It Begins - Bed Preparation - 03-24-2013

It's Spring, but we still have snow. It is not unusual for this area. I try to get some pre-work in whenever there is a break in the blah weather.

 I start to get the outdoor beds ready by clearing off the snow and covering them with plastic. The snow will melt and the beds will thaw faster.

Frozen raised bed. The black plastic on the bed helps absorb heat. A must in this area.

Covering with plastic. I use bent hoops made from old political signs.

See my post: http://backyardorganicgardener.blogspot.com/2012/11/politics-is-good-for-gardening.html

A partial bed ready to start thawing. The soil in the pots is frozen. The pots make great anchors.

It may be cold and snowy. but I can still plant lettuce seedlings in my hoop house!

Not Quite Finished With The Snow - But The Vegetables Are Covered - 3/19/13

A quick post to show the hoop house during today's snow. The vegetables are snug and warm inside the cover. Not unusual to get snow at this time up here.  It can snow all the way to June 1st.

Enjoy !

Transferring Petunia Seedling Peat Pods Into Peat Pots 03-10-2013

Here is how I transfer my petunia seedlings into peat pots with soil.

I have a previous post about starting petunia seeds in peat pods.

I use peat pods and peat pots to transplant without disturbing the roots.

Here are some of the petunias growing in peat pods.

I fill peat pots with good soil ahead of time.

The soil should be moist to the touch but have no free water dripping from it.

Make a hole in the soil roughly the size of the peat pot.

Use a peat pod for reference.

Place the peat pot in the soil and gently push soil around it to fill in and spaces.

This one is finished.

A finished tray. I water them very gently.

Another finished tray. Just put them under the lights.

After a week they are still happy and growing. I water them every day.

One step closer to the goal.

Good Luck !!!

Sign Of Spring 02/26/2013

A quick post. Saw a daffodil popping up in the front garden. I take this as a good sign !!

Pictures Of Garden Seedlings - 02/19/2013

Here are some current pictures of the seedlings.

Cherry Brandy Rudbeckia seedlings.

Petunia seedlings.

Lettuce mix seedlings.

More lettuce mix seedlings.

Marigold seedlings.

Zinnia seedlings.

More zinnia seedlings.

Starting Petunias - 02/16/2013

I use Purple Wave petunias for my hanging baskets. The goal every year is to have the hanging baskets reach the railing of my porch by the first heavy frost. Due to my local climate, I can only put my petunias out around June 1st.

Petunia seedlings grow slowly. I have to start mine in February to get them ready for the June 1st planting.

I use peat pots to start my seeds. I like to use peat pots because it keeps me from disturbing the root systems of the seedlings. The roots grow firmly into the peat pots. I just pop the peat pot into a larger container of soil and let the the roots grow out of the pot.

I let the peat pots soak in water until they are full size and moist.

The peat pots start to absorb water.

Almost full grown.

Letting the excess water, if any, drain out.

The petunia seeds are very small. The planting process requires patience. I let one seed stick to my finger and drop into the center of the peat pot.

I then gently push the seed into the peat pot. Do not cover the seed with soil. Petunia seeds need light to germinate.

I cover the seed tray with a plastic cover.

Petunia seeds need light to germinate. I use  three levels of lighting so I don't cook the seedlings as they emerge.

At initial planting, I put the grow lights about 2ft above the seedlings and give them about 4 hrs of light.  I spray the seedlings with water about twice a day. When the plants emerge, I drop the lights down about 6 inches keeping the 4 hr exposure.

 After a week I drop the lights down to regular seedling height and keep them "On" for 12 hours. I also remove the clear plastic cover. It is very important to keep the seedlings and peat pot moist. I spray the seedlings twice a day. I also pour some water in the tray so the peat pots can soak it up and keep the roots moist.

Every step is small and important. But the results are worth it. Good luck !!

Plant Update - Seedlings - 1/7/2013

Here are couple of pictures of seedlings


Marigolds started 12/12/2012

Marigold seedlings

Hopi Red Amaranth

Zinnias

Zinnia seedlings

Lavender Zinnia