who in northern states USA has started gardening?

http://davesgarden.com/guides/articles/view/4098/

This message was edited Mar 6, 2013 2:36 AM

Ya Dave, my first fish for 2013 was the largest trout I have ever caught. A brown which I returned. However the next day I brought home two very nice rainbow trout which will in part become part of my Montana Jack pumpkin patch this year. I find it interesting how well some winter squash and pumpkins grow in our short cool season here. I can't grow a decent melon or acorn squash no mater what I try, but my pumpkins have always done well. You can practically see them grow.

Thanks for the link, mraider.

Found on a window at my rcvr this morn an couldn't resist. Am in Spokane and will be heading down to Kennewick tonite. Weather is not too bad! Looks like he is saying ' did i hear digging in the garden help needed?' I think right now the weather predictions are worse than the weather actually is...

How cute, Kittriana! What a ham!

That was is a good article I thought mraider was referring to the one that came out on March 4th but this one is from Feb 27th. You can also find the articles listed under one of the categories at the top of the page.

juhur7, those plants look wonderful to me!

Solace I agree with you about the smiling bear dog from kittriana , I laughed when I saw that , the weather is another story

My plants keep me relaxed and hoping
From this morning outside

#1 My snow capped blooming stump plant
#2 my four stemmed ice table plant
In the foreground are the button ice stick &stem plants I was thinking those might go well with your winter blooming circle leaved watering can stemmed plant... Will it ever end (winter)


Thank you for noticing the seedlings and commenting...



This message was edited Mar 7, 2013 1:30 AM

LOL. Did you ever think of being a stand up comedian, juhur? Oh the visualization on those!

They look to be performing splendidly juhur! Cold weather stuff I am not too fond of, but those are good.

ROFL^_^ Thank you,, you just have to keep them cool and give them plenty of water and they really show
They are as hardy as hickory and as durable as aluminium if you do !!!



Solace no , only my efforts at cheer and your imagination ,could sure make one!!lol ^_^

ahhh.. its starting to feel like spring here..utah.. yea !!
checked cold frame.. early morning temps are hitting mid 40sF
so..i planted early lettuce/mesclun...
i got all my dry fertilizers..
actually mowed the lawns the other day..
boy did i get looks from neighbours..LOL
they stare at me anyways.. lol :)
finally spring !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I started my first seedlings today...broccoli and cauliflower.

indy..most excellent...
i think i'll be starting my tomato seeds next week..
ya never know if its going to be a late spring/early summer
or what..
we gardeners are gamblers..:) not such a bad kind of
gambling i guess... :)
my lettuce is going great..
its outside now..
and started some early mix lettuce in cold frame..checked today..
and its up..
yea !!!

Sounds great tropicalnut and indy. I started my first ones in solo cups last weekend and most of them are up, now. Corn, several types of tomatoes, lettuce, romano and kentucky wonder beans, peas... I only have one four-foot flourescent grow lamp, and it's getting mighty crowded on that dresser thingy. It's just a dresser in one of the studios holding old equipment (in my tv days, we called that the 'morgue') and had nothing to hang the light from. I put two cement blocks standing on end on top of the dresser ends, and put the light (which is mounted on a 2x4) with the ends of the board running through the top hole to bring the light close to the plants. I can raise it to the top of the brick when the plants get taller. They all seem to be loving their new lit kingdom. The temp in there is about 87, but they're all thriving.

Edit: Oh, and I draped a space blanket over the top, so the plants on the perimeter not under the light could also get some light from the reflection. I have to raise it on one side during the day, though, due to the warmth.

This message was edited Mar 17, 2013 8:43 PM

I started some celery (just a little because I don't really need celery), trailing lobelia, and coleus on March 14th. A few of the coleus have already sprouted. It's still 2+ months before I can garden outdoors (or in the greenhouse, for that matter), but at least I have a few things growing to tide me over. Oh--I also started my tuberous begonias. They are in the garage under grow lights. I am also scrounging the neighborhood to gather fruit and vegetable scraps to make bokashi. And I have two worm bins and an electric composter going in the garage. I am SO ready for Spring!

Ice- I bet you are ready for spring. You live in such a beautiful state. Where is Palmer?

Hi Lisa...Palmer is about 35 miles North of Anchorage. I'm in a little micro-zone...a little bit colder than my immediate neighbors. In fact, my roof is the only one in the neighborhood that still has snow on it. I just came in from the greenhouse. It is 40 degrees in there--but the bags of soil are still frozen solid.

My tomato seeds are up and waving at me. I planted pepper seeds today. They should actually go with or before tomatoes, but they are a new to me seed and I just got them. Also planted a new to me romaine lettuce. Tomorrow I will add spinach to the line-up. Isn't spring always wonderful? So full of youth, energy and a brand new start. Love it. All of these in the greenhouse, of course.

Count me in! I winter sowed 22 containers of cool season veggies last week. Then temps plummeted. Tomorrow, we get snow. I thought March was supposed to go out like a lamb?

4 to 9 inches of white stuff by mon. afternoon or so they say . What a wonderful first week of spring. Have to shovel snow to plant the garden. Fred

Hi ya Fred Yeah but the onions and garlic are reaonably happy ,,,, Now if I could only turn myself into an onion or garlic plant )
Incredible isn't it?

It was a beautiful day today, 52 degrees very light wind. Worked out most of the afternoon. Realy out of shape, too many afternoon naps I guess. Fred

Jeez..it's warmer in Alaska...

I hear rumors the state of Ohio is going after Punxatawny Phil with malice aforethought...wet snow in this storm named Virgil...

1lisac, Yes, when it is warm in Alaska, you can about count on it being cold down this way. I would call it the rule of ' there is so much heat to go around' and when elsewhere has it, you may not have it.

it was pretty nice yesterday. I got all my peas in, just ahead of the snow lol. This weather is really putting a damper on my plan to try 3 season gardening this year. A venture that I am well aware would be difficult to pull off in my zone anyway. I'm sticking to the plan anyway, even though I am already starting a couple of weeks to late... ugh!

Started another flat of seeds today (up to 9 flats now). At least planting seeds gives me hope that spring is not TOO far away. As long as we get decent temps by the time I need to start potting all of these seedlings up!!! Starting to sleet right now, and it looks like the snow is not too far behind. 6-9" predicted--is that REALLY necessary????!!!!

I live about 30 miles away from Punxsutawney Phil's hideout! People around here are ready to head up there with torches and pitchforks! We're expecting 6-8" tomorrow. Blech! I was hoping to get some onions, garlic and sugar peas in by this weekend, but everything is still frozen around here!

I'm sorry you are getting such horrid weather in the Midwest and East. It's hard to work up too much sympathy, though, 'cause we here in the west had that last March Big Time!! Everyone gets their turn in the box, I guess . Hang in..... April is on it's way.

it is SPRING !! lol
mid to upper 60sF here..wow.. the birds are singing,bees are
buzzin,ok ok..enough..LOL
i dont know if i got tired of winter this yr..or what..but i am so glad its
feeling like spring !!!
actually mowed the lawn the other day..yea..my neighbours think
im nuts..:)
checked the sprinklers, lettuce is up..and yep..i planted my
tomato seeds yesterday..
to soon to start anything else i want to plant..but..hey.. winter feels
like its moving on..
im sure we'll get snow again..but the ground is warm..so it'll melt
fast..
YEA !!!!!!!!

There was a photo this morning showing cutting grass lat year at this time and the snow the same day this year , 7 to 17 degrees below normal here this year , Makes it difficult . When to do what ,,,???

patience...juhur, AFTER mid April for you on tender stuff unless you get those walls of water things. May be a good year to go into buckets as wet as you are shaping up to be....

I started tomatoes and peppers today. My broccoli, cauliflower, spinach, and a few lettuce seedlings are growing nicely. I take them outdoors every day that I can.

I am on a borrowed computer tonight , mine is gone .. Yes but I planted a few lettuces , some daylily roots , and a daffodill bulb that had been in the fridge a while , 48 TODAY and sunny . tomorrow nicer if it is maybe a little grafting practice .. OH yes and leave us not forget , I dug a hole also , by golly here !! the critters aren't the only diggers around here!!
Who's impatient??? lol
20 SOME TOMATO PLANTS, huckleberry plants , over two dozen flower plants , three cherry trees , blackberry in germination ... nobody around here ,is that impatient that I know of ..... OH YES ,AND SOME HERB PLANTS ALSO !!!LOL

Second consecutive 60 plus degree day in a row, had another one earlier this month then the temps plummeted. But supposed to stay that high now for the next couple of days.
Inside, got tomatoes started but not up yet. Peppers, cabbage, and broccoli are ready to transplant into individual pots. Already did that to the kohlrabi. Outside, got spinach and lettuce starts under plastic tunnel, and onion, leek, and shallot seed starts hardening off.
Also need to transplant flowers (snapdragons, coleus, vinca). Salvia already done. And start zinnia and marigold seeds.
Crocuses blooming where there was snow 3 days ago. Narcissus buds and anemone shoots coming up.

BTW, for people who watch the weather closely, here is a collection of some links.

The simpler sites are easier to follow, but the Weather Underground has LOTS of data.


hard copy:


Links related to weather: Forecasts, History archives, and Climate Zones

http://www.weather.com/outdoors/agriculture/growing-degree-days/98204:4
Degree Day Calculator by Zip Code

http://www.wunderground.com/cgi-bin/findweather/getForecast?query=Everett,%20Washington
Weather Underground!

http://www.weather.com/outlook/health/fitness/monthly/98204?month=0
The Weather Channel 30-Day Weather

http://www.weather.com/activities/homeandgarden/garden/index.html
The Weather Channel Garden Tips


Climate Zones:

http://www.sunset.com/garden/climate-zones/climate-zones-intro-us-map-00400000036421/
Sunset Climate Zones

http://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/PHZMWeb/InteractiveMap.aspx
USDA Hardiness Zones (average winter lows)


Koppen Climate Classification System

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/K%C3%B6ppen_climate_classification
Koppen Climate System in Wikipedia

http://people.eng.unimelb.edu.au/mpeel/koppen.html
Koppen Climate System

http://www.hydrol-earth-syst-sci.net/11/1633/2007/hess-11-1633-2007-supplement.zip
Download Maps

https://www.google.com/search?q=koppen+climate+classification+system+map&hl=en&client=firefox-a&hs=9mQ&tbo=u&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&tbm=isch&source=univ&sa=X&ei=APH-UIvfPOGJ2AXb7YCQAw&ved=0CDMQsAQ&biw=1152&bih=746
Many Koppen Maps

http://koeppen-geiger.vu-wien.ac.at/data/KoeppenGeiger.UScounty.txt
Koppen Zones by County