it's been a while

I kind of lost interest in keeping this blog going- I don't seem to have many readers, and nobody to talk about plants with. Didn't feel the need to track when things get started for the right timing to go in the ground and such (as reminders to myself) anymore. And then I had a setback, minor car accident, sprained ankle, on crutches for three weeks- so things got shoddy out there. Overgrown, neglected. 

However today I finally was able to go out again (my ankle strapped, I'm allowed to do "light walking" now) And there are things to note.

First, here's a picture from months ago. After our spring heat wave, it cooled off again and I actually got a decent amount of lettuce. We had fresh salads for weeks, plus I gave some away. The heads were beautiful thick green rosettes in the garden.

Where the lettuces came out, I planted the tomatoes. They had waited too long, some lower leaves were wilting so I pulled those off. And then remembering a tip from a gardener I read, removed more lower leaf petioles, planted the tomatoes deeply, burying half the stem. Watered on planting, then left them alone for ten days. This encourages stronger root system and what do you know, I think it worked. I have only been out to water once since (due to being laid up) and the rain has been enough- the tomaoto plants look fantastic. I tied them up once to some poles, they are sturdier than usual too. Either the deep planting and witholding water at the start helped, or the soil was richer than usual.

My turnips are also doing great. We've been eating them- made a new dish just last night. Turnips simmered until tender, mashed with onions and a bit of sugar, stirred w/eggs and baked in the oven. Surprisingly good. It's the first year I've actually had good turnips- not dry or tough. Even the bigger ones I pull are tender when I slice them up, almost buttery. And they're still not bothered by much, out in the garden!

Can't say the same for other things. I went out to cut greens for dinner and instead cut and heaped most of the entire bed of chard into the compost pile. It was all mottled pale sickly from leaf hoppers. (Why are such aggravating pests so darn cute? This year they're dark grayish purple with bright blue or red eyes). I could only keep the youngest unblemished leaves to cook with, but hope that a lot of the leaf hoppers got removed with the mass of chard foliage, smothered under leaf mulch and grass clippings in the hot compost pile!

My beets are swarming with whitefly. I cleaned up the worst pale and dead foliage, doused them with soapy water, but need to go get some actual insecticide. In the next bed over, garlics have all fallen over, and scapes are reaching tall. But I don't think they're ready to pull yet. Not enough watering? Too much heat? 

I removed all the pea plants- saving some for next year's seed. Of the shelling peas, there was only enough for one meal. However, they were really good! Into those empty beds today I planted out the cowpeas (to grow up the trellis), bush beans (only two, the rest succumbed to heat and neglect while still in pots), two yellow summer squash, and a third of the amaranth 'calaloo' seedlings. The rest are still too small for transplanting. 

Then planted out on the sunny sideyard my few tithonias for the year. And I only have three cardinal climbers, which is sad. A few weeks ago my husband saw a hummingbird come by and scout around the deck. But my cardinal climbers weren't planted out, and I think the black and blue salvia isn't flowering yet either, so there was nothing here for it.

It is nice to still see the wrens, robins, sparrows, cardinals, blackbirds and grey catbirds busy around the yard and garden. And the skinks! They come upon the deck. I only have one cucumber plant that survived the period of neglect, it's in a deck pot. My carrots aren't doing too great in pots, they keep drying out if I am not able to get out and water. My sweet peas died. 

But I am glad that the rosemary and stevia survived the winter, and this year the fenugreek I planted is doing well. I have it by the sliding door to the deck and often bend to catch its scent when going in or out. Summer savory in the deck planters is doing great, and parsley- have been using both. Most of the herbs have come back well- thyme came through the winter indoors, sculpit and tarragon out in the garden have grown, I did plant one new sage because the old two didn't survive the transplant when I added broken rock to the perennial bed. And my green onions all failed. The older ones never regrew this year, I started a few new but they died.

I like the catmint (not same as catnip) in the garden, so this spring when I had to trim it back (sprawling all over into the space where collards grow) I stuck a bunch of cuttings into little water jars to try for new plants. I had over a dozen cuttings, but only three actually grew roots. The rest just got moldy. (I did change the water out, but probably not often enough). Those three got planted today too- two against the fence between the patch of joe pye weed and the row of shiso (which is looking nice). At least I think it's shiso. Maybe this year I'll get brave enough to try eating it. The third one I put also against the fence but in the back, between the yarrow (tall and floweirng now!) and my kinda sad camellia. 

It was nice to see a bright glitter of blue skittering around- the small brilliantly colored wasps that frequent my joe pye weed, and are predators of japanese beetles.

One of my jacob's ladder plants has grown so much, doubled in height! and it had the most beautiful sky-blue/violet flowers. But the other one is overshadowed by yellow salvia spreading out from under the skirts of hydrangea nearby. I thought it had died but found it getting smothered. Pulled out some of the salvia to give it room. I'm going to have to start thinning that stuff more.

That's my update.

what's coming up

Actually, that was not so hot for April yesteraday. I suppose it just felt so. I looked it up- record temperature for this area in April was 97°. Doing more cleanup around the yard- clearing away dead stems and foliage that I'd left overwinter, spreading mulch (still have a good supply from the maples we took out last year). The oakleaf and pannicle hydrangeas are leafing out, and the rose of sharons just barely starting to. Lilac is nearly in full leaf- but oddly one side of the plant has hardly any. Insect damage? Too much shade from the neighbor's tree? 

 Cranesbill are all sprouting up, bleeding hearts are in full bloom and the columbines look nice across the rear of the front flower bed, where there's nothing much else yet. Later on they'll be obscured by coleus and more when they die back in summer neat. My peonies are putting up shoots, hosta and gladiolas are emerging, yellow salvias already in full leaf around the base of trees. Ajuga spreading bright color so nicely, and I'm very happy to see the ostrich ferns emerging- there seem to be a few more this spring! Beautyberry is leafing, which makes me very happy, and all the heucherellas are still here (not eaten up by rabbits yet). Joe pye weed is growing back. I need to tidy up the liriope and hellebores. I have not yet seen any growth on the black-and-blue salvia, milkweed or mums. And disappointing, there's no borage seedlings. I think a few had come up months ago in the garden, but I dug them out when preparing the beds for planting, thinking plenty would grow in the perennial spot, or around the mailbox. Nope. I wonder if they sprouted earlier when it was unseasonally warm, and then died in the cold again.

Here's a few hellbore flowers I cut and put in tiny jars on the kitchen windowsill to admire for a week.

Just now I planted out the mulberry seedling, mulched and watered it, fenced it around to keep off the deer. The young holly I moved to a spot just downslope of it on that hillside is still alive! The other two look dead but when I scrape a tiny spot with fingernail on the bark, still green underneath so I'm leaving them there in case they can recover. Dug and planted the two canna lilies in a spot near the ostrich fern where it gets pretty damp- water flows there from both the downspout on that side of the house, and output from our basement sump. I've been thinking of someday putting irises in that area, too . . . 

Lovage is thick enough to eat now, so I might strike celery off the grocery shopping list.

spring heat

It's crazy hot today- for April. A few weeks from our last frost date, and it's 85°. But a few nights this week still below forty, so can't plant out my coleus and other tender ones yet. I actually brought the sweet pea, chervil and parsley seedlings back into the house in middle of day, to avoid the heat. Lettuce is done for. I never got more than a few bites. Hope my snap peas do okay and tatsoi doesn't bolt early from this hot day. 

On another note, I just picked up some free plants from my library. Went there for books, came home with two canna lily rhizomes and a bare root mulberry seedling! I think I'll plant the mulberry on the sunny sideyard where we took out the maples last year. There are small plantings of salvia, daylily, turtlehead, gladiolas and one small hyssop over there so far- just to have something to look at. I stuck rue plant trimmings in the ground- just for the heck of it, maybe a few will take root. But really the space needs a new tree- however a smaller one that won't tower over the house again. Mulberry is perfect, plus I like the fruit. I did want a redbud or witch hazel, but will take a free mulberry instead!

greens in the little house

The weather has really been fluctuating here. Yesterday it was in the seventies during the day, then it fell to freezing again overnight. So my tatsoi in the little greenhouse

suddenly bolted. Their winter end!

There's still some tokyo bekana, small now as I've eaten more of it again.

And lettuces are filling the shelves (hope to plant them out soon in March)

plus the baby kale, collards and leeks go out on warmer days- more progress on their true leaves!

wind damage

It was warm so I planned to leave the lettuces and other plants in the little greenhouse overnight. But then we got some rain, and strong winds. I put half the lettuces under the deck table for some shelter

and then the wind blew a roof panel off my greenhouse! It was already after dark when this happened. To prevent the wind from ripping more panels off I quickly wrapped the top of the greenhouse in an old plastic shower liner. (So glad I still had that laying around.) Strapped it down with packing tape and snugged as best I could with clothespins. I was worried it wouldn't hold, but in the morning, still there:

I was able to retrieve the loose panel before it blew across the yard, and a few more small pieces that had cracked off. Patched it all back together, using screws instead of nails this time to hold down. Sealed the ridge gap with duct tape. And taped a bunch of edges that I hadn't bothered with before, so the wind can't work its way under a panel again (hopefully). 

All the plants inside are okay too.

dried tarragon

 The only thing to eat from outside right now in bitter cold (we're having nights down in the teens) is an occasional picking of winter savory, green onions when it thaws out for a few days, and once every other week, tokyo bekana from the greenhouse. It really doesn't keep anything warm enough. Success was low. While I feel better that there's not plastic sheeting bits potentially shredding across the yard, the mini greenhouse doesn't gather any warmth from the ground. My chervil never got beyond seedling stage, the dill and lettuces are just barely alive. I have a few tatsoi but the only one that is doing well, got the earliest start. Really the only plants in there worth tending and picking from time to time are the tokyo bekana now. 

But I have my favorite herb all dried and stuffed in jars. I was always so stingy with tarragon in the past, having one plant that did poorly. Last year's new variety thrived so, I was able to pick and dry tons. It feels a bit extravagent to be able to have eggs with cheddar and tarragon whenever I want, or add it to chicken soups and pies.

My bay leaf plant is also doing great, and the rosemary down in the basement window. Maybe I will get a photo of that to add here soon. The bay leaves look so healthy.

winter greens

It has been very cold nights, some down into the low twenties, but often warm again during the day. The leeks I left in the garden didn't last, but the few green onions left are still okay, and I can still pick to eat sorrel, winter savory, sculpit, and purple dead nettle in certain sheltered spots. What I tried to grow in my little greenhouse- only part worked out. Nearly all the pots sprouted- but the lettuces are doing very poorly and leggy. Lack of light, or the soil was too poor, or it's just been too cold for them to thrive. Tatsoi I only got one good plant, but that one's doing fine. Haven't eaten it yet because I wish there was more. Chervil all growing but are slow to put out their first true leaves. Dill is okay and I've used some of it. Tokyo bekana is doing well!

A bit spindly, but grew much better than anything else. I actually picked some to eat just yesterday, glad for a bit of fresh greens. 

Maybe if I do this again next year, skip the idea of lettuces (unless I start them sooner) and just do the cabbage and spinach relatives.

blanketed

This past week I did the final work putting the garden to bed for winter. Turned the compost pile- there was less than before, only the bottom fourth or barely third was finished material, but it was very finely done, with a clear demarcation. I put six wheelbarrow loads on eight garden beds, the rue and perennial herbs just got leaf litter mulch. On top of the compost layer went four wheelbarrow loads of finished leaf mould from last year's pile. Started a new one. While it feels quieting to see all the beds flat and dark with their winter mulch, it also feels restful and I sure was satisfied, happy even, to find the rich darkness at the bottom of the piles. It still feels something miraculous and wealthy, to dig up all this goodness from heaps of waste and blanket it over to feed next year's plants. Only green in the garden now are a few leeks, sorrel, winter savory and lavender in the perennnial bed, rue and some volunteer borage on the back wall that brave the cold a little longer. 

All the vermicompost went on the front lawn, when I emptied out the blue bin a few weeks ago (don't think I mentioned it here). The worms were looking a bit poorly but now with fresh bedding and regular feedings again (I had ignored them lately) they're looking better.

The green tomatoes I picked and put on kitchen windowsill didn't ripen, they just got moldy and tossed. Should have tried making fried green tomatoes! Half the cowpea pods I picked just withered icky-looking too, but the rest I am waiting for them to dry and see if the seed inside is any good. Next time must watch the weather reports more closely, and pull them all before the first night the drops below freezing. We've had a few now.

grey

The garden is withering. I was going to take photos and post happily about how the cardinal climber has grown up to deck height and wound through the trellis my sweet peas vacated, and the zucchini leaves are bigger than my head now with bold yellow flowers- but yesterday I saw to my dismay that half the beds are unwell. All the leaves turned a sickly greyish color and severely wilted. Carrots, beets, tomatoes, cucumbers, lovage, cantaloupe and zucchini affected. So many nice tomatoes in there, but all still too green to pick! It's spread to the cardinal climber vine too so I'm doing work to cut things out.

We had three days of very heavy afternoon downpours- I wonder if the plants simply drowned. Also I caught a half dozen harlequin bugs among the collard greens- they could very well be the culprits. It's time to go out with gloves and a trash bag. I'm acutely reminded of the time years ago, on another property, when I had to rip out most of my garden plants- especially the green beans- due to similar symptoms. Harlequin bugs showed up in that garden, too.

plastic cloches

I thought I wasn't going to use them this year, and actually considered tossing all my cut-off plastic bottles in the recycling bin- but then we had a few cold nights (almost down to forty degrees) so I went out and put them over all the youngest plants in the garden beds-my kid's herbs, and my amaranth and benne that got planted out so recently.

His catmint- 

My amaranth 'calaloo'- 

the herb bed- with my lavender in the foreground corner, just starting to flower!

the amaranth/benne bed- with a few marigolds on the far left end

As you can see, I didn't have enough cut-off bottles to use, so upended a few deep plant drip trays and semi-opaque containers I've used as tomato starter pots, for the smallest plants. Two nights of cover, and now it's warmer again. Sure looked silly for a bit, though.

blistering thunderstorms

Super hot today- or at least it feels so to me. I find that if I start working outside early in the morning while it's still relatively cool, my body adjusts to the gradually rising temperature and I can get more stuff done. Today I was out all morning, until almost two pm, then came inside just in time before a severe thunderstorm due. Moved and planted a few things- crossing my fingers they make it, banking on the rain to settle them in. Moved the purple salvia out from under the flanks of the lilac (and thinking of shifting the smaller black-and-blue salvia from there, too). Dug a hole for the wormwood- at the patio end of the last garden bed. In both cases soaked the hole, mulched the plants and soaked well afterwards. Salvia wilted, wormwood did not. Also planted the three small alyssum- in a bed witih the tomatoes. 

Then I cleared weeds, grass clumps and whatnot from around the base of one tree where the ajuga is taking really well. Clearing the soil surface, so those runners can take hold. It's kind of amazing how fast they're filling in. The one 'rare' one I put under second hydrangea disappeared, and so did all those under the maple with a swing, but all those I dug up from around the doomed maple and replanted under the lilac (where others had died) are doing fine. I also carefully weeded out on the first sunny sideyard, grass and clover and stuff that was growing around and among the ajuga there. It's starting to look nice. And dug up two pieces of the large beautiful lamb's ears, replanted in a gap so now it's a nice tidy row in front of the gladiolas. 

Pictures soon.

tree dismay

It's hot. The cicada noise is overwhelming. I have to really raise my voice if speaking to my husband, standing right next to me, outside. Their noise is a higher pitch than last year. (I still don't find it as irritating as leaf-blowers, though). I didn't feel like taking photos today, but lingered outside in the yard this morning long enough (after watering all the deck pots) to knock cicadas off all my smaller shrubs- the hydrangeas, inkberry, bayberry, rose of sharons and lilac. 

Have discovered in my reading that the females like to lay their eggs in branch tips the width of a pencil. When the larvae emerge later, they clip the branches. No problem for a mature tree but can damage younger shrubs. Sigh. I ought to go buy mesh or cloth coverings (have seen several japanese maples wrapped in my neighborhood) but when I'm feeling restless, I just go out and make a round of the yard, shake a few branches, knock or flip the cicadas off with my fingers. It's not my imagination, I'm finding fewer on some of the shrubs each day- even though just as many empty skins (which I also knock off so I can guage at a glance how many cicadas have congregated there again). Hoping this disturbs them enough that they find other places to lay their eggs. Up on the maples, which won't matter and where I won't at all mind a trim!

Our sideyard maples are gone now. The stump was ground out- only because our HOA required it, which annoyed me. I could have planted turtleheads and other things around and in front of the stumps, masking it from view (the first maple we had cut down, in the backyard near the other fence, is already hidden this way). No, we had to wait for the stump grinding which got delayed and now it's nearly too hot to transplant the new salvias, daylilies and other sun perennials I bought to start filling in that area. I will try anyway. They can't stay in nursery pots all summer! I also bought a few dozen gladiola bulbs that were on sale (as it's almost too late to plant those, too). 

Meanwhile I still have to move all the mulch that used to be the stump- two great heaps of it. My husband helped with a shovel and wheelbarrow this morning, moved most of one heap. I'll still have to rake out what's left in the stump hole, then go buy a lot of fill dirt and topsoil, before I can start planting.

But the herbs, chamomile, marigolds, amaranth and benne we planted the other evening are doing fine- even as the temperature gets up over ninety. Last night I did the same with my cardinal climbers- planted them out before dusk, when the bed was in full shade, watered heavily and crossed my fingers. They are only a bit wilted this morning. 

My panicle hydrangeas that grew flanking the backyard maple are really taking off, now that the tree's gone. One is nearly as tall as the neighbor's red fence, which pleases me- and the other is stretching more upright now. It used to grow all to one side and had a lot of low branches, I think because was seeking sun. I took some shorter bamboo poles out there and propped a few of those trailing branches up. Looks better now.

Perhaps tomorrow I will feel like taking photos, or starting my last set of garden seeds, or heaving mulch to sit in another spot (where I'll let it age before using on the yard). Right now the heat and high-pitched droning of cicadas just saps my energy to walk outside.

Also, I am glum about the neighbor's tree. On what used to be the shady sideyard, there were those two huge maples on our side of the property line, and two much smaller crepe myrtles on the neighbor's side- not even as tall as their roof. I always thought the crepe myrtles were rather attractive and it's nice to have something between the houses providing shade and filling space- and definitely they're not a threat to anything- not nearly big enough. But apparently they saw us cut down our large maples and so felt inspired to take out their crepe myrtles, too. So now it's going to just be a large bare sunny hillside between- which I am anxious to fill with something growing, again. 

Maybe I will put my fig trees there. I've certainly seen others' in the area survive the winter fine. I'd like to plant a redbud, or a witch hazel. Or I might put the tithonias there, and plant a crazy lot of tall sunflowers. I still have seed from over ten years ago when I had a larger garden on another property- wonder if they're still viable.

before the heat

My golden snap peas grew taller and flopped over. I stuck bamboo poles on one side to hold them up. Pulled a handful of beets for eating today- and they're beautiful. Helped my kid plant out his herbs, and I planted one of the beds with the benne and amaranth 'calaloo'. Nasturtiums went into planter boxes on the deck railings, and peppers into larger pots to sit on the deck. I carefully disentangled the cardinal climbers from each other and set them in place alongside the new trellis- will put them in the ground tonight. I've had to do most of this in the early evening, when the day cools off, it's getting too hot otherwise. 

Still in pots to be planted out (or moved up to grow more): asters, hollyhock mallow (zebrina), tithonia, a half dozen stunted marigolds I'm not sure if it's worth the bother to find spots for them.

simpson in the heat

Getting hotter- it's going to be above 90° today. Some of the simpson lettuce were looking a bit leggy, so I pulled 'em.

There's one row left, probably will pull by the end of the week. We have plenty more days in the eighties and lower nineties. Good news is, that means tomorrow I can start planting out my cardinal climbers, benne, amaranth callaloo, peppers, etc. And start the final lot- zucchini, cucumber and green beans (cowpeas in this case, unless I change my mind last minute. I also have seed for bush beans and the purple pole beans still).

Cheers! Day before yesterday I spied a bit of normal-colored green on the fenugreek. Looked close- there are new leaves growing, and they look fine. I promptly repotted all the basils and some of the waiting garden plants- younger peppers, zebrina flor- into the better soil, and tossed the old that was full of wood (at least it felt and looked and smelled like shredded bark or wood chips). 

My root bed is doing very well. I don't know why so much better than the spot they were in year before- more sun? improved soil (finally enough compost over the years)? or because I got rid of a large portion of pests with the insecticidal soap? Maybe they are healthier because followed the beans. If that's it, they should do great in the bed that has peas right now, next year . . . 

I'm thinking this because I pulled some lovely turnips last night- the best I've grown yet- and made a turnip/peas dish with fresh dill and butter. My husband liked it, the kids tolerated it enough to actually eat some, haha.

plants all inna house

We had a chilly night- 35°- so I brought indoors not only all the young plants for the garden but also the new perennials still in pots and the ones I got from swap, which have been waiting on the greenhouse floor. Brought into the basement window spot the chives, cuban oregano and mints, tossed a hand towel over the planter boxes of chervil and parsley, tucked the pots of kale into the greenhouse and the baby hellebores, dug-up hyssop and dill seedlings into the coldframe. Covered with pots in the garden the new foliage of lovage, lemon balm and the wild geraniums (cranesbill). Figs and sweet peas were left to face the cold. Everything else did fine. 

Maybe I'm a little over cautions with some of these, but I'd rather not have them die on me. It's going to be cold again tonight -37°- and then the following days above forty again. Some plants I'm just keeping in all day today as it won't get above 50° outside. As soon as I can see far enough ahead in the forecast to our frost date (May 10) that it will stay above 40°, I can start planting out some of the perennials from the swap, and all my coleus-

which have been spending weeks out on the bottom shelf of the greenhouse already. The 'kiwi fern' is so nice!

Pink salvia is indoors for the day, too

the blooms have such curious crescent shapes

One of my favorite plants right now are the cardinal climbers- but I think I should start them two weeks later next time around- 

they are ready to climb now! and clinging to each other- I will have to gently tease apart on planting day

spring busy

It's been very warm. Leaf beet chard is growing back, surprise-

Opened up the sides of my makeshift row cover to give the tokyo bekana fresh air. Soon I will take it down altogether.

I am tired and sore from working outside. Spreading mulch from a tree we had taken down, that had too many dead branches threatening the neighbor's house, and shaded the garden. It's strange to have that side of the yard feel so open, exposed. I'll be glad to see how the garden does with more light! So yesterday and today I shoveled mulch, then today I stacked wood from the tree (for fires later on), trimmed some suckers off my crabapple, tidied up some dry stems out of perennial beds, and moved seedlings up into pots. 

Also, admired the green-flowering stinkin' hellebores. They are so odd, and the brightest growing thing in my yard right now. Next to the euonymous deer have been pruning for me all winter- and it turns out they ate my inkberry, too. And my bayberry looks unwell- lots of leaves dried, brown and shriveled. And I accidentally killed my ice plant (put it outside for acclimation and forgot to bring it in one night when it got just too cold). But! the stinking hellebores are nice. I've read they are prolific self-seeders and I hope so.

I took down all my irish spring soap hangers from the yard- they look tacky and are not at all deterring the deer from eating my shrub. Went back to chopping the soap bar into bits and scattering it. My sister told me the deer avoid scented plants they'd pick up the scent by brushing against, which would make it easier for predators to find them? perhaps that's why they never come into my garden which usually has marigolds, cuban oregano, hyssop, winter savory and rue smelling strong. Maybe when the soap was scattered on the ground it deterred them because they don't want to get it on their feet. Or maybe they just never had sampled my bushes before and now will always come back unless I fence the yard. Or grow more stuff they don't like. Such as stinking hellebores.

I'm rambling. Well, I did something new today. Took some of the cuttings off my crabapple and brought them inside. To see if I can force the blossoms. It would look very pretty!

Tomorrow I plan to turn the compost pile, then plant snap peas, beets and turnips. Also to photograph the young plants which are so lovely, and spending their first night outside in the coldframe and greenhouse (yes, both- there's so many!)

seedlings update-

My tomatoes are starting to come up, also the leaf beet chard and sweet peas. Of the second sowing, only the nasturtiums and "floater" tray of sweet peas haven't sprouted.

Well, looks like the greenhouse does heat up plenty after all. In its new position, and with a panel blocking the direct sun off it, the thermometer in there reads 70°. Outside air temp is barely 35°- it's sunny today but very chill. Without the door propped open it would actually be too hot for them in there!

a bit warmer

I cleaned out my mini greenhouse today.

Took out all the deck pots that were stored there, dump the soil all together into the wheelbarrow, mixed it up and sifted out roots, a few weeds and larger bits of bark or sticks with my hands. Stashed the soil in a large pro mix bag, wiped the pots clean and stacked them under the deck. Pleased at how tidy they are- not harboring insects or dug up by the squirrel as in winters past. When it's time to plant my coleus, herbs and other plants for containers, I'll just refill the pots. 

Meanwhile, greenhouse has a full shelf of seedlings! Today it got warm enough the greenhouse heated to near 80° but I couldn't set the baby plants out on the table, there were strong winds. I propped the door open and set some planter drip trays up to block some of the sun, keeping the seedlings from overheating. 

Hard to judge how well that worked- well my trays didn't dry out and the seedlings didn't wilt, so I think it helped.

some notes

It's very chilly outside today- temps are not going to get above freezing. However in spite of the cold wind, the sun makes my mini greenhouse heat up to over 70° and for the cool-weather plants I'm starting, getting too warm too soon makes them grow too fast! So I've been going out periodically to adjust how far ajar the door is, keeping it near 60°. 

My last trays of seedlings from the first sowing came up- parsley and cilantro. The laggard was a tray of romaine lettuce- and only one individual sprouted. It's one of the older seed packets I have, finally no longer viable. Next time I get the packets out I will discard that one.

weather

I don't have any pictures today. We've had freezing sleet and snow. After shoveling the drive and paths out front, I cleared snow and ice off the row cover- it had collapsed a bit but I propped it up with sticks inside, where the plants are still looking just fine. Knocked a thin film of ice off the roof of the mini greenhouse, though it probably wasn't neccessary. It's currently 28° outside, and my greenhouse temperature reads 35°. Too cold to set the baby plants out there- I now have leek seedlings among them! - so they are on windowsills or shelves by windows, and get rotated when they start to lean for the light. Tomorrow will get up to 40° during the day so most of all of the baby plants should be able to spend time in the greenhouse.