Since I needed to keep the varieties separate, I made a couple of extra sprouters out of plastic cups by copying the design -- radiating slits on the bottom with box cutter, slits enlarged with scissor blade, and top rim cut to create air gaps when suspended above an outer cup. Rinse the soaked seeds and then strain in the sprouter and drip dry. Cover with ventilated cover to maintain some humidity.
Today, I sowed two kinds of favas (Ianto's and Extra Precoce A Grano Violetto), two kinds of shelling garden peas (Karina and Little Marvel), and one kind of snow peas (Green Beauty) -- they were already starting to sprout.
Was going to sow a tall pole variety shelling pea (Tall Telephone Alderman), but ran out of time. Those were almost ready to sprout so they probably will be sprouted by tomorrow and I'll need to sow them no matter what....I'm wiped! That was a lot of shoveling the sand from the pile on the drive way, spreading compost, raking, smoothing, mounding rows, etc. but this bed was in good shape for planting -- Sowing the seeds was almost an afterthought.
But the entire time I was patting them down one last time (for good soil contact and to make sure I didn't forget to cover any) the grackles and redwinged blackbirds were calling from the top of the trees, announcing their return. I could almost FEEL their beady little eyes boring into the back of my head, and HEAR them telling each other that here's another sap putting food in the ground for their benefit.
...so I tied down an insect netting cover over the Fava and pea bed.
Then I had to put all the tools away and carry most of the seedlings as well as a big container avocado I set out to enjoy the sun back inside! I did leave all of the onions, broccoli, and cauliflower seedlings under the low tunnel to continue hardening off.
This is the time of the season when I have to be careful and slowly get myself back in shape for gardening. I think I'm going to be sore tomorrow....
Spring is here too. I have cabbage and broccoli seedlings in the ground (for the second time, after the first ones got blasted), and carrot, celery, spinach, lettuce and scallion seeds planted (and garlic onions and spinach that over-wintered from fall). Today I will plant some peas and try to find some chard seed. That's my how could I possibly not have ordered it seed!
