Progress, Seedlings, Fertilizer

There is progress being made, and we’re in the final countdown in the last two weeks until “last frost”.  I’ve sown seeds for beets, rutabagas, peas and planted my seed potatoes.   I started my corn seeds indoors, as I did last year.  It worked well last year starting them in the mini blocks, so I’m doing it again.  So far the long-range forecast looks pretty good, warming up and fewer freezing temps at night.  I’ve also planted more leeks and scallions, and eaten some delicious asparagus.Last night it was Asparagus-Smoked Salmon Crepes, which turned out delicious.  


I’ve begun to “harden off” the bee balm and alpine strawberries for planting soon–I think they can handle some colder temps, but I’ll watch the weather more closely before I plant. I’ll be using the cold frame, moved to an empty bed, for my area to harden things off.  It’ll be a walk to get the heavy trays there, but I think helpful–after a few days I should be able to leave things there overnight.


We’re getting the beds ready for planting.  This year I’m trying out Steve Solomon’s homemade “Complete Organic Fertilizer” (COF) to see how well it aids garden growth.  I’m leveling out the beds, mixing in the manure that was on the top of each bed over the winter, and adding the COF.  Some of the raised beds still are not framed, due to lack of materials, and difficult to keep them enclosed in the area I want them without some of the soil falling into the pathways.  I’ll just have to make do and make the best of it.


Tim has leveled out the area where we plan to put the greenhouse and it’s ready for concrete, which we hope to get this weekend.  It’ll be bigger than I had imagined!  It’ll be nice, particularly in the spring, for getting the seedlings going, and I’ll be able to do that process without all the electricity we’re using for the light bench.  We’ll also put down a concrete floor for the duck house, so we can wash it off for cleaning.


Tim is also working hard to fix our upstairs porch, which needed new posts for supports.  The old ones had warped and were pulling the porch and its roof away from the house–not good.  He’s working hard, and all these projects on top of his “real job”.