Compost bin 1 at 92 degrees F
In the Germination Area
- sowed second batch of Onions, Leeks, Catnip
- sowed first batch of Garlic Chives
- 2 Rosemary sprouts emerged
- 1 Parsley sprout
- 15 Sweet Marjoram
- 15 Thyme
- 3 tiny Mint sprouts
- 1 Lemon Balm sprout (but it’s probably a stray Marjoram)
- 1 Pepper seedling (looks stuck in the soil, not raising its head)
- nothing happening yet among the Wormwood, Anise Hyssop, Lemon Balm (?), and Burnet
In the Seedling Area
- moved second batch of onions in
- moved 2 Catnip seedlings in
- lots of sturdy Lettuces ready to go out to cold frame
- 2 Eggplant seedlings (they grow so slow!)
- heaps of healthy Celery, Onions, Leeks
Problems
- gave up on the other Catnip seeds: don’t know what went wrong
- threw out other eggplant seeds: a gray fuzz was growing in that soil
To do soon
- sow Spinach
- sow more lettuces?
- sow broccoli
I need to rig the heat lamp so it gives bottom heat, maybe like this, so I can:
- give the Peppers a better chance
- resow Eggplant
- sow basil
- sow tomato
According to my estimate (gamble), the last frost will have happened after 5 May. If I’m off by a little bit we’ll be fine thanks to the cold frame. But that means that we have 8 more weeks to go before it’s time to set out and direct seed most plants. When you look at the when-to-sow charts, you’ll see that many plants are listed as 8-10 or 6-8 weeks to “setting out time”, so a slew of other seeds will have to go in soon.
And about those charts… I’ve become an avid if somewhat skeptical student of those charts. I’ve assembled many, and on average I go by what’s on the seed packet (if a time is mentioned at all) and the Silbers’ book. Most charts advertise the “setting out time” either (1) as the time since sowing or germination, that is more or less the age of the plant, or (2) the time relative to the last frost date (because a lettuce or spinach can stand a light frost, but a tomato plant can only go in when the soil is warmed up). I NEED A CHART WITH BOTH THOSE FACTORS!
In the Garden
It was another beautiful weekend but as we went into the city, we didn’t have time to get back to the garden (except for some playing). The work on the cold frame also progressed very little.
I did get a chance to turn the compost somewhat. Love that steam coming out when I lift the lid!