I sowed pepper seeds today. Lola Sweet Banana Hybrid. It is very productive. Also sowed Annina Eggplants and 8 types of basils. Next up sow the tomotoes!!

I need to plant poppy seeds before the soil gets too warm, but I haven't cleared any of the garden yet...

I filled 36 3.5 x 3.5 pots with ProMix Organic Seed Starter. It takes forever for that mix to absorb water, but once it does, there are no problems watering. Sinks right in.

More seed starting in those pots tomorrow.

I can't believe I still have seeds I need to buy. Seed starting time always seems to "spring" up on me, like I didn't have all winter to plan!

I think retirees tend to think that all can be put off until "tomorrow"...I certainly do...Just received a quote to paint my house...just under $16,000...I'm still in shock.

RobinD said: I think retirees tend to think that all can be put off until "tomorrow"...I certainly do...Just received a quote to paint my house...just under $16,000...I'm still in shock.

Wow, that would put me in shock also. Lots of money.

So I am pleased today as I have all my basils and tomatoes and peppers and eggplant seeds sowed. Of course I grow them under lights until ready to go outside.

I have 8 varieties of basils and 24 varieties of tomatoes. I have many determinates and of course inderminates also.

I usually plant out in ground a end of April. But of course it does depend on the weather.

I got those 36 pots I filled yesterday planted with seeds today.

gh=will stay in greenhouse all summer
g=will be moved out to garden

-6 Tiny Tim Tomatoes - gh
-6 Mountain Magic Tomatoes - g
-6 Blue Lake Beans - gh
-2 celery - gh
-2 small cucumbers (I hope) -gh
-2 Sierra Gold Cantaloupe - gh
-6 Yellow Yarrow -gh
-6 Crackerjack Marigolds - gh (tall ones)

Still more seeds to get in for the greenhouse, and of course, the seeds that will become sets for outside including some of the above. Others will be direct sow.

MoonShadows said: I got those 36 pots I filled yesterday planted with seeds today.

gh=will stay in greenhouse all summer
g=will be moved out to garden

-6 Tiny Tim Tomatoes - gh
-6 Mountain Magic Tomatoes - g
-6 Blue Lake Beans - gh
-2celery - gh
-2 small cucumbers (I hope) -gh
-2 Sierra Gold Cantaloupe - gh
-6 Yellow Yarrow -gh
-6 Crackerjack Marigolds - gh (tall ones)

Still more seeds to get in for the greenhouse, and of course, the seeds that will become sets for outside including some of the above. Others will be direct sow.

Good for you both......you've given me a nudge...now I'm thinking about sowing a few pots.

Got some more seeds planted in the greenhouse today. I'm up to 7 dozen pots with all kinds of seeds. I have another 3 dozen or more to go, but this round will wait until later in the month, so they'll be ready to go outside in mid-May.



Here's my latest lettuce just getting started with some little marigolds and two bags of potatoes in the back. That's last year's parsley in the foreground. It is coming back strong now that the greenhouse is warming up more.



I should have started my cabbage much earlier in the fall. I waited too long and the few days of 80's in the greenhouse seems to have affected them. We have cabbage already for St. Patty's Day, so we'll use these small heads for cole slaw.



Even the pond plants are coming back to life now that the water is in the upper 60's. In the next few weeks, I'll vacuum and clean the pond.



Still slowly working on adding compost and biochar to the raised gardens in the Food Forest. Can't do more than 2 a day, max. Never got to the pruning of fruit trees today. There is comfrey and borage starting to come up all over the Food Forest! I need to get some early spring pictures down there. Pond is already turning a bit green, so I have to get the pump and filter running again for the season.

Always something to do, but it's Spring!

Keeping up with your plantings keeps you busy, Jim, but it's so satisfying.....I hope we don't have any late freezing fogs this year, I'd love to get some hydrangea blooms.

Sure does, but it is so refreshing after the boredom I experience during the Winter. At least this winter went by faster for me. I don't like to sit unless I am at the computer, watching a good show, or having a relaxing drink and snack, and I have stopped drinking alcohol since my last colonoscopy. Figured it was a good time to see how long I can go since I couldn't have my afternoon drink for 2 days. Today is Day 14. It's amazing how not having 1 or 2 drinks in the late afternoon makes me feel so much better physically and mentally from waking up until going to bed. Might make it a habit.

Fertilizer question...

I have liquid and granular fertilizers that I use during the growing season depending on the plant/situation, but many times I lose track of when was the last time I fertilized or when it's time to fertilize again.

I was reading the other day about how helpful/convenient, and even better, slow-release fertilizer can be for plants, particularly potted plants, and potted plants in the greenhouse.

I bought a big of Osmocote.



It has an excellent rating on Amazon of 4.7/5 stars over almost 20,000 ratings.

The company states:
*Osmocote is the original slow-release plant food. Decades of rigorous field testing confirm product effectiveness with hundreds of plant species in a variety of climate and soil conditions.
*Each homogeneous granule contains 15-9-12 NPK plus micro and secondary nutrients and feeds up to 6 full months.
*Soil temperature controls how Osmocote releases its nutrients, and more importantly how nutrients are taken up by the plant. Replenishment and feeding are in natural harmony.
*Even if over-applied up to 3x the recommended rate, Osmocote does not 'burn' the plant.



I am looking forward to trying this fertilizer.

Has anyone out there ever used it or use it now? What do you think of it?

I've used it Jim, but only on outdoor plants....I guess it works, flowers always looked nice....I use Shake & Feed on my veggies, that seems to work well, too, but I use cow manure, too. I gave up scratch lotto tickets for Lent....I feel better, too, not losing!

Osmocote is part of what a local nursery has used for years.

I've used both Osmocote and polymer moisture crystals for years, with nearly everything I plant.

I don't use it so don't have anything useful to add.

Yesterday, both my pink hellebores were in full bloom, & one of my hydrangeas had leaves unfurling....looks like the buds will freeze the next 2 nights...

I have known the woman who runs the florist area of Giant Supermarket since it opened about 8 years ago. She knows I love hyacinths (my favorite spring flower). She was telling me yesterday how when she is not there, the staff either do not water or overwater. She had 4 pots with 9 bulbs (7 blue, 2 pink) that were on their way out and probably will not sell. She gave me all 4 pots! I am going to plant the bulbs below the angel where I planted daffodils last year. Should look even better next spring.

So nice of her!