Here we go - let my 2012 season begin!

[SPierce]

just geeking out. My seeds are all sprouting; the brussels sprouts seem a bit leggy, but I can't tell. they're so thin. I also moved all my containers down into the garden to dump all the soil out from last year. Now, not only are my garden boxes finally full, the dirt looked so rich too <3 nice and black. So excited! In a month or so the local farm is going to put out free compost, and my in ground'll be ready to go! adding 3 more containers to get enough room for all the stuff I want to plant and off I go! woo hoo!

now, it hit 60 today.. if only things would manage not to freeze....

[klevelyn]

I too have started my cabbage, broccoli and even some Brussels sprouts. I have not been able to get Brussels sprouts to head up in my area. I will try this spring and again in the fall. I hope to plant them in April with a little cover to protect them from frost.

I put up a hoop house last fall to try to extend the season. I'll let you know how it works. Any good advice about growing Brussels Sprouts?

[SPierce]

I too have started my cabbage, broccoli and even some Brussels sprouts. I have not been able to get Brussels sprouts to head up in my area. I will try this spring and again in the fall. I hope to plant them in April with a little cover to protect them from frost.

I put up a hoop house last fall to try to extend the season. I'll let you know how it works. Any good advice about growing Brussels Sprouts?

I wish I had some re: the Brussels; I tried them my first year from starter plants, and they were epic fail also. By time the winter rolled around they were just getting small thumbnail sized sprouts on them, and then they bolted. I know planting time was definitely an issue, which is why I'm hoping to get an earlier start this year! I could be wrong, but (I think) they can take a bit of colder weather, so was hoping to get mine out in march. I think I'll find out one way or another! My seedlings look a bit leggy to me, but it's so hard to tell as they just literally sprouted a few days ago.

if you don't mind, please let me know how your plants do ;D I have trouble with them, too, and any advice is more than helpful.

[mhannum]

Yep, winter is in decline, so it's nice to think about the upcoming gardening season! Good luck!

I live in an apartment complex, so one can imagine how few bees we have here. Despite that, they'll make the flight over to any balcony with flowers on it, so the little fellas do get around.

[SPierce]

Well.. here's my well deserved wake up call I suppose! It's now snowing, we've got a 1/2 inch on the ground and it's set to snow all today through tomororw evening. Makes me want to cry!

As such, none of my plants are big enough to put out yet, but I have a watermelon that sprouted, a potential pumpkin (it's a LOT bigger than my other plants so I'm guessing thats what it is- I just pulled the seeds from the bottom of the bag; they all spilled out and combined!) and some squash. My leggy plants are now starting to fall over, so I know they're going to need to go. Not sure what to do wish a really leggy squash, though, that's still standing and is starting to grow it's first set of leaves. Any suggestions??

[rainbowgardener]

I think you just started the squash too early. I haven't planted mine yet and my season starts earlier than yours. By the time you could possibly plant it outdoors, it would be (if you could keep it healthy), HUGE. Where are you going to keep that, indoors? To start squash indoors, I generally plant the seed at my average last frost date or few days later. That leaves a little time for the soil to warm up, before the squash is transplant size and hardened off. My average last frost date is still 6 weeks away (hard to believe since the temp is in the 60's, I think our season is being speeded up this year), so yours is probably longer.

[SPierce]

I think you just started the squash too early. I haven't planted mine yet and my season starts earlier than yours. By the time you could possibly plant it outdoors, it would be (if you could keep it healthy), HUGE. Where are you going to keep that, indoors? To start squash indoors, I generally plant the seed at my average last frost date or few days later. That leaves a little time for the soil to warm up, before the squash is transplant size and hardened off. My average last frost date is still 6 weeks away (hard to believe since the temp is in the 60's, I think our season is being speeded up this year), so yours is probably longer.

Oh I know; I had already had them sprouted by time I posted the thread in here, and since they seem to be healthy I don't really want to throw them out since they seem to be strong. Most of the squash plants are going to end up in containers anyway, so if I need to I'll do with them what I did with my pepper, bring the container into the kitchen!

I just wish it wasn't snowing. Is supposed to go back to 60 degrees on saturday! How strange

[jal_ut]

I'm afraid to plant anything from the mint family, as don't they all tend to take over and spread a lot?

The mint family includes: catnip, basil, mint, rosemary, sage, savory, marjoram, oregano, thyme, and lavender to name some.

I know peppermint is a bad weed since it sends out rhizome roots. I have grown catnip, sage, savory, marjoram and oregano with no problems with them spreading.

[DeborahL]

James, you have a cat?

[jal_ut]

I have four cats running around the yard. Why do you ask?

[SPierce]

Okay, I admit, I'm sad that it's snowing- but wow it's beautiful! I almost wish that it'd stick around a bit longer. I'm very sad that all the flowers, etc. they were starting to come up are now frozen, though

[jal_ut]

We are getting snow too. About 6 inches in the past 3 days. It is snowing right now, though not real hard. I am encouraged though, usually I can start planting in April so its getting closer. I don't expect this snow to last long. As soon as the storm gets out of here it will warm up.

[SPierce]

We are getting snow too. About 6 inches in the past 3 days. It is snowing right now, though not real hard. I am encouraged though, usually I can start planting in April so its getting closer. I don't expect this snow to last long. As soon as the storm gets out of here it will warm up.

Glad I'm not alone over here! Yeah, it's going to warm up real quick and all the snows going to go away; I hope it sticks around long enough on saturday, though, for me to take a few photos! We're going back to 55/60 on Saturday. You do take the most beautiful snow photos though!

[SPierce]

I bought the last of my seeds today PLan on getting them started tomorrow, now that it's March.

Here's how my "I started these too early but I'm going to try them out anyway!" seedlings are doing:

The Squashes: I think I have one zucchini, one regular sized pumpkin and a butternut squash in here? All the seeds spilled out to the bottom of the bag, so it'll be a surprise

[img]https://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c25/Liskarialeman/Garden-32.jpg[/img]

[img]https://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c25/Liskarialeman/Garden-4-6.jpg[/img]

[img]https://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c25/Liskarialeman/Garden-2-7.jpg[/img]

A watermelon:
[img]https://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c25/Liskarialeman/Garden-5-3.jpg[/img]

I also (happily) have another one that recently sprouted, so soon to be 2 provided I don't kill one while I'm uppotting!

Brussels Sprouts:
[img]https://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c25/Liskarialeman/Garden-10-6.jpg[/img]

Lettuce seedlings; they were kinda leggy, but I uppotted them today and buried the stems in hope that it'll help steady them a bit

[img]https://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c25/Liskarialeman/Garden-6-5.jpg[/img]

Banana peppers: I had a bell pepper, too, but I accidentally managed to knock off the top part of the sprout with the seed still on it, so RIP that plant!

[img]https://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c25/Liskarialeman/Garden-9-3.jpg[/img]
[img]https://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c25/Liskarialeman/Garden-7-2.jpg[/img]

Onions, I bought scissors this afternoon so I can trim them tonight
[img]https://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c25/Liskarialeman/Garden-8-4.jpg[/img]

An big max giant pumpkin seed:
[img]https://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c25/Liskarialeman/Garden-11-4.jpg[/img]

Not sure if I should be concerned about the first true leaf showing already when it hasn't even emerged from the soil completely though??

and my pride and joy; we've almost made it through till spring!
[img]https://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c25/Liskarialeman/Garden-17-2.jpg[/img]
[img]https://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c25/Liskarialeman/Garden-14-4.jpg[/img]
[img]https://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c25/Liskarialeman/Garden-15-4.jpg[/img]
[img]https://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c25/Liskarialeman/Garden-12-3.jpg[/img]
[img]https://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c25/Liskarialeman/Garden-13-4.jpg[/img]

If anyone has any possible nutrient deficiency suggestions in regards to the leaves, please let me know. I took a photo in to the local nursery and they told me there was nothing I could do, that it was just near the end of it's life cycle, but it's putting out new growth, new flowers, etc? I've recently started adding fish emulsion to it's water, but am also very careful to make sure I only water when it's needed. The leaves look a bit bumpy, though?

[rainbowgardener]

Your over-wintered pepper is looking better than my over-wintered pepper, which does not have flowers or fruit and the leaves are pretty droopy. But, I'm within a month of when I could put it out. (Actually, I could put it out today, if I didn't mind dragging it in and out for awhile... have to think about that). I'm assuming that it will make it and then look better once it is out in the sun again.

[SPierce]

Your over-wintered pepper is looking better than my over-wintered pepper, which does not have flowers or fruit and the leaves are pretty droopy. But, I'm within a month of when I could put it out. (Actually, I could put it out today, if I didn't mind dragging it in and out for awhile... have to think about that). I'm assuming that it will make it and then look better once it is out in the sun again.

Ahh, okay. Thank you I'm just so worried about it. The new fruits and flowers started again a few weeks ago. It's actually looking a bit better than it was, but it is sadly too cold to be moving it in and out from outdoors (it's right by the kitchen door so I can move it out to the porch, it's perm summer spot, even it's needed! Hope your pepper turns out ok also

Also need to figure out a new support system for it. It's outgrowing the tomato cage I put over it

[Ruffsta]

Never can have to many

my wife says otherwise... lol

[SPierce]

Never can have to many

my wife says otherwise... lol

my roommates parents and my roommate would probably agree with your wife... but hey, as long as we get out plants, what does it matter?