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ursulas_alcoveI keep a log book for the garden. It helps make sure I don't miss my timing on planting. It took me a long time to figure out when to plant what. Everything is based on your last frost date. My goodness, does that vary! Spring varies the most. One year our last frost date was in February. Another year, it was in June. I checked with all different kinds of online information. For years, I had assumed our frost date was April 15th. With climate change and a wobbling polar air mass, there really is no telling. In theory, there is a range from 5% to 95% of frost dates based on historical weather data. The Phipps Conservatory in Pittsburgh says our average last frost date is May 15th. Who to believe and what to do?
Two years out of the last 10, we had frost while I was gone at a fiber show on Memorial Day weekend. There was nothing I could do. I wasn't home to cover up the plants. Since then, I have invested in Agribon row covers and hoops. Now I can set the garden up before I leave, knowing it will be okay until I return. I picked up the hoops from Gardeners Supply. I picked up the Agribon from Johnnie's Seeds. So many places sell similar products, I'm sure you can find something to work.
Typically, in mid to third week of February, I plant celery, onions, brassicas, and chard indoors. It happens to be around 12-14 weeks from the frost date. They are cool weather plants. Brassicas are cabbage, broccoli, Brussel sprouts, cauliflower, and I think Collard Greens. In mid-March, I transplant them into bigger containers. This year, some are getting hardened off and going straight into the garden. I started the process of hardening off about a week ago. They need 7 to 10 days to harden off. My "starts' are used to the cool temperature of the basement already so it is not too much of a stretch. Some will have to endure 27 degrees night time temperatures. Because of that, they are getting put in an area where concrete absorbs heat all day and will radiate it at night. The only things transplanted, outside in the ground are spinach, and onions. I also did not plant them all. I held some back just in case.
I know my weather. It's different from yours. Peas also go into the ground, direct sow, about mid-March. I replanted today. Take a look at what happened there: https://youtu.be/GcMhSBx4uzc
Meanwhile on a heating mat, I have tomatoes, basil, and marigolds growing in the basement under lights. Those will get transplanted mid-April. Around April 1st, I plant potatoes outside. They send out shoots that make my basement look like an alien landing site if I don't. Around April 15ht, I'll start assorted flowers in the house under the grow lights. I'll plant dianthus, bachelor buttons, nasturtiums, hollyhocks, sunflowers, and indigo. Maybe Cockscomb and a few others. I have to look up when to plant pansies. I picked up two porch containers for Pansies.
Those of you who've seen this place, know that I have no grass, except this year. Here's a laugh!
It was about 72 degrees today. I got my Vitamin D. I worked on the terrace, chopping up last year's plants for the compost and digging out the wild onions. The areas I worked are covered now in sawdust. Mother Nature is modest and doesn't like to be exposed. There is more to do, but I'm happy with the results so far. An older gentleman was cruising his old neighborhood (meaning here) where he grew up. He stopped to talk and tell me who all used to live in my house. He is Mrs. B's son who used to live on the corner. This was his paper route in the 60s. He knew all my original neighbors. When I say original, they had been here since the entire neighborhood was built in the 1920s and 30s. Apparently after Mr. Chandler, a Mr. Scott lived here. I'm told he was a reverend. Fascinating. In some ways, it still is 1950 here. Folks are friendly and just want to say howdy.
Two years out of the last 10, we had frost while I was gone at a fiber show on Memorial Day weekend. There was nothing I could do. I wasn't home to cover up the plants. Since then, I have invested in Agribon row covers and hoops. Now I can set the garden up before I leave, knowing it will be okay until I return. I picked up the hoops from Gardeners Supply. I picked up the Agribon from Johnnie's Seeds. So many places sell similar products, I'm sure you can find something to work.
Typically, in mid to third week of February, I plant celery, onions, brassicas, and chard indoors. It happens to be around 12-14 weeks from the frost date. They are cool weather plants. Brassicas are cabbage, broccoli, Brussel sprouts, cauliflower, and I think Collard Greens. In mid-March, I transplant them into bigger containers. This year, some are getting hardened off and going straight into the garden. I started the process of hardening off about a week ago. They need 7 to 10 days to harden off. My "starts' are used to the cool temperature of the basement already so it is not too much of a stretch. Some will have to endure 27 degrees night time temperatures. Because of that, they are getting put in an area where concrete absorbs heat all day and will radiate it at night. The only things transplanted, outside in the ground are spinach, and onions. I also did not plant them all. I held some back just in case.
I know my weather. It's different from yours. Peas also go into the ground, direct sow, about mid-March. I replanted today. Take a look at what happened there: https://youtu.be/GcMhSBx4uzc
Meanwhile on a heating mat, I have tomatoes, basil, and marigolds growing in the basement under lights. Those will get transplanted mid-April. Around April 1st, I plant potatoes outside. They send out shoots that make my basement look like an alien landing site if I don't. Around April 15ht, I'll start assorted flowers in the house under the grow lights. I'll plant dianthus, bachelor buttons, nasturtiums, hollyhocks, sunflowers, and indigo. Maybe Cockscomb and a few others. I have to look up when to plant pansies. I picked up two porch containers for Pansies.
Those of you who've seen this place, know that I have no grass, except this year. Here's a laugh!
It was about 72 degrees today. I got my Vitamin D. I worked on the terrace, chopping up last year's plants for the compost and digging out the wild onions. The areas I worked are covered now in sawdust. Mother Nature is modest and doesn't like to be exposed. There is more to do, but I'm happy with the results so far. An older gentleman was cruising his old neighborhood (meaning here) where he grew up. He stopped to talk and tell me who all used to live in my house. He is Mrs. B's son who used to live on the corner. This was his paper route in the 60s. He knew all my original neighbors. When I say original, they had been here since the entire neighborhood was built in the 1920s and 30s. Apparently after Mr. Chandler, a Mr. Scott lived here. I'm told he was a reverend. Fascinating. In some ways, it still is 1950 here. Folks are friendly and just want to say howdy.
