This morning I thinned my rainbow chard to two plants per cell. I kept the two healthiest looking seedlings making sure to maintain a color variety. I then used the thinnings to top my sandwich.
All Posts by Sabine
First Fails of the Season
It’s not even April and I already recorded the first fail of the season. All my eggplant and hot pepper seedlings stalled after germination and never set true leaves. The only explanation I have is that I kept them on the heat mat for a few days after germination. Perhaps that was just too hot for the seedlings. I now will have to buy Thai pepper and Asian eggplant seedlings as it is too late to start new plants from seed.
Last Squash
Today, I used up the last butternut squash from the fall. I made a rose harissa-roasted squash salad with greens, toasted pumpkin seeds and blue cheese (because I did not have feta on hand) in a white balsamic vinegar dressing. It turned out pretty spectacular.
As for home-grown vegetables from last year, I still have garlic hanging in the pantry and a few beets in the fridge. In the freezer, there is still basil pesto, lemongrass, Thai basil, and Thai peppers. I used some of the lemon grass last week to make this lemongrass chicken dinner. Very good. It is nice to still enjoy some produce from the garden while this year’s harvest is starting its journey in the seedling trays.
Garden Plot 2024
This is my current garden plot diagram. I think it covers everything I want to plant this year. I have garden fleece and just ordered hoops and garden staples today, so I can build tunnels to protect my seedlings from rabbits and birds. Last year, ALL my bean seedlings were eaten by some critters; the plants did not stand a chance. I am planning on a different outcome this year. Fingers crossed.
Mid-March in the Garden Plot
Seedlings
New Seeds
All my newly ordered seeds for this season have arrived. I am all set for the season. Indoors, I already started leeks, kale, eggplant and hot peppers, and will start more eggplant (Pingtung) today.
An Overnight Dusting
We have not had much snow this winter, but overnight there was a bit of a dusting. I love the long February morning shadows.
Company
The leeks got company about a week ago, when I started my kale (ten plants). I only recently realized that I have a dwarf variety. I was wondering last year why the plants stayed so short and thought it was my soil. Turns out Blue Curled Scotch is a cold-hardy, “compact” variety that only grows up to a foot or foot-and-a-half tall. Today, I will be starting Hot Thai peppers and eggplant (Diamond), four seedlings each for now.
New Beginnings
I started my first seedlings today – leeks. This is the earliest start for me ever. The seeds are from last year. I sowed four cells (probably 8 or so per cell), which I covered with a clear plastic container and put under grow lights on the heat mat. They should germinate in about a week. Exciting!
