For the past few days we've been enjoying truly wonderful weather here in New England. It is indeed a nice change from the torrential rain and cold winds we experienced not too long ago. This past weekend, I was able to get out into the garden to do a bit of cleanup and digging. While the recent rains caused my garden to flood for a few days, it also helped to thaw out the soil. Even the beds that were left uncovered this winter were easy to turn over.
I went ahead and transplanted some of my cool weather greens (Shanghai bok choy, Mizuna and Tuscan Kale) underneath one of my mini hoop houses. Admittedly, I neglected to harden them off beforehand. Regardless of this, they seem to have adjusted to the protected environment just fine. Our nights are averaging near freezing, but the days are warming up dramatically. With the increasing sunlight, I have to be more diligent about venting my hoops as temperatures inside are now reaching into the low 80's at mid-day. In fact, my spinach is already showing signs of heat stress.
It felt really good to get my hand dirty. The soil blocks were incredibly easy to transplant and I'm happy to say that none of my seedlings were damaged in the process. Hopefully, I can start to harvest some Mizuna and bok choy at the end of this month.
In other news, the overwintered chives are starting to sprout again...
...and my hard-neck garlic is finally showing some signs of life.
The spring growing season has officially begun! I hope you all are as excited as I am!
Oh wow, you're really off ! Looking great, Thomas. Happy Spring !
ReplyDeleteThe seedlings look nice and healthy.
ReplyDeleteLooking good, Thomas!
ReplyDeleteLooking good!
ReplyDeleteIs it wrong that I want to wear my dirty fingernails as some kind of accessory?? It felt so good to dig in the dirt this weekend.
I got a lot done before the rains came last night. Turned and shifted the compost, starting turning the soil behind the orchard for a new garden space, seeded a raised bed with lettuce and spinach, and planted two grape vines! Ah...heaven!
Haha! Lisa, your dirty finger nails are definitely a badge of honor. Wear them with pride! Who knows, you might get compliments from a gardener or two.
ReplyDeletewow, Thomas, you actually did some outdoor gardening, lucky you!
ReplyDeleteWe had a few days of spring and now we in the middle of snowfall. I had so many plans for garden in March, I guess that I will have to move all of that to April.
Yeah spring! New sprouts after a long winter are just the best thing in the world.
ReplyDeleteHow nice. The first step for me is the snow melting. Once the snow melts I will be able to put in my first garden. Then I will dig a second and third. The second and third I plan to plant for late fall and late winter harvests.
ReplyDeleteJumping for joy right alongside you Thomas!
ReplyDeleteBeing reminded that spring is nearly here only further reminds me of everything I still need to get done. Perhaps, a sick day is in order.
ReplyDeleteEverything looks wonderful.
It seems that Spring really does *spring* forth in cold climates like yours. Around here the change sneaks up on you. It seems like winter drags on and it won't stop raining (or it won't start in dry years), and then you realize how much the garden has grown and there's flowers - aha, it must be spring!
ReplyDeletethose transplants look awesome, and the soil in the bed looks all clean and tidy, too! You rock Thomas....
ReplyDeleteI was stressing over my zero germination on my chive seeds but was pleasantly surprised to see a decent sized clump in the garden yesterday! Not only did I forget I had some in there that I chopped back last fall, but that tells you how infrequently I was checking on my beds... ooops!!
ReplyDeleteIt has been nice and spring like lately! Your starts look great. My poly tunnel has heated up so much my overwinter napa cabbage is bolting. Must start remembering to vent...
ReplyDeleteI checked yesterday and my soil finally thawed too. This warm spell really got things going. Weather.com tells me that for the next ten days I won't even see below freezing weather. Too bad I don't have some early transplants to put out. Usually our March weather isn't so nice, so I haven't prepared for it.
ReplyDeleteThe transplants look great thomas! It's amazing how fast things come along once the solar energy level and length of day starts increasing. You will be enjoying fresh greens very soon.
ReplyDeleteYou really have this growing thing figured out, don't you? I think you're just spoofing us when you say you're a "beginner". Nobody is this good after one short gardening season ;-)
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