In the binder were my plans and notes from last year. On the paper went plans for this year's garden. What to grow, how many of each plant, when to start seeds inside or outside, when to plant the starts outside, when to look for ripe food, when and how to cover or uncover rows, when and how to water, and, finally, when to bring it all in for the winter.
Yes, it sounds anal. But I really like to have a plan. I find that, if I have a plan, I tend to stay close to it. Not I-can't-sleep-because-I-started-the-broccoli-Tuesday-instead-of-Sunday-close, but close. It's easier for me, too, to figure out where to put all those doggone plants when I'm looking at a sheet of paper and I have a pencil, than when I'm outside, in the garden, digging holes. It takes about 3 hours of work to write, draw, count, think and finish. But then the implementation takes half the time, even less, than it would have without a plan.
I have actually started planting. Last week, I filled a flowerbox with soil and planted some mixed lettuces and spinach in it.
I put it under lights, and am hoping to get some salad greens by mid-February. I may even have some by the end of this month, if the seed lives up to the promises on the package. I'm getting tired of Iceberg lettuce salads.
As much as I love winter, I'm excited that spring will be here in its time...
Update; It seems this planning thing has another benefit. It may very well have broken me out of this mid-winter-mid-recovery slump. I'm actually feeling better and am back to my optimistic self! I'm envisioning rows of lettuces, young broccoli, and I can almost taste the radishes!
7 comments:
This is very kewl Mel! I wish you luck with your lettuce, iceberg lettuce is just a waste!sandy
I kept notes for the first time this past year. Glad that I did! It will be more fun planning this year knowing what worked last year.
Honestly, this was the first year I was this detailed. In the past, I relied on my memory, which, thankfully, wasn't too bad. But, you know, I'm not getting any younger. :) And this really, really makes it easier.
When you plant inside under grow lights, where do you do it? Does it need to be where the temperature is around 70 or could it be placed in a 63 degree basement? The only time I tried to do starters in our main living area was a disaster. Too many people bumping into the trays, too many little fingers touching the soil, and too many pets sticking their noses in the soil kept me from any success.
I'll start by saying that I don't know how it's supposed to be done, but this is how I do it. John and I put together some shelves out of cinder blocks and shelving, and he installed fluorescent light fixtures underneath the shelves. The shelves are in our breezeway, where we keep the heat right around 60. They are right in front of the breezeway windows, so they do get some natural light, too. I haven't started seeds in the middle of winter before; usually I start around the first of March. But I really want some good lettuce. And I may even start carrots in a pot tomorrow.
Long story short, I think your plants can handle the basement, as long as you're starting cool weather plants. You can also buy seed heating mats that fit underneath the seed trays and work great for the warmer weather seeds.
Thanks! Time to head off to the store for soil, lights, and seeds!
Nice story about your farm,plan and planting...ha...ha...ha...ha....very inspiring for me.... thanks
Post a Comment