This weeks 'in the garden/seedling saga...'

Sungold seedlings, spinach, some unknown sprouts in the ground from seeds that I tossed there and cannot remember which they are, zucchini, ladybug, cucumbers and basil (my how they are GROWING!), Odoriko seedlings (the most delish tomatoes for my summertime burgers!), my calendula, and cabbages both started at the same time, only one is in the ground and the others grown in pots. Hmmmmm...

March Madness

I can't believe the progress in my seedlings since just 3 days ago! Spinach, now squash has come up (zukes or patty pans, don't yet know which), 3 tomato seedlings (oh YAY!), and last but not least is my ELEVEN cucumbers and umpteen basil babies (yes, umpteen IS a number! haha)

Better now, thank you

My cucumbers are sprouting, my basil is coming up, my spinach is well on it's way and this morning, dill seeds that I was NEVER able to sprout... are sprouting! With all these tiny little friends spending time to visit, I'm feeling much better now, thank you.

Oh, and did I mention the weatherman is calling for rain on Saturday and perhaps even THUNDERSTORMS!? Imagine that, right here in our little concrete world.... {sigh}

Yes, I'm feeling better now.

Call it, Count

1..2..3..4..5..6..7..8..9..10..11! Eleven cucumber sprouts! AH AH AH AAHHHHH

Tuesday update

Spinach seedlings Basil sprouts on the left (look closely!) and 1 cucumber sprout on the right

Garden expansion - phase 1 (mean, this is as far as I got before I pooped out..)
These weeks have been going by SO slowly... It feels like Thursday but it's only Tuesday. That must mean I'm either cramming too many things into each day, or I spend too much time looking forward to the weekends. {sigh}

Garden update

Seedling count on 3/15: 2 basil, 1 cucumber, 6 spinach (along with 8 spinach planted straight in the ground).

Also planted 9 Sungolds, and was finally able to identify 70% of the seeds that I planted last week. YAY! Now if I only could read the markers for the front two planters, I'd be ok. I have to pull out my seed box and see which seeds I planted. I'll also pick up some peppers at the SCLA Master Gardener's plant sale that first weekend in April.

I started the garden extension yesterday. I measured how wide my garden currently is (roughly, with a shovel) and then doubled that space and started digging. Dig a section, turn it over so the grass is on the bottom, continue along. Once I get my photo editing software installed on this machine, I'll update pictures.

Sightings!

Last night as I was putting the seedlings to bed I thought I saw 2 spinach sprouts in the bed closest to the house. But it was late and getting dark - I checked them this afternoon and indeed, I have EIGHT sproutlings! wooooweee... plus two more, that I suspect are spinach, in my potted seedlings. I'll put both sightings on my spreadsheet below.

I'm such a proud momma...

Oh, and I transplanted 3 of the cabbage and 3 of the brussell sprouts into the bed on the other side of the yard that is now receiving sun most of the day, thanks to the shift of the sun in the sky. If they progress well, I'll transplant the others over there soon.

J and I went to dinner this evening and I told him "I need a bigger garden. I don't have enough planting space." I was shocked when he said, "then expand the garden. Take the whole grass area." and then, of course, he recommended just doubling the garden size instead. Using a napkin, we mapped out how it will be. My garden is currently about 5 feet wide, from the fence to the grassline. At that grassline, I'll put some sort of stepping stone/walkway and extend the garden another 5 feet over from that, so I can access the new portion of the garden from both sides. I may actually have room to grow out all the seeds I started last weekend. yippee! Now, when will I find time to overturn that grass/weeds to make the extension? hmmmm...

2009 Garden

Here are my current plantings for the 2009 garden:

Plant	Planting Dates	Moon Favorable	Date planted	Dates sprouts due	Date sprouts sighted	Notes
Basil			3/7	3/14-21
Cucumbers	Mar 7-Apr 15	Mar 7-10, Mar 26-Apr 9	3/7	3/12-17
Pepper plants	Mar 1-20	Mar 1-10	3/7	3/17-28
Spinach	Feb 7-Mar 15	Feb 7-9, Feb 24-Mar 10	3/7	3/14-17
Squashes	Mar 15-Apr 15	Mar 26-Apr 9	3/7	3/14-17		Zukes, Summer squash
Tomato plants	Mar 7-20	Mar 7-10	3/7	3/14-21		Odoriko, Blood Butcher

Odoriko tomatoes is a wonderful taste. I'm sure what I have is no longer true Odoriko since we've been saving seeds and planting it for about 3 years now, but they still come out about the right size and have the taste we desire so we continue to grow them each year. They are our tried and true for fresh maters. On the way home tonight I will stop by OSH and see what tomato seeds they have from Renee's Garden - since her website lists Sungold and I didn't plant those last year - I really miss my little golden candy.

My cabbage seedlings in the ground are fairing MUCH better than the seedlings in the big pot. Obviously "room" is not an issue, so the ground must be providing something that the pot isn't. I'll transplant my leftover seedlings to the real garden and see how it goes. May do the same for my brussel sprouts, since they are seriously stunted.

On the other hand, my garlic, she is happy happy happy! I can't recall all the places I've planted a garlic bulb in the backyard and then forgotten, sometimes they grow and sometimes they don't. And sometimes they grow MONTHS after planting, and I only know it's them by tasting a leaf. I love snacking off my backyard.

I have the opportunity to grow out a tomato that is considered "rare" and am quite excited. I should receive seeds soon and will care for them lovingly {I will love him and I will pet him and I will call him George} I can't wait to see how they look and especially how they taste! I have read online that they are quite delicious, even if not typically grown in my area (or even my state!)

School school school

and then, on top of school, there's more school.....