Garden Update: Sproutlings
Apr 9th, 2008 by Laura
I didn’t get any planting or amending done over the weekend. It turned out that a fairly significant amount of the grass was just a bit deeper than the rototiller could reach. So I decided not to fight it and will try again this weekend. Oh well - we’re still ahead of my revised schedule and it just means that we’ll get our first produce later than hoped.
In the meantime, the seeds have sprouted. Pretty much everything sprouted quite well. The only thing that didn’t was the artichokes - I got less than 50% of them. I’m debating about trying another batch of seeds since I’m 3 short of the number I hoped to transplant. But I’m also thinking I could wait until next year.
I’ve started thinning the tomatoes, broccoli and larger herbs as the set their first true leaves. I think that’s right? The tomatoes need to be potted up this weekend. I’d hoped to put that off a bit longer, but they’re getting leggy and I need to get them going. Once they’re potted I’m going to start some more broccoli and the first round of Brussels sprouts. Hopefully the broccoli will make it into the garden this weekend.
It’s been fascinating to watch the sproutlings as I’m calling them come up and become mini plants. I can’t wait to watch a whole garden do it. We practiced direct seeding in my organic gardening class weekend. Definitely just as easy as I remember, so I can’t wait to try it in my own plot.
How’s your garden growing?
I’m planning mostly fall and overwintering stuff since I just joined a CSA and will have plenty of seasonal stuff through them, so I’m gardening for my freezer. Last week I planted sugarsnaps for my granddaughter and I to eat off the vine, and some cilantro. My herb planters are doing great - the rosemary and thyme survived, chives are thick, mint’s coming up, and I’m getting some basil plants from my CSA this weekend. I’ll put in some tomatoes once a local specialty farmer/gardener starts selling her heirloom organic seedlings. This past week’s rainy days have been chilly and dreary, but I just like to picture those little shriveled peas coming to life from all that moisture and a few balmy wet afternoons.
Thanks for the reminder that tomatoes and other summer crops need to get planted. Hopefully today’s weather wasn’t just a teaser. I’ve been nursing along my broccoli, chard, and lettuce seedlings, but the favas I started in the ground got mowed down - a neighbor and I are speculating - by a rat. Hope you’re getting some planting in this weekend.