The Modern Victory Garden

After several days of high winds, driving rains, and substantially colder weather, it was nice that it was at least a little less stormy today.   In fact, this afternoon we had a brief hour where the sun made an appearance.   I took advantage of it and rushed the tomatoes outside to let them drink it in while they could.            

It did not last very long though.   As soon as the sun went back behind dark storm clouds, the temps started dropping fast so they were all quickly shuttled right back into the greenhouse.   Too much time and energy invested in these tomato seedlings to let a moment of inattention take them down!             

There is not a lot to do in the garden at the moment, but I did have one task to get completed this weekend – which was to start the cucurbit family seeds (cucumbers, zucchini, pumpkins, and winter squash) and the sweet corn.   I was toying with the idea of direct seeding the corn this year, but changed my mind and went back to my usual practice of starting them indoors.   Our soil temperatures do not warm up very fast and corn really needs warmth to germinate properly.   Now that the tomato seedlings are all moved out to the green house, there was plenty of room under the lights for this next big round of seed starting.      

These seed trays were covered with a plastic humidity dome and placed on heat mats and under grow lights in the shop.                                    

Elsewhere in the garden, things are progressing despite the cool and wet conditions.   About a week ago I moved the container of Merlot lettuces out of the greenhouse and out onto the deck area.    It has been cold and really wet ever since but these plants seem to be thriving.   In fact, they finally turned the merlot color that they are named for.                            

The pea patch is almost fully emerged now too.   I was worried that the soggy and cold conditions would give them problems but it appears that they are unfazed.     Look how nice the spacing is on this planting!   The new planting jig worked really well.                          

The onion sets have also really come alive too.    That is the garlic patch behind the onions.                                                       

The broccoli plants I transplanted a week and half ago are really doing well with the protection of a grow tunnel cover.    Once the weather stabilizes just a bit, I will be removing this cover.                                                      

I have already harvested and used all of the first pac choi planting and the chinese cabbages too.   I am now harvesting asparagus but it is still just small amounts at any given time.   I can see some really fat spears poking up in multiple places in the bed, so I think if the weather got just a bit sunnier and warm we would be in asparagus heaven!   I still have some pac choi plants (second sowing) growing in an outside bed along with lots of kale and lettuces that should keep us going until then.   Coming along behind all of that is the spinach patch.   I am really looking forward to the first baby spinach salads of the season.   Yum!