Dreaming of Spring Gardening in the Middle of a Wisconsin winter part 2

[ShrekDawg]

The key to good germination in most seeds is to not really cover them. I plant on the top of the soil and water them in. Most seeds won't germinate if buried. I always put plastic wrap over them and set them in a sunny window. Not sure how you are starting your.

Thanks! That’s good advice. I planted mine but not very deep at all, just barely under. And I put them in a tray with a dome over it and on a heat mat.

 

[ShrekDawg]

Got some more seeds. They were 40% off. Got them for my dad.

 

[Callender Girl]

Well, Lisa, I start mine with great enthusiasm, then I kill them. I think I may be burying them too deeply and will try your approach next time. Also, I need to be more mindful about watering; all of my long-term houseplants have adapted to exist despite a fair amount of neglect.

Actually, four of my first Walla Wallas appear to be hanging in there, so I planted another batch over the weekend -- which I will remember to check DAILY this time.

And, Jim, my next "victims" will likely be the Four Seasons lettuce seeds that may end up being container grown, far away from the bands of ravaging squirrels and bunnies.

I may need to dig up a lot of Italian recipes this year because when I gathered all my new seeds into the same storage container, I discovered that I've purchased three packets of basil seeds already. Some years ago, I inherited a LOT of basil from a friend, so I have experience with drying a bumper crop.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Basil , that's all I have to say about that. Tried it a few years ago and couldn't spit it out fast enough. I'm not a big fan of any spices, so it's not surprising. I do like thyme and dill.

I only seed at the surface when I start plants inside, and outside I barely cover. I've had great luck starting plants this way. I read plant seeds at 2 times the depth of the seed at the most.

 

[jvls1942]

speaking of seeds,,, if the rhubarb does well this summer
I think I will let some of the seed pods mature. I have different
varieties, I don't know the names of any of them, but one that
my sister gave to me lasted right up into fall.
that is the one I want to propagate ..
this year I can harvest the rhubarb quite heavily.
I am thinking of selling plants in the future.. Nobody
around here does that..

 

[EagleEyes]

Good reminder
I got some rhubarb from a neighbor last year and still have some in the freezer.
Time for a batch of rhubarb sauce

 

[Callender Girl]

Sorry to hear that you find basil repulsive, Lisa. I've always thought EVERYBODY likes it! I am also a fan of thyme and dill, and really like fresh dill cooked with scrambled eggs.

I was at Dollar Tree yesterday and, inspired by TheDawg's bargain seed purchases, invested a whopping $1 on four packets of seeds -- two of those were the aforementioned thyme and dill, as well as radish and pumpkin. The pumpkins are for my sheep, goats and poultry, really.

My sister is visiting this week and helping me with projects. One of today's -- in addition to driving after my eye doctor visit -- is getting the old battery out and a new (madly expensive) one put into my truck so I can pick up hay this week. I dug the charger out of the garage yesterday and gave that an unsuccessful go, which is what I expected.

According to the sticker, it's a wonder that battery lasted as long as it did since it appears my dad bought it in January 2016!

 

[ShrekDawg]

Sorry to hear that you find basil repulsive, Lisa. I've always thought EVERYBODY likes it! I am also a fan of thyme and dill, and really like fresh dill cooked with scrambled eggs.

I was at Dollar Tree yesterday and, inspired by TheDawg's bargain seed purchases, invested a whopping $1 on four packets of seeds -- two of those were the aforementioned thyme and dill, as well as radish and pumpkin. The pumpkins are for my sheep, goats and poultry, really.

My sister is visiting this week and helping me with projects. One of today's -- in addition to driving after my eye doctor visit -- is getting the old battery out and a new (madly expensive) one put into my truck so I can pick up hay this week. I dug the charger out of the garage yesterday and gave that an unsuccessful go, which is what I expected.

According to the sticker, it's a wonder that battery lasted as long as it did since it appears my dad bought it in January 2016!

I hope the seeds do well for you!! And good luck with everything

 

[jvls1942]

batteries, dryers, washers, water heaters,
every time one of those poops out, I say,
I just bought that, then Annie digs out the
receipt and I am shocked at how long ago it
really was ..
I hope you all have good luck with your seeds.
today I hope to get some tractor time in. I want
to remove the piles along the house that slid off
of the roof. they bother Annie, you know,,,
happy wife, happy life..
I also want to get into the shop and measure
the base of the table saw so I can cut the pieces
of oak for the rolling base..
no sun this morning. it would be nice to see
it shine today.

 

[Callender Girl]

Eye doctor yesterday told me something no one ever says to me: "You're normal." But, I think he just meant my vision. I've been wearing "cheaters" for years; this was my first-ever visit to an eye doctor. So, I was relieved that nothing bad showed up.

The big project of the day was removing the truck battery. There was a lot of corrosion. We had to spray some lubricant and let it take a few hours to work. We were so excited when we FINALLY got the cables loose from both posts; it took a lot of elbow grease.

Then, we realized the battery was still held in place with a bracket. I inherited a lot of tools from Jim, but even the 256-piece Craftsman mechanic's tool set didn't have an extension long enough for the socket wrench to reach to the bottom of the bracket.

Carolyn and I spent more than an hour of combing through totes, shelves and tool boxes trying to find an extension. Jim, God bless him, was not keen on organization or putting things back where he found them.

Sure, we could have just driven back into town and bought an extension at Menards, but darn it, we not quitters. Until about 5 p.m.

Then, I called on one of Jim's friends who lives in the next little town and Frankie, who has every tool known to mankind and took over building the chicken coop two years ago that Carolyn and I started, swooped in with the right tool and did the job in minutes.

Today, I will buy a new battery, a socket wrench extension AND a battery post brush so I can prevent corrosion build-up next time.

Glad we got that done when the weather, which had hit the 50's on Monday, was still in the high 40's yesterday. Today, I woke up to at least an inch of snow on the ground.