2026 gardens

[DJ54]

Frost date here is May 15 so not getting too excited yet. Will start some plants in the germination chamber this week through.

 

[SONNY]

the cold nights here have me on hold for starting any more stuff in the greenhouse. Radishes are 4" tall in there and 1 box of lettuce doin good but the second box not germinating --- old seed i guess in that one. Cabbage and cauliflower flats not growing either. I think they sayin ---too early !!!!

 

[DJ54]

Got the garden turned over today. Sprayed the germination chamber down with bleach water to sanitize it. Filled slow cooker with water and turned it on to make sure everything works. Will start some tomatoes, cabbage, brussels sprouts, and maybe a couple other things tomorrow in seed trays.

 

[SONNY]

plowed a bit more of the garden here yesterday, --- ground so dry the cub wont pull the 10" brinley bottom very deep ---- i always go 18" but now cant get over 10" with it and front end off the ground all the time. Didnt get the #70 cleaned up yet so been struggling with the cub to get done a little at a time.
Potatoes starting to come up, onions took off growing now and thats about all i got done yet other than the radishes and lettuce in the greenhouse ready to harvest.

 

[v w]

I have a germinating chamber in the porch for germination. There are heat mats. Porch is heated. I have a mini greenhouse inside the main greenhouse which contains some slower growers. Peppers are there some flowers and yesterday tomatoes. Getting ready to open entire greenhouse. Wife has a bunch of geranium (sp?) cuttings going. Need to do some cleaning. Can't till garden. Sloppy wet. Rain and wind means nothing much outside has been done. Vern

 

[DJ54]

Got 4 varieties of tomatoes ( 14 dozen), Cabbage (204 plants) and a dozen Brussels Sprouts started in trays and in the germination chamber. Used my trusty high-tech pencil to make divots in trays and pick up seed. That's a cabbage seed hanging on the end of the pencil. Works pretty slick. Just dip it in water, shake off excess and you can pick up 4-6 seeds before needing to dip in water again. Sure beats a pair of tweezers.

 

[v w]

Got 4 varieties of tomatoes ( 14 dozen), Cabbage (204 plants) and a dozen Brussels Sprouts started in trays and in the germination chamber. Used my trusty high-tech pencil to make divots in trays and pick up seed. That's a cabbage seed hanging on the end of the pencil. Works pretty slick. Just dip it in water, shake off excess and you can pick up 4-6 seeds before needing to dip in water again. Sure beats a pair of tweezers.

One way to do it! I use a method in use by the local greenhouses 50 years ago. I simply scatter the number of seeds I want into a 2" deep tray like what vegtables are in from the grocery store. After they have developed their first true leaves they are transplanted into flats to grow on. Don't water at transplant time as it then becomes hard to seperate close plants. Bare root is ok. The greenhouses today are automated. Seeders plant seeds into soil about the size of a sugar cube which is then transplanted at first leaves. We have a lot of greenhouses in the area. My first years of growing tomato seeds was 70 years ago in a hot bed. Dug a shallow pit, placed manure in it sprinkled nitrogen fertilizer on it, cover it with soil and then a frame with an old storm window. A week later plant tomato seeds. Dad wanted to try some tomatoes but couldn't buy the plants. I found your post interesting. Good gardening and do what works for you! Vern

 

[DJ54]

One way to do it! I use a method in use by the local greenhouses 50 years ago. I simply scatter the number of seeds I want into a 2" deep tray like what vegtables are in from the grocery store. After they have developed their first true leaves they are transplanted into flats to grow on. Don't water at transplant time as it then becomes hard to seperate close plants. Bare root is ok. The greenhouses today are automated. Seeders plant seeds into soil about the size of a sugar cube which is then transplanted at first leaves. We have a lot of greenhouses in the area. My first years of growing tomato seeds was 70 years ago in a hot bed. Dug a shallow pit, placed manure in it sprinkled nitrogen fertilizer on it, cover it with soil and then a frame with an old storm window. A week later plant tomato seeds. Dad wanted to try some tomatoes but couldn't buy the plants. I found your post interesting. Good gardening and do what works for you! Vern

I've tried several ways to start seeds including starting them in paper towels, actually percolator coffee filters work better, the roots don't grow through them like paper towels. Now I have advanced to building my own germination chamber from an old freezer, 2 qt. slow cooker to provide heat and moisture, a heat mat thermostat to control the slow cooker, and a small grow light. I normally have tomatoes and cabbage germinate in 36-40 hours, so I'll have to be checking on them tomorrow afternoon. From there into my mini green house to finish out to transplant size.

 

[DJ54]

Rubbed the garden down today for the first time, worked down decently.

Also helped plant 300 lbs. of potatoes at Smeck Park, Baltimore OH. using my little horse drawn converted to Fast Hitch Champion potato planter on the Farmall 140. Took about 45 minutes to get them in the ground. Love this little planter..!!