Very nice, Steve! No onion sprouts yet?

I have little bluestem grass that popped up a couple days ago, but its so small I can't even get a picture of it lol. The Agaststache also sprouted.

No onions, Zach.

The seeds are in the mix out there in the cool greenhouse. I'll say "cool" because it hasn't frosted for a couple of nights. Of course, it barely hits 50°, maybe. They will be along but some days having 90 minutes of sunshine and some days having none, it's taking them awhile.

The speedsters will be the bok choy. I can have some transplants that will get a start indoors before going out to the cool greenhouse. The onions are mostly on-their-own but I'll pamper the bok choy just a little because they can be transplanted into the hoop house after I get that set up in mid-March. They were a little damaged in there by frost last year so their time to soldier through will come. The only way I will be having stir-fry greens by the first of May.

Seedlings are difficult to photograph. Yeah, I had to ask mine to lay down like cover girls on the beach for that picture. I think yours are getting more light ...

Steve

I have a few packets of green onion seeds that I need to plant, but I will direct sow them. I have been wondering if now is too early, probably not, they will sit there until they are ready like yours. The problem is the beds are still too frozen for me to till in the layer of leaves and straw I put on top of them in fall. It wouldn't bode well to put in seeds then till them in with the mulch later, so I guess they will have to wait.

I always question planting cool weather spring crops here. I am worried it will either be too cold for them and we often get an abrupt changeover from the cold of winter straight into the heat of summer. I have cabbage and broccoli for this year, we'll see how it goes. I have bok choy seeds from last year that never got planted, but I'm planning on using them in the fall.

I don't have any place in the house that gets enough natural light for seedlings, so I have always started them under fluorescents. I need to reign in my indoor starting, space and cost of new lights seems to fluctuate with a general upwards trend. I like the thought of a beach.

It's early for starting indoors here except for onions. I did fair last year planting onion seed densely into a tunnel. This year I'm changing up a bit. They're going into a propagation dome inside a cold frame. So far about 50 spanish onions sprouted. Just put in walla walla onions a few days ago so it might be a week or so before those sprout. Got radishes and lettuces coming up this week in a tunnel.

I think one problem I have with peppers is their own fault. (See how I can transfer blame to the victims? Watch. ;o)

They are perennials so they can take quite a bit of abuse, right? I start them early - some in another week or so - because the seed so often germinates slowly. They end up in 4-packs ... and stay there.

The peppers don't show they are suffering, perennials, ya know. Event ually ... they make it out in the garden. There, the windy, cool, cloudy spring weather nearly does them in! ... but, they survive and the runty things produce a crop every year.

You know, the rambunctious tomatoes always demand 3 1/2" - 4" pots before their garden set-out. Instead of blaming the weather or the peppers, I really should get them outta those 4-packs and into something bigger. Don't tell them that I've admitted this.

Steve

The onions are the only thing I have really going at this point. My office at work is a sweat box on the south side, so I'm utilizing it for a number of things. I brought the onions home to cooler climes after germination, to be replaced with some flowers. Some peppers have sprouted, 10 days out (!), but that is a slow process as we know.

Since the local florist threw down the gauntlet last year, I'm going bigger and more diverse with my offerings. Trying a lot of new things and we'll see.

I have two flats of mixed onion varieties. One was started Feb. 9, and one Feb. 14. The first flat has already germinated and the majority of the seedlings are approaching the 1/2 inch mark. The second flat...well, nothing yet, but soon, I'm sure.

I am anxious because I want to lower the lights closer to the seedlings, but one flat has a humidity dome on it still.

Soon!

These have arrived:

They are SV4058NU onions. Don't names like that just delight and whet the appetite?!

Ovation onions apparently have made their final bow ... Shoot. Those were a great sweet onion for storage, as well as being productive. Not available, so I'm scouting for another variety. This one is a white and I don't know if it's considered a sweet but it's supposed to have some storage life to it ...

Steve

The first tomato seedlings taking their bow ...

I'm proud of them! Everything in this cookie box is an heirloom and from saved seed. They have jumped out ahead of the others from commercial outfits!

... could be by just a day and because of where they were sitting on top the fridge but I'd like to imagine that it's from the highly viable seed.

Steve

Wont be starting tomatoes for another 3 and a half weeks here, Steve!

I'd go with the "highly viable" explanation, too. Anything to toot my own horn ;).

Time for the tomatoes to join the onions, rosemary, and snapdragons for a day in the greenhouse! The asters may as well be drug out there, too. I think the rain clouds will be fewer for now and the South Window is too crowded! There are new seedlings waiting to fit in here!

It will be a bother moving them to and from and monitoring the temperatures but I can use the exercise and we all can use the fresh air. (I will try not to turn the heater on for a few more days.)

Steve

Cabbage, kale and broccoli seed - now in the soil mix. The plants and those things will stay in the greenhouse, tonight. There will be no sunshine to warm it tomorrow with the rainclouds. I've run the furnace. It works! Time to use it.

I moved those tomatoes into flats of 4-packs, today. They will be in 3 1/2" pots in a few more weeks. Then, to the garden ...

Oh! It made it above 60°f today!

ツ Steve

Wow Steve! Do you separate all those seedlings? Good heavens!

The parsley for some reason looks not so good, the mix they are in might be holding too much water.

Peppers look good except they are kind of leggy this year. Almost time for them to get new pots, too. But since there is only one per cell, they can hang out a little longer.

I sowed lettuce on the 15th and it sprouted on the 17th, but too small for a picture yet. That's the fastest I've ever had seeds sprout.

That's pretty much all I have going on now. Next Sunday I'll probably start my tomatoes and then I'll be done with the indoor stuff.

Very nice plants and photos, Zach.

There are a few more plants here than need be used but yes, asters and snaps will go in 6 packs.

DW and her smaller digits will be enlisted and I am likely to do only a few ツ.

Steve

Usually I start things inside earlier than this but with the vacation to The Big Easy just finished I didn't want to start earlier. It was enough things to take care of outside for my roommate and son that I didn't want to also ask that they take care of indoor seedlings.

No pictures yet but started peppers, eggplants, marjoram, parsley, zinnias, african marigolds maybe a few others that I'm forgetting. Still 8-10 weeks to get stuff outdoors so I believe all will be good. All my onions I've started outside with protection.

I'm going to clear out one of the cold frames and add heat (Christmas lights) and try starting peppers, tomatoes soon as a test.

Peppers and chilies are pushing out...and the onion seedlings got another mowing yesterday. I chopped them down to about 3 inches. A few more weeks and they'll be ready to plant out.

I'll be starting tomatoes, ground cherries, and tomatillos the same weekend the onions get planted out.

This will be my first year with tomatilloes. I guess.

If they ever come up!

Purple and green ... I've got their relative for the flower garden. Had Chinese Lanterns once before. Cute things. They didn't turn invasive so, I'm risking bringing them over the border, again.

Steve

I have wanted to grow tomatillos for a long time (I make a lot of chili verde and salsa) but never had enough room. I wonder if they would do well in pots, like peppers? I may have to try it some time.

Tomatillos are easy, and you won't be disappointed if you try them! They benefit greatly from a large tomato cage, and get about 40 inches high. They will sprawl quite widely if not caged, and hit the ground eventually. They're neat looking when allowed to grow wide, but I keep mine caged.

Two or sometimes three plants have been enough for my spouse and I. We canned some green salsa last year, and I froze a whole bunch of them.

Steve, I hope they show up soon!

I think they're cool plants, easy to grow, reliable, and I've had good results with them in pots, too. I'd suggest a 5 gallon nursery pot. I've also found them to be thirsty plants.

Bees like them.

Zach, I use them in chili, too.

I've noticed a few things while growing them over the years:

-Earwigs love them. I've started using diatomaceous earth under them, around the stem, and I keep the bottom foliage trimmed and off the ground. The wiggly little guys like to live under the papery husk of the fruit - I'm sure it's awesome in there for a bug - and while they don't really harm the fruit, they leave a lot of waste behind. It's quite gross to peel back the husk on a tomatillo you just picked and find it covered in bugs and bug manure. The diatomaceous earth really helps keep the plant clear of earwigs.
-They grow quickly and do very little fruiting all summer, then it all comes at once at the very end of the season, and it can be overwhelming at times. They're ready to pick when they husk is just full. If the husk has started to split, they're still great, but a bit sweeter rather than tart.
-They keep a long time in the fridge. I keep them there in a bowl, using what I need for a couple weeks while they're in season. They freeze really well, too. Remove the husks, wash them and freeze whole in gallon freezer bags, so I can take out only what I need. After a few minutes of thawing on the counter, they can be cut up for cooking with. I've also cut them in half, roasted them in the oven for an hour at low heat; I scoop them into Ziploc freezer bags after they cool in recipe size increments and freeze them for use in salsas later, or chili. Mostly I freeze them raw, whole,
-The purple ones almost always disappoint me. I've tried several varieties, and some of the purples have a funky smell that isn't necessarily enjoyable. Like a particular stinky spring tree. I'm growing purple again this year, too, because why not (lol) but honestly the big green ones like 'Cisneros' are the best.

I grow all my peppers in 5 gallon "Homer" buckets and they do amazing. It also helps that they prefer to dry out somewhat between waterings and typically don't complain TOO loudly if I neglect them a little too much.

If you think the tomatillos can withstand my laissez faire gardening style in a 5 gallon bucket, I will probably give them a go this year. Do you start them before, after or around the same time as tomatoes?

"Like a particular stinky spring tree."

You wouldn't be talking about the callery pear would you?

http://www.westword.com/arts/meet-the-tree-thats-making-your-neighborhood-smell-like-semenville-usa-5780867

Uh, oh. Thank you, Mattewgg.

There are 6 tomatillo seedlings today. All of them are purple!

Maybe the green will show up but, as it is, I'm wondering which neighbor I can give the purple ...

Steve

LOL. Yep, that pear is the culprit! A couple of the purple tomatillos were reminiscent of that odor. I've bought so many different purples over the years, I don't recall the specific variety. Baker Creek has carried an ever-changing variety of tomatillos and I tend to try them all at least once.

Steve, they might be OK. Not all the purples are funky!

Zach, I am starting tomatoes and tomatillos at the same time this year. I've done them earlier in the past, but despite being slow starts they quickly outgrow the lights, so I do them later now and aim for 4-6 week old seedlings to harden off and plant out.

Nearly every single plant out there and the greenhouse furnace failed this morning. It was only 30°f outdoors here this morning but everything was white when I looked out the kitchen window at 4 AM. It was freezing fog ... the greenhouse was 41°.

It was probably just my imagination but the tomato seedlings looked a little purple after the morning sun burnt through the fog ... everything else seemed fine.

The furnace is one like might be installed under the ceiling in a garage. It works really well but I had to try restarting it with turning the thermostat off and on - fail. Turned power off at the breaker box ... back on ... it starts! I think my 2 bathroom heaters would work but, soon, I will need one or both for the hoop houses!

The furnace sits unused for 10 months out of the year. It wouldn't start at all about 8 or 10 years ago and cost me $300 in repair work. At nearly 20 years of age, maybe it should be replaced.

Steve

60°f

Up 3 times to check thermometer. Don't trust anything ... Will go out ...

Steve

True enuf.

Half Moon. Out before WS says freezing. Warm day yesterday. Frost on top the pickup.

Tea steeping in front of microwave. Need to check toast ... just right! Thick sliced homemade bread. CNN called it a "super food." You can do a search. I spilled flour in kitchen chair making it, 2 days ago.

Peeled this very sweet orange. They didn't need to tell digitS' that thumbs were invented before knives. Nice banana ... yogurt, strawberry.

And so, my early morning/overnight life will be for the next 6 weeks. Sleep well on warm nights. Pacific Daylight Time ... wherever.

Steve

I was hoping the old furnace would get you through the season, Steve. Darn it! Hang in there and take naps when you can.

We have one more bout with winter tomorrow, then we're warming up nicely.

I'll keep my fingers crossed for warm nights for you!

Barb

Don't feel too bad about the furnace, I nearly killed my peppers, came home yesterday and saw them completely shriveled and nearly crispy. Fortunately they all recovered.

Parsley, agastaches and little bluestem all look awful, too. You win some, you lose some I guess.

Nice weather forecast right through the weekend!

Things should be okay in the short-term. Tomorrow morning will be the only one with the low below 40°f. April will bring more frosts but they are over the horizon, at the moment. A brief respite and the furnace will be firing each and every night. It just won't be disastrous if it fails again within the next 5 or so days. If it does fail again, I may even have the time to have repairs or replacement done before the cold is back.

Thank You for the Well Wishes ت .

Steve

Well, they aren't "under the sun" just yet but...

The tomatoes have arrived! Just as of the 31st and the 1st, sown on the 26th while I was sitting inside, probably watching snow falling outside.