Working Those Seedlings

Good morning from Indy!

I am working to make my little seedling survive and get stronger.  I did a little research the past couple days.  I do understand that I'm missing a few steps or just doing some things wrong, and my reading confirmed that.
I picked up some knowledge from the great Indiana Organic Gardeners Association's quarterly news letter (thank you, fellow IOGA members!) and some Youtube videos.

I was due to give the seedlings a little fertilizer to help with root growth.  So I picked up some water soluble 3-10-3 fertilizer at Habig's on College Ave.  I mixed this up and poured it in the bottom of the seed trays.
I also discovered that I was watering my seedlings wrong.  I was watering them from the top and I should be watering them from the bottom by adding water to the seed flat tray.  I knew this but I just didn't do it.  Doing
it this way will reduce the chances of mold and mildew.  Smart, huh?

I also remembered a tip from my good friend Matt Wellin.  He told me a couple months ago to put a fan on the seedlings.  It will help strengthen the plants.  So I added an oscillating fan at the lowest speed in "The Blue."

Saturday, I started bring the flats outside late in the day.  I am starting to harden off these little guys, well the ones that survive.  I left them out overnight last night.  I won't leave them out overnight again the rest of the week, though.  It's supposed to get down in the low 40's or high 30's the rest of the week.  They are back down in the basement now, doing well, I hope.

I hope these steps will help my tomatoes, peppers and herbs get bigger and stronger!

Back to work!

Another Busy Weekend at the 38th St. Homestead.

Hey,

Sorry for the long delay, but I work too much.  So here's what I've got going on!

I'm having mixed results with the seedlings.  Alot have died!  It's heart breaking, to be honest.  I'm doing something wrong, or several things wrong.  I'll have to study.  But this is a picture of "The Blue."  This is the entrance to the seed area.  I hope to start some cucumbers and melons this week.

I did some chores for Ms 38th Street.  I planted her four azalea bushes in the back of the house.  I had to scooch my compost box over.

I had to move the Solomon Seals up so I could put the azaleas in that back row.  I grouped them together.  Very nice.

By the way, the little white fence is up because of a certain Boston Terrier likes to tear ass through the landscaping and kill plants:

MIMI.

I did a little landscaping.  We bought some edgers for the front yard.  It looks sooooo much better!  Ms 38th Street installed the edgers around the tree and I did the section in front of the porch.  I put four coral bells in between the unknown green bushes.  I do like the blue dog bone in there.  Nice touch.  Actually, there is one by the tree, as well.

Hey! Check out those radishes!  I thinned them out a couple days ago.  The spinach and lettuces are up and are doing well, which makes us happy.

I completed three more flower boxes for Ms 38th Street on the south side of the house.  I only had one bag of garden soil, so back to the store!

The blueberries are doing good.  I see flowers!  I don't know if I'll get berries this year, but let's hope!

So, after all this, I'm tired.  The water was brown in the shower as I cleaned up.  Pretty awesome. If anyone had some advice on seedlings, please tell me.  Like a reference book or a "How to" book.  I am not doing it right, that's all I know.  I need help, people.  I have killed so many things.  I can start the seedlings just fine.  After I transplant them to some potting soil, some really don't like it.  The tomatoes are not doing well.  I have lost 2/3 of them.  SOS!

The 2012 Garden Is Started!

Yesterday the 38th Street Garden got started.  It was a busy day out in the yard.  I got several things done on a gorgeous Sunday afternoon.  Since it's been so nice recently, like unusually nice, I started the garden 16 days earlier than last year.  I remember last year I was pushing it.  We still had some cold nights.   Not the case now.  It's been so warm, I concerned my spinach and lettuce won't germinate.  Anyway, here's what I did yesterday:

First off, last year I dug up all the Day Lilies from the front of the property.  These flowers were on the outside of the fence.  Miss 38th Street was tired of them and wanted something different.  So she decided on the whole front area should be Black-Eyed Susans.  So I got the whole area prepped, seeded and fenced off so people walking by don't tromp on the seeds.  It's in two sections: 1 1/2' x 10' and 1 1/2' x 23'.

Second, I replaced one of the Blueberry Bushes that died.  I have six again.  Last year, in my gardening frenzy, I purchased six Blueberry Bushes.  They are Elliots and Jerseys.  One of the Elliots died so I picked up one from Lowes called a Blueray Blueberry Bush.  I don't have all the details on this one.  I'm sure it's a hybrid.  But the the Blueberry area is all weeded and I added some sand and peat moss to the beds.  Plus hit them with some Fish Emulsion.

Third, I sectioned off the garden box into square foots.  This year, I did it with nylon string.  I put a nails around the border, then strung the string around them.  It's not one long piece all the way through the garden.  I broke it up into four sections, I think.

Fourth, I planted the first seeds into the garden.  These seeds are mainly Nature's Crossroads, based out of Bloomington, IN.  I planted some Hybrid Spinach, Freckles Lettuce (an heirloom lettuce), Black Seeded Simpson Lettuce, Purple Orach (similar to spinach, but more heat tolerant), and Purple Plum Radishes.  The Radishes I planted in the same space where the cucumbers, peppers and tomatoes will be planted.  I read that they are beneficial.

Finally,  I bought a couple garden gnomes (eh, why not) and a new border fence for the garden area.  It's a step up from the cheap one we had last year.  I'm not sure if it will keep out garden pest numero uno: 

Mimi

She's not really the number one pest of my garden.  It's squirrels!  I hate squirrels.  

Sorry I don't have any pictures, but it was dark when I finished.  No light for pics.  I hope to get some today, though.  Alright, I'm going to try to get some of the dirt out from under my fingernails.  

Peace!

Even More!!!

Before I left for work today, I checked on my first few seedlings.  The tomatillos have company!  About half of my roma tomato seedlings have sprouted, as well as more tomatillos and a scotch bonnet!  Very exciting!  The way the weather is now, I could probably plant them now.  I don't know if anyone knew this, but due to the global climate change, Indianapolis is no in Hardiness Zone 6 this year.  We used to be Zone 5.  Unsettling.

Hey!  On a brighter note, I hope to have even more seedlings when I get home.

Till next time!

We Have Sprouts!

Yes!  I have tomatillo sprout!!!  Planted on sunday afternoon.  Three sprouts on Wednesday.  Fantastic!

And this not garden related, but I have to say, it's still a sad day.  I'm happy I have tomatillo sprouts, but Peyton Manning not being a Colt is just heart breaking.  I wish him the best of luck any where he goes, even though I really don't want to see him in any other uniform but the Colts blue and white.

Seedling Environment Updated!

Hey,

I made some stops at some local Hydroponics shops (it's not what you think, but I thought the same thing) and picked up two 10"x20" seedling heat mats.  Two different brands.  This is one of them:

Very nice.

So the section of the basement I have semi-closed off is not staying warm enough.  I have a space heater in there, which is only on from when I get home, till I go to bed.  This section of the basement I'm using is about 8ft tall x 10ft wide x 6ft deep.  These heat mats should help quite a bit.  I'll take some picture of the set up.  Right now, I have to admit, my set is too big for what I'm doing.  But, you never know!  I know will I have more down there in a few weeks, like sugar baby watermelons and cucumbers.

I do have to mention, The Maximum Grow Gardening Shop had a pretty cool set up.  I spoke to one of the guys working there and he gave me some info about hydroponics classes.  I got some free hydroponics handouts, as well as some free magazines and catalogs.  I think I'll have to check these free classes out!
They are on 6117 E. Washington St, Indianapolis, IN 46219, Phone# 317-359-GROW.

Go Pacers!

And We're Off!

Happy Sunday Afternoon!

Today is the day to get some seeds started.  So I got my area finished off and ready to grow.  Did you like that?  Ready to grow?  Bueller? Bueller? Ok then.

I got the northeast corner of the basement finished.  This is where I have all the lights on pulleys above the 6ft table.  I closed off this area with a tarp and a towel.  It's not a perfect set-up, but it'll work for now.  I have a space heater down there.  I hope to get that corner's temp up in the 70's.  I this heater on a timer and a set temp.  I'm not sure if the corner will get that hot.  I'll let you know.

I have two 22"x11" seed trays started.  They aren't totally full.  I have the following:

Roma Tomatoes
Red Brandywine Tomatoes
Green Zebra Tomatoes
Black Krim Tomatoes
Tomatillos
California Wonder Bell Peppers
Scotch Bonnet Peppers, Red
Aji Limon Peppers
Jalapeno Peppers

Plus some left over seeds from last year that didn't germinate that well last year:
Scotch Bonnet Peppers, Orange
Thai Sun Chilis
Anaheim Chilis
Long, Red, Slim Chilis
Pakistan Chunky Chilis

What I'm really concerned about is the temperature of the basement corner.  I could get some heat pads, but they aren't cheap.  I'll have to monitor this for the next few days.  I'll let you know.