February 16, 2015 - More Seeds Started!

February 16, 2015 -

The Arugula is progressing quite well. It is growing in its little seed starter pot and has begun forming its first true leaves. Will need to cull soon and focus on the stronger ones.

The Broccoli is also progressing well and will need to be culled soon. Both seem to like the grow lights I have over them. Below is a picture of the first sprouts emerging.

I will try to post current pictures tomorrow.

I started three more plants tonight as well. Kale (Dwarf Blue Curled Vates), Spinach (Bloomsdale Longstanding) and Mustard Green (Florida Broadleaf). The Kale has a germination rate of 10-21 days. Hopefully by 2/26 I can post some pictures of the sprouts coming up. The spinach is 8-10 days and the mustard green is 5-13. Pictures will follow as soon as the are up.

Still no sign of the peas. We have had a bitter cold front come in that might inhibit their progress. Only time will tell.

February 5, 2015 - Started Some More

February 5, 2015 -

Continuing on with the garden for 2015, Isaac (my oldest) and I planted some seeds today. We started some Calabrese Broccoli and Arugula.

The Calabrese Broccoli is the most common broccoli grown in the US. It was mostly a vegetable grown in the Mediterranean. It was introduced in the US in the early 1900's by Italian immigrants. Isaac is very excited about his broccoli. The germination rate is 10-21 days. Hopefully, by 2/15 I can post pictures of little seedlings.

Arugula is a salad green that is in the cabbage family. It did not becoming popular until the 1980's in the US. Considered a trendy salad green, it is rumored to be an aphrodisiac. In mid-evil Europe it was discouraged to grow the "Rocket" because of this fact. The germination rate is 5-7 days. Hopefully, by 2/10 I can post pictures of little seedlings.

Until then, my tray of little seed pops will have to work.

January 31, 2015 - Garden 2015 Is Underway

January 31, 2015 -

The 2015 Garden has now started. While cleaning out is still needed desperately, we have begun the garden for 2015. The Delks are expecting to grow from a family of five to a family of six this year, no baseball trips will be interrupting the garden plans and this year will hopefully be better than ever.

Abby Delk and I planted some Sugar Snap Peas today along with some garlic. Isaac Delk and I got our little starter pots ready for some of the cool early spring vegetables of greens, lettuce and broccoli. We will be trying to extend the growing season with mixing and matching of in season crops.

With the new found hobby of woodworking and the never ending supply of wood from scrap at work, I will be incorporating several organic layers of sawdust (mulch) and wood ash (burning the scrap wood). We did this in our Sugar Snap Pea patch which we planted today.

The Sugar Snap Peas have a germination time of 7-10 days. Hopefully by February 9th I should start seeing some little sprouts. If I do, pictures will follow. I planted three rows in one of our 4' x 4' beds.

Hopefully tomorrow, we will plant our cool weather stuff indoors to begin it growing.

More to come.

Joe Delk