights on.  I keep my lights on about 16 hrs a day.  Not too worried about them growing fast, which is why I am not too concerned about the cool room......time will tell.

Next week I should start some herbs, which I was thinking of doing this week but with all the cold snowy weather around here, decided to put it off.  So worried the spring will be very cool and don't want to hold plants indoors any longer than necessary.   My little greenhouse (more like a plastic tent) is not heated and the plants need to be hardened off some before I put them outside in there.  Again, that is a good 2 months away at least.

Off to get something else warm in me and maybe some food (really don't feel like eating).  Being sick is such a pain!  LOL!!

Keep warm my friends and think spring!

Deb

So outside today is is snowing like crazy, but I was pleasantly surprised to find this today

These are geranium seedlings, my first ones for 2014.  The seeds were put overnight (18th) in wet paper towel to crack the seedlings, and the seeds were planted in soil on the 19th.  Only three days to sprout!!!!    Once they get two sets of true leaves (what you are seeing are the seed leaves), they will be potted into individual pots.    This makes all the snow tolerable today!

Keep warm my friends!

Deb

Ok, just had to start seeds today.  Not that this is a bad thing, except for yellow onion seed the rest were flowers.  What went in the dirt today?
Begonia-dragon wing pink
Flowering maple
Blue bronze viola
Dwarf snapdragons
Viola-blue/yellow

So the gardening season has officially begun, there is soil undert fingernails!!!
Sorry, planting makes me happy.   Now the long wait for something to sprout, which will be most likely a good two weeks, sigh....

Until next time!

Deb

Welcome to Gardening at the Litter Homestead!

"Gardening is cheaper than therapy.....and you get flowers!"

Welcome to my new blog, one that will be following me through my 2014 garden.  Love the peony pictured above?  That was from last year's garden.  That flower was bigger than my hand, just gorgeous!

Today is January 18th, can't believe the month is half over already.  But now I am excited because seed starting time is close.  Yes I am one of those who loves to start EVERYTHING from seed.  

For those who have never started your own veges and flowers from seed, it is a very rewarding (and at times frustrating) hobby.  Besides you know you are not getting transplants that contain any chemicals......have seen recent articles saying not to buy transplants from anyone but a local farm market because many of them have chemicals already in the transplant that are not good.   For those of you wanting to try, there are so many great websites (Organicgardening.com is one) to help you learn about seed starting.  Supplies are not expensive at all, and once you realized how many different varieties of flowers and veges you can start that would not be offered in the stores or markets, well it it addicting!  LOL!

Timing is important in seed starting.  I found a wonderful seed starting chart on the website for Johnny's Selected Seeds (http://www.johnnyseeds.com/t-interactivetools.aspx?source=W_GrowGuide_122013).....just plop in your average last frost date (April 25th around these parts) and it does the rest!  You can find your average frost dates through the USDA website or your local County Extension office or website.  

As far as garden planning, I found that I liked the Square Foot Gardening system of planting.  You can find the book at any library or online, they even have their own website  (http://squarefootgardening.org/).  Basically you figure your planting in one square foot, depending on the plant is how many of each plant you put in that square foot, ex. 1 tomato plant or 9 spinach plants or 16 radishes.......check out the website for more information.  Really makes sense and you will be amazed how much produce you can grow in a 4 sq.ft. garden!

Enough gabbing........what is on tap for this weekend?  It is about 14 weeks to my last average frost date, not too much I can get started.  I am going to be starting geranium and begonia seeds tomorrow as they need time to grow.  May even start some onions.  Herb seeds can be started anytime as they make good indoor winter plants....I actually planted lavender seeds on the 13th because I wanted to plant something!  LOL!!!

 You will find it hard not to start alot of seeds, but when they are started too early, you end up with not the best plants.  And the way this winter has been so cold, am afraid we are going to have a chilly spring.  

Well off to do some more planning....I have already made a list of the seeds I still have and just got my new seed order in yesterday!  :-)  Just can't wait to get outside and get my hands in the soil! 

Until next time.....

Debbie