What did you do in the garden today?

[jerryse]

Thunder and light rain. I have native Lupine up from seed. I have not had much luck from hybrids. Figured go native. A bit of info on Hollyhock. I observed years ago some roots would die in the center and new plantlets would form on the outside. I had one Halo from seed last year and it had a branched surface root. I cut it off and planted it in a tub late fall. The root rotted and left me 3 plantlets. So clones. A good thing as the original disappeared over winter. I think a vole got it. So no Halo variety flowers this year.

 

[Sally PB]

I spent $40 on a gallon sized potted hollyhock last year. Do they come up from the roots? Or from the seeds it dropped? I've never had them before. I planted it for the honeybees.

 

[Smokerbill]

not sure about @Swiss but I do the same. as seedlings grow I add more soil.

That's what I suspected. Makes sense.

 

[Minanora]

That's what I suspected. Makes sense.

I have mixed feelings about this. I've never seen this technique before. @chickengr and @Swiss what benefits do you see with this method? Do the seedlings still get transplanted into larger pots?

I can see the pro of not having to up-pot, and adding roots from the stem like when you bury a transplant in the garden.

But I feel like it's making a leggy seedling in the beginning and not allowing the original root ball to expand like it would if it got up-potted as it grew. Also risking dampening or other disease issues for such young seedlings.

Do you guys think the tomatoes grown with this method do better than a traditional start?

Eager to learn.

ETA: I assume when you add more soil you're not lifting the plant and adding below the roots. Rather, burying the stem as it grows up out of the cup.

Also ETA: does this method work better for specific varieties or types of tomatoes?

 

[Wee Farmer Sarah]

Good morning gardeners. Yesterday didn’t go as planned but I did get the bed where the San Marzanos are going cleaned and prepped. Way too early to plant but it felt good working on the prep. I did a little watering this morning. We did have frost over night but the peach tree is holding onto the unopened buds quite well. Fingers crossed there’s no damage. We have another frosty night this week then the temperatures will be climbing into the 70’s. I’m hoping to finish filling the hugelkutur bed today and get the leeks, onions and sugar beets planted.

 

[Liz Birdlover]

They keep changing this week's forecast. Temps dipping down more each day, those numbers in the 30s keep being predicted lower...well, gonna be a brutal week for northward Gardeners, so I feel for you more northern states. Hopefully, this is the last of the Spring 2024 frost warnings for y'all.

 

[Smokerbill]

I have mixed feelings about this. I've never seen this technique before. @chickengr and @Swiss what benefits do you see with this method? Do the seedlings still get transplanted into larger pots?

I can see the pro of not having to up-pot, and adding roots from the stem like when you bury a transplant in the garden.

But I feel like it's making a leggy seedling in the beginning and not allowing the original root ball to expand like it would if it got up-potted as it grew. Also risking dampening or other disease issues for such young seedlings.

Do you guys think the tomatoes grown with this method do better than a traditional start?

Eager to learn.

ETA: I assume when you add more soil you're not lifting the plant and adding below the roots. Rather, burying the stem as it grows up out of the cup.

Also ETA: does this method work better for specific varieties or types of tomatoes?

Great questions! I've never seen tomato plants grown this way either.

 

[Acre4Me]

got to harvest one asparagus spear today!

Yay! We’ve harvested 3x now - and they are sweeter than what you get in the store! Maybe it’s the variety (“Millenium” I think is the variety), maybe bc it’s so fresh.


My time is spent with the goats. Little orphan Annie gets milk several times a day. But it’s a process bc have to get mom or Aunt into milking stand for her to nurse. They (moms) need treats. Mom Molly runs off into chicken run to steel a bite or two of chicken feed if I lose hold of her collar! Aunt Roxie stands longingly at the outer door staring at dandelions. Today Annie was disbudded. She did great at the vet and he gave her a pain shot that lasts 24 hours. The boys are almost two weeks past their disbudding.

A couple of cute pics of Annie outside.

Still havent started tomatoes. But, maybe today (I’ve said that before).

We bought some limb spreaders from Stark to spread some limbs on some of the older trees. I’ll also need to pull some down with padded wire.

The lentils I planted in a raised bed are sprouting!

The Marshall strawberries I planted last year are looking great! Leaves are so glossy! I’m looking forward to some berries!

@WthrLady my Rhubarb also tried flowering year 2. I split some of them this year, but the ones I didn’t split are trying to flower. Cut off the flowers/entire flower stalk bc the take all the energy, and provide no value, but you probably already know that.

 

[WthrLady]

Thank you! I wish they were each on their own automatic zone control valve. But that would be overkill, says DH. 4 are on one valve, two on another, then my berries have their own valve. Our water volume is pretty poor so I was able to justify splitting them up a bit. That was a labor intensive project, I'm glad I'm finished.

I'm counting the new drip lines as a separate project. 1/4" barbs are torture. I'm not even half way done with that nightmare. Trying to push through, it's easy to think about saving this one for fall. Who needs vacations or regular working hours, I can hand water, right?

Anyway I pulled almost all of my onions today. Nearly every one went to flower. So I'm going to chop them up and freeze bags of them. I was hoping to get bigger bulbs but eh, I'll start seed this fall and try again. Garlic is doing great though.

The weather is whiplashing again. It was 65 today, 88 yesterday.

There's a tool for that.
OR you can use a very small Phillips head screwdriver, pinch the 1/2 inch tubing so it's firm, and gently poke a guide hole for the 1/4 inch barb.

 

[WthrLady]

not sure about @Swiss but I do the same. as seedlings grow I add more soil.

Me too. As the stem get longer I add soil. Everywhere the soil touches stem, the plant grows roots, making for a VERY strong, Very water efficient plant.