Stop Crape Maiming!

I've been saying this for years!

http://ideastations.org/radio/news/tree-advocates-sound-annual-alarm-stop-crepe-murder

Wall-o-Waters

Oh boy, gardening season has really started! I had a thought as I was walking through the neighborhood today: "After the winter, even the weeds are welcome!" Though I know I'll be singing another tune in just a few short weeks!

Wall-o-Waters (or WW)-see the photo above- were all the rage about five years ago. These season extenders allow you to plant heat-loving vegetables before the average last frost date in your region.  Well, I bought a pack of three, and then never used them. So I have set them up today, March 26, to plant tomatoes in less than a week. You're supposed to set these up at least 3-4 days in advance of planting, to allow them to warm up. You take the empty WW, open them up, put them in position, insert stakes to hold them up, and slowly fill them until all the cells are filled with water. It takes between 1.5 and 2 gallons of water to fill each WW.

Unfortunately, I think my tomato seedlings are just too small to begin to harden off to plant into the WW's.  I do have extra tomato seedlings, as is typical for me (I start more than I need, in the event of seed failure), so I might just put a few into the WW's to see if they survive. If not, then I will be looking for hardened off, mature tomato seedlings a bit earlier than they are typically available in my area.  I am a bit skeptical as to whether these will really advance the season or not.

I will keep you posted!

Off and Running!

My peas are up, saw the first seedling leaves poking up less than a week after I planted them!

Quote?

Has anyone heard a quote like this and know the source?
"Gardener: Definition: noun: A person who maintains their optimism despite the evidence of repeated failure."

Peas, Please

Like Thomas Jefferson, I adore peas. Unlike Jefferson, I grow the edible-podded kind, the sugar snap peas. I have a lot to contend with an order to get my peas, please. First, there are the voles. See my various entries on voles to learn how I am trying to defeat them.  The second enemy is rabbits. This year, I will be completely fencing in my peas, and my beans, from the bunnies who love to mow them down. It seems that nothing attracts rabbits to my garden faster than legumes.  The last obstacle to growing lots of wonderful peas is the weather. Here in the central region of Virginia, spring is short and the hot weather often comes quickly. Peas abhor hot weather, ending their production and dying when it gets too warm. Typically, peas are planted on St. Patrick's Day. However, I find that this is too short a season for peas.  Of course, planting earlier is often too early, and they get zapped by frost. I have tried planting them under row covers with some success, but this year I am starting my peas indoors in peat pots.  I noted on the local botanical garden's blog that this is how they start their peas. I am hoping that this will give me a significant head start, so all I will have a longer pea-producin' season than usual.

Many plants, when started indoors, need to have some bottom heat. This includes tomatoes, eggplants, and peppers.   I start these in flats, atop heat mats. However peas, along with lettuce and other greens, will not sprout if the soil is too warm. So, my sunroom, which stays around 50° at night, and no higher than 70° during the day in the winter, should be perfect.

Can't wait!

Happy gardening!

Walnut Trees and Juglone

I know, this is another  repost.   However, if you garden in the area full of walnut trees, as I do, this post provides some good information on what you can grow under a walnut tree and what plants are sensitive to the allelopathic substance (a chemical that impedes the growth of other plants) in them:

https://newmoonnursery.wordpress.com/2016/01/26/but-nothing-will-grow-there/

Mulch Volcanoes

Just the topic I was going to post on!  Thank you, LGBG!

http://www.lewisginter.org/volcanoes-vs-doughnuts/

LGBG blog mulching trees