Updated on April 8, 2024 by Elizabeth
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This is the time of year when the tunnels get pretty tight on space as we’ve got trays of plant starts here there and everywhere.
They blend in well, but those are trays in the “walkway” between the lettuce and fennel.
And while tripping and stepping on a plant or two is always a possibility, now if you trip, you take out at least 36 plants, and usually more. Ask me how I know.
We’re starting to bring out vegetable starts for sale. And even though the plants say that they are big kid plants and can stay out all night by themselves, we still tuck them in at night. Otherwise, they attract some sketchy friends and end up a little worse for the wear (the drat birds snack on them as last supper at bedtime and first breakfast. Suuuuuuper annoying).
If you’ve got your own drat birds picking on your plants, you could try tossing some row cover or light sheet over them during the peak pecking times. For the farm that’s first and last thing in the day. I usually just run out screaming at the drat birds at my house. Gotta give the neighbors something to talk about after all.
A peek at the tucked-up baby kale.
You’ve probably heard the phrase “strong like an ox.” And while oxen are definitely strong, they don’t have to prove it. Like, no one is going to look at a standard ox and think, “Gee, that’s not a strong animal.”
But flowers and annual plants are thought of as delicate. And in some respects they are. And in others… they will take down that ox, without names.
Some of the outside tulips decided that they weren’t going to push through the compost, but were going to push up the compost. No taking the easy route here. #overachievers.
Events I Think Sound Cool
Nature Journaling and Mindful Exploration. March 16. Surratte Park via Route 9 Library.
Indoor Seed Starting. March 21. Online.
Garden Tool Maintenance Workshop. March 21. Scott Arboretum.
Seasonal Inspiration
Mashed Potatoes and Parsnips
Happy Eating!
Elizabeth
PS: I figured out what that unlabeled sprouting stick was I shared last week: gooseberries. It was quite a “duh” moment when I figured it out.
PPS: Don’t forget to sign up for the Flower share! The season starts April 30th. I’ve been trying to think of all the different flowers we include and one was just eluding me. It took me days. Was it a rare, exotic, new-to-me flower? No. Was it a name I couldn’t spell (looking at you gladiolus and ranunculus)? No. It was ageratum. Ageratum. How could I forget its name?! It starts with the first letter of the alphabet, so it shoulda been really easy. But noooo, no it wasn’t. Anyways, here is a non-inclusive list because I sometimes zone out during the what-are-we-growing meetings: ageratum, baby’s breath, celosia, cosmos, calendula, dahlias, gomphrena, gladiolus, lilacs, lisianthus, peonies, ranunculus, snapdragons, tulips, and zinnias. And hopefully marigolds for Day of the Dead.
