Southern gardeners need to talk about spring!

It is still raining here. We have over 4 inches already. We were getting desperate for rain, it has been a very dry year and a half.

Gymgirl - I'm envious of anyone who can back-up a car/trailer combo. I've never learned how to parallel park!

Oh, no, HonebeeNC!

It's not that kind of party! This is just the receiver hitch so I can hook up a simple cargo carrier on the back of the car. It's the flat, square carrier with the short sides. Long enough to hold a couple large bags of MG potting mix, from HD to the house. Or a stack of buckets, or a few garbage bags going to the landfill!

It'll save me having to find/rent a truck every time I wanna move something from point A to point B.

Although, I have backed up a trailer hitched to a Navigator....it is a definite navigation skill I have YET to master!

Hugs!

Linda, just invest in a Bobcat!

LOL!

I learned to back a dump trailer hooked to a one ton flat bed. Bud was at the other farm turning compost with the Bobcat and loading it on the dump trailer and I was driving it back here. When I got here I realized I had to blind side it into a spot beside the garden without running over inground sprinklers or the fence (and barn, etc). The first time backing up I would stop, check where the trailer was, pull ahead, readjust......took a while. Now I can do it with one shot!
I love using the bobcat, we have a small one for around the garden, it is an MT53 and is so easy to operate (unlike the T-300 or the S-160 which Bud can operate like he was born in one but I can't quite get the hang of)

Gymgirl - I have a Toyota Matrix hatchback which is handy for hauling small stuff. I can also get 8ft pine boards inside by folding down the front and rear passenger seats. BUT - I still miss my VAN! If my crystal ball had said I was going to be laid off from my job, I never would have sold it! (sigh)

Cala-the reason you learned how to back up the trailer is becauase Bud was at the other farm. LOL If I can do it anybody can.

Yes, that is why I had to back it up. I couldn't go back with it loaded. First thing I did was pass up the farm road, so had to back straight up and then turn in. I didn't dare back that far, so I drove in straight. The only way out was to turn around! It took a while but I figured it out. (I still don't like to do it, in fact, I don't like to drive at all. Sometimes I go months without driving)

1Lisac,
You were soooooo right about my babies being hungry! Since I've been using the MG Plant food, they are greening up, getting fatter, and putting out more leaves!

Next time I won't wait so long to feed them!

I started 6 flats of medium- to early-season tomatoes this evening. Didn't conduct the additional experiment of 50-50% Sunshine Mix+ RO combined, compared to the same seeds sowed in 100% RO.

But, I'll be able to observe how the seedlings perform in a 50% mix. It'll also give me an idea of just how potent the RO additives are!

Linda

I sowed six more flats of seeds yesterday: Sioux (NOT Super Sioux); Kimberly; Beauty; and a couple Tumbler (red cherries).

I was too tired to track another experiment, but, I mixed roughly equal parts of the Sunshine Plug and Seed Starter mix with the Roots Organic potting soil. I sowed 2 seeds in each 6 oz. yogurt cup, and watered in with warm water. Shoved the trays into large drawstring plastic bags, and set them in the warm room.

We shall see how fast they come up, and what they look like after they get up.

Mostly, I'll be interested in how quickly they develop a 2nd set of true leaves, and how robust the seedlings are at 21 days (targeted potting up day).

Linda

I still haven't planted my seeds! I need to get crackin!

Uh, I made an interesting discovery. I mixed the Sunshine and the Roots Organic 50-50% to pot up my tomato seedlings. Now, I've got to remember NOT to add any MG Water Soluble fertilizer to the water, because the RO already has nutrients, and I'll end up OVER-fertilizing, and burning up my plants (AGAIN!!!)


aaaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrgggggggggggghhhhhhhhh!!!!!!

Linda

seriously .....

SERIOUSLY....

Gymgirl - I have two watering cans in my garden room. One has plain water, the other fertilizer water. If you had the same system, you could either hide the fertilizer one, or write yourself a note and stick it on the container. LOL

I forgot. Last night I sowed a DEEP flat of Bloomsdale Longstanding Spinach...a girl can wish, can't she?

My last effort failed because I did not account for the LONG spinach taproot in a shallow flat. This time, I rescued some deep, clear plastic baby spring mix containers, about 7-8" deep. I only sowed six (6) seeds in the flat, two rows about 4" apart, and 6" apart in each row. That should be good spacing, so they're not crowded.

I'm counting on 45-54 more days of cool weather...the Groundhog said so.

Linda

" Didn't conduct the additional experiment of 50-50% Sunshine Mix+ RO combined, compared to the same seeds sowed in 100% RO." So all the seeds are sown in the 1/2 and 1/2 mixture?

You still may have to feed them, but the seedlings will let you know.

I do the same thing Bee but I cant hide it because then I forget about it, have to put a note on it. lol

Stephanie-I havent gotten all my personal seedlings started, I just figure I wont have to take care of them as long.

1Lisac,
The six flats I just sowed are in the 50-50 mixture. There are other flats that have 100% Sunshine, and flats with 100% RO.

The Sunshine mix your using has no fertilizer or order amendments? Did you use any just straight Sunshine mix fir this latest batch of seeds?

No. This latest batch is in the 50-50 mix. The FIRST batch was in the 100% Sunshine mix. In between, I did a couple more flats with 100% RO.

Linda, can't you start the spinach directly outside? It will germinate in 45 degree temps, no problem. There are a couple of heat tolerant varieties, one is Tyee and the other is Pigeon, with the last one being the most heat tolerant. High Mowing Seeds has both. Both have savoy leaves. I also grew a smooth leaf one several years ago that was very heat tolerant, will have to dig out the records and see what it was.

Suzanne,
I've planted the spinach in a "living" salad bowl! Before I put anything down in my yard, I have to get the gazillions of sowbugs under control. I'm also going to work on constructing a raised, table tank (a partially closed hydroponic system) specifically for growing lettuce and spinach. It is a beautiful thing.

Here's a picture and a link to the discussion thread.

Here's the discussion I had with Hilo_Sun (Hawaii) regarding his table tank. I'm trying to remember the thread we were on where the construction instructions were. There's a link on Google. (Static Hydroponic Systems)

Basically, it's just a 2 x 4 box frame (you don't need a bottom if you sit the frame on a sheet of plywood...) lined with 6 mil plastic. Then, the tank is filled with the fertilizer solution. Finally, styrofoam sheets are cut to fit the top, holes are drilled in the styrofoam, and the net pots set just so the bottoms touch the fertilizer solution in the tank.

It works almost exactly like the original eBucket designs we used with a suspended wick.

As the roots grow downward into the water, they will begin drawing up the water, lowering the water level. An airspace will be created such that there will be some roots suspended in that airspace, while the remaining roots will be submerged into the fertilizer solution.

Isn't that lettuce gorgeous?? I'm thinking this may help in my war against all the pillbugs in my yard!!! At least I could see them on the tank cover and sprinkly some Sluggo Plus up there to be prepared for them -- if they dare climb that high!!!

Linda

Can I just say this? Every time I read the topic of this thread I always think, "As long as we just talk about it and don't actually have to DO anything, I'm good with that!" LOL

Today I'm planting onions!! I also think I'll finally start some seeds of some kind. You know, tomatoes and bell peppers.

Go for it.

Stephanietx,
What kind of onions are you planting? I have a whole box of onion sets I ordered months ago and missed the plant out timing. I'm thinking I need to wait some more to plant them . They'll take a minimum of 6 months, and they'll do the right thing in the middle of winter. So, starting them out around June should put me in some good space. Last year, I was HARVESTING tomatoes in June...duh...I had planted them out on January 8, 2011.

I ordered 1015Ys and a short day mix from Dixondale. Per my post above they double shipped me, so I've got TONS of onions!! LOL The short day mix includes 1015s, Texas Early White, and Red Creole. It's the first year I've planted the sampler.

I am behind on planting my onions also. I meant to get them out last month but still haven't transplanted them all.

I did at least get my onions in on time. I don't plant to meet the market like Calalily, but I did put in a variety totaling about 700 plants. All short-day, from Dixondale, including Texas 1015, Bermuda, Early White, Creole, and the Hybrid Southern Belle. Luckily, my daughter and her husband were here over the Christmas break, and they planted most of them for me.

Most seem to be doing okay, but they haven't really taken off. Last year they were really growing well and we had the big freeze. At this point there isn't that much new top growth. I need to pull up one or two to check the root growth.

David

Gymgirl - I think onions need to grow during a period when days are getting longer. If you set out your onions in June, the days will be getting shorter.

I could be wrong - maybe Horseshoe knows...

My onions and garlic all get planted in the fall and on New Year's Day. They alway seem to "exist" through the first month or two. Just getting greener and maybe growing a bit above ground but really setting up a root system below. Once the soil reached they temp they want they just fairly expode with growth. As they just start to bulb up I add fertilizer (last year bulb-tone, haven't decided this year). Ken-boy advised me on when to plant and so far it has turned out to be very good advice. So hang in there. All will be revealed in the onion dept!

I'm working on my rose beds this weekend. Maybe more peas and lettuce, too. Oh and more radishes. And more tomato seeds to start.

A fun time of year =D!

Just had to share this :)

First bloom on the 'First Love' gardenia I bought about a month ago. Its 4 1/2 inches wide O_o

If the smell is as gorgeous as that bloom is, WELL DONE!

Oh, that is gorgeous!! What a good photo as well. It really captures the texture of the petals. Sigh....so pretty.

Oh,wow, that is a sight. I don't get gardenias till after June. pretty!

Thinking of spring here.

Still harvesting broccoli, chard, kale, turnips, beets, arugula, spinach and carrots from fall sowing.

Planted onions mid January, bonnie reds, sweet reds and texas super sweets.

Sowed tomatoes last week, heidi, gold nugget, jubilee, yellow brandywine, rutgers, purple calabash, blk krim, yellow pear, super sweet 100s, and ceylon.

Need a few dry days (can't believe I'm saying that) to get soil tilled then hope to get more beets and carrots sowed before the end of the month.

Okay, I don't feel TOO bad since Lynnea just sowed her tomatoes last week!

Lynnea, are you coming to round up??

I think it was a record for me to get them sown that early.lol

I hope I can go to the RU, I won't have anything to bring, it's been a flurry of activity around here and I haven't rooted or sown a single non veggie this year. I'll know more closer to the date. I really need to get out of the house and talk to grown ups :0)

One more flower post! Last one, I promise.

Just picked a couple roses from my garden:

'Rock n' Roll
'Double Delight'
'Chris Evert'
Either 'Oklahoma' or 'Olympiad' (I can't remember which bush is which)


Oh and now back on topic, all my veggies came up after the weird weeks of cloudy and drizzly weather. Sweet corn, carrots, tomatoes, and onions are all up and growing. I can't wait!

Oh they are beautiful. When I lived in SoCal I grew roses here I just have a couple climbers. This weather is crazy.