What did you do in the garden today?

[pennyJo1960]

got new seeds they guarantee sprouting of 65 %

 

[BReeder!]

got new seeds they guarantee sprouting of 65 %

Interesting. That seems like an easy target with just about any seeds I buy as long as they are meant for this year. I have to imagine that's a very safe guarantee. And frankly I would be disappointed if 1 out of every 3 seeds didn't sprout yet they could still be within their guarantee.

That said, I do hole they grow well and produce what you desire.

 

[BReeder!]

Some updates:
I made it home finally about 15 minutes ago. Everybody is sleeping so I figured I would check on things and go to bed. I looked at the sweet potatoes I am trying to sprout slips off of on the counter and noticed they needed a water change. While dumping, rinsing and refilling the solo chips they are in I noticed these one of them:

There are little roots started!

Then I decided I should check the two russet potatoes I put in the wire basket in the pantry. Look what I found there:

The russets are starting to sprout!

You better believe I was excited about all this growth. Iut made me feel like Spring is finally here. Of course I just walked in from 16F outside. It's supposed to be 38F later today though, in the 40s tomorrow and and 50s on Sunday! Maybe Spring really is here... I'm not getting my hopes up though.

 

[cavemanrich]

Last summer, I tried to grow a sweet potato,,,,, just for the foliage in a pot. I buried it, and watered it,,,,,, and NOTHING HAPPENED. Gave it a month.
I threw it out, but before I did, looked at it. Nothing happened to it when it was buried in soil.
I don't think farmers sprout their sweet potato starts in jars.

 

[BReeder!]

Last summer, I tried to grow a sweet potato,,,,, just for the foliage in a pot. I buried it, and watered it,,,,,, and NOTHING HAPPENED. Gave it a month.
I threw it out, but before I did, looked at it. Nothing happened to it when it was buried in soil.
I don't think farmers sprout their sweet potato starts in jars.

Farmers do stay then from slips that have to be grown of a tuber in some way.
Instead of shaking them in water, there is a method of planting them halfway in warm, moist soil to get them started. I'm sure it's possible to just plant them in the ground too, but apparently limited success since slips are they everybody is growing them. That said, they seem to be finicky, sometimes taking just a week or two to sprout and then other times taking two months.

 

[jerryse]

Morning . 7 here . Should be the last cold morning for a few days .

 

[Acre4Me]

14F at 730 am. The baby chicks slept in a spare bedroom as it got to 12F last night. Plan is one more night indoors then in the barn with heat plate for warmth. Might add a heat lamp bc night temps will be low again end of next week. Alternatively I might be able to talk spouse into rolling the brooder into the insulated workshop for those few cold nights - it will be a bit warmer in there, and even better if we turn on the wood stove.

nice weather the next few days, so I plan to turn the dirt in the garden beds and will try to add sulfur to the big bed that has the high pH. Have not started seeds yet, am waiting for March.

@hysop, your compost might be ready since you are in a generally warmer and wet/humid climate. Does your compost contain a lot of wood chips? Is it looking like dirt? In my case, the compost freezes solid for a couple of winter months, but we also need to revamp our compost bins as they are too small and it is hard to effectively turn them right now. But, they are now moved to a more appropriate spot, and we plan to construct a better compost bin better suited to a larger pile. Hopefully if we can get it large enough, maybe it won’t freeze completely. Our pile is a lot of shavings and chicken poop, along with egg shells, tea bags, coffee grounds, and miscellaneous produce. Once the garden starts up, it will get some more greens.

 

[Wee Farmer Sarah]

Good morning gardeners. A little frosty this morning, 9F at 6:30 am. It's now up to a balmy 18F. I'll get that warm front that is in your area now by tomorrow. The temps are supposed to be in the 40's for about 5 days straight so hoping the ice pack in the backyard finally melts. I decided to order starter soil from Amazon rather than wasting gas driving from store to store looking for it. I also ordered a soil test kit. They should be delivered on Tuesday. The prices were pretty decent and the delivery is free. As far as using the compost right now @hysop, I would caution against that. I know in warmer climates the compost breaks down faster than they do here, but a month is not very long. I have a tumbler that freezes solid in the winter, but thaws occasionally. The piles are able to maintain a bit more heat at the bottom. I discovered that the ground does not freeze under the compost pile during the winter so there is some breaking down of the materials going on. That said, in my climate, compost takes a bit longer. My gardening goal for the day is to collect all my containers for planting and taking an inventory of that. I don't think I need to purchase any additional trays as I have saved the old ones from previous years. I'm concerned about my little Meyer Lemon tree. Although the lemon is on it's slow road to ripening, the little tree looks a little peaked. I have the urge to pick it then give the little tree some TLC. Best of luck with your new additions @Acre4Me and @penny1960. Have a great day everyone.

 

[jerryse]

Morning . It was 7 here and a high of 39 predicted .

 

[hysop]

Just wanted to share my pear seeds. I need to put the sprouting ones in an actual pot already because I saw a root out of that little dirt cup, I don’t want it to dry out or something. I put old cinnamon stick pieces to label the two apple seeds that may or may not grow but I wanted to give em a chance.