2021 Garden
19 Jan 2021 02:21 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
ursulas_alcoveSo many plans! But pretty much the same as last year. The goal is to produce more food than ever before. To do that, I needed some basics for season extension. Grow lights are in short supply around here. Actually, all light bulbs are in short supply, but that's another story. At present, I have 2 sets of grow lights, one red spectrum and one blue. Apparently, the red spectrum is for flowering plants and blue for leafy plants. I am finding that my eyes hate the blue light. The lettuce likes the red light better. Once I start planting, I don't think the seedlings care. It's more about distance from tray to light source. This is what I have presently:
As you can see, those light fixtures are in use. I need some for this year's indoor starts. I don't have a greenhouse. I just have a basement. To get started, I need lights, soil, seeds, and space. For summer plants, I''ll need heat as well. Moisture/humidity is another issue. For season extension, I'll be planting onions, celery, chard, and cabbage in February. (Info- agricultural zones are about your coldest temperature, not your last frost date. Last frost dates are based on probability. Where I live, the average is May 13th. Many years (90%) that date is April 25th, but other years, May 30th (10 %).) In March, they will need to be transplanted into larger containers. At that time, I'll be starting summer related crops like tomatoes. marigolds, herbs, and some other flowers. Cucurbits (melons, squash, cucumbers) get planted closest to my last frost date. I can stall tomatoes by transplanting into a larger container, but squash and cucumbers, no. There are other crops that will be sown directly outside and those have their own schedule. Among them are carrots, spinach and beans. The jury is still out on potatoes. I have a fire ring already seeded with potatoes from last fall. Any potato that was green at harvest time became a seed potato. I have more potatoes in the basement for seed. Soil is what is in short supply and costs a mint here. I'd rather reserve my soil for seed starting than filling potato beds or grow bags. I just do not have enough compost. For your area, pickup a planting guide based on the number of weeks to back off of your own average last frost date for season extension.
I picked up another heating pad with a bag of compost for seed starting, coconut coir, and some seeds. Because I seed-save, I need very little in the way of seeds. I am going to give onions one more try from seed. When the orders come in, it's like Christmas all over again. Marshmallows are called for in some medicinal recipes. I am gradually learning more about medicinals. I like to try new techniques and recipes each year. It happened rather randomly that Fruition Seeds had exactly what I needed this year. I have bought from a lot of different companies. Fruition's climate is similar and I've had better luck with germination.
Next on my list is lighting. I have to call the hardware store to see what I can get. Another thing I need is a pole saw. I've been wanting one for a while now. The price just keeps going up. Next month, I'll be placing my orders for perennials. I have no idea whether there will be a shortage like last year or not. I have to be able to plant my perennials before April 23rd. The weather can turn at that point and the stock dies. Wish me luck!
The goal as always is about 500 pounds of food. I don't have enough compost to push the envelope higher. I also believe I don't have the time to preserve more food than that. Infrastructure expenditures were expected. I have a budget each year for the garden which is why I still need to add perennials. I need a dwarf fruit tree, late season blueberries, and black currants in the front yard. I need another goumi and gooseberries in the back yard. They double as a deer barrier. The wicked thorns are a deterrent. Eventually, I need to build trellises for grapes and blackberries. They may get incorporated into fencing. Grapes will wait for another year.
In the upcoming months, I'll be exploring water harvesting, and crop protection.
Tip: if you are planning to grow sweet potatoes, January is the best time to get slips starts in a sunny window.
As you can see, those light fixtures are in use. I need some for this year's indoor starts. I don't have a greenhouse. I just have a basement. To get started, I need lights, soil, seeds, and space. For summer plants, I''ll need heat as well. Moisture/humidity is another issue. For season extension, I'll be planting onions, celery, chard, and cabbage in February. (Info- agricultural zones are about your coldest temperature, not your last frost date. Last frost dates are based on probability. Where I live, the average is May 13th. Many years (90%) that date is April 25th, but other years, May 30th (10 %).) In March, they will need to be transplanted into larger containers. At that time, I'll be starting summer related crops like tomatoes. marigolds, herbs, and some other flowers. Cucurbits (melons, squash, cucumbers) get planted closest to my last frost date. I can stall tomatoes by transplanting into a larger container, but squash and cucumbers, no. There are other crops that will be sown directly outside and those have their own schedule. Among them are carrots, spinach and beans. The jury is still out on potatoes. I have a fire ring already seeded with potatoes from last fall. Any potato that was green at harvest time became a seed potato. I have more potatoes in the basement for seed. Soil is what is in short supply and costs a mint here. I'd rather reserve my soil for seed starting than filling potato beds or grow bags. I just do not have enough compost. For your area, pickup a planting guide based on the number of weeks to back off of your own average last frost date for season extension.
I picked up another heating pad with a bag of compost for seed starting, coconut coir, and some seeds. Because I seed-save, I need very little in the way of seeds. I am going to give onions one more try from seed. When the orders come in, it's like Christmas all over again. Marshmallows are called for in some medicinal recipes. I am gradually learning more about medicinals. I like to try new techniques and recipes each year. It happened rather randomly that Fruition Seeds had exactly what I needed this year. I have bought from a lot of different companies. Fruition's climate is similar and I've had better luck with germination.
Next on my list is lighting. I have to call the hardware store to see what I can get. Another thing I need is a pole saw. I've been wanting one for a while now. The price just keeps going up. Next month, I'll be placing my orders for perennials. I have no idea whether there will be a shortage like last year or not. I have to be able to plant my perennials before April 23rd. The weather can turn at that point and the stock dies. Wish me luck!
The goal as always is about 500 pounds of food. I don't have enough compost to push the envelope higher. I also believe I don't have the time to preserve more food than that. Infrastructure expenditures were expected. I have a budget each year for the garden which is why I still need to add perennials. I need a dwarf fruit tree, late season blueberries, and black currants in the front yard. I need another goumi and gooseberries in the back yard. They double as a deer barrier. The wicked thorns are a deterrent. Eventually, I need to build trellises for grapes and blackberries. They may get incorporated into fencing. Grapes will wait for another year.
In the upcoming months, I'll be exploring water harvesting, and crop protection.
Tip: if you are planning to grow sweet potatoes, January is the best time to get slips starts in a sunny window.
no subject
Date: 21 Jan 2021 04:02 am (UTC)you might find them easier for valentines day? I'd need to look at menards
they said in the last year blue trashes human eyes so its not surprise it hurts. mylar as a curtain on the side next to you might be a good barrier and it will double the light.