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.

More Plants - More to Update

March 4, 2012 -

So last time I told you about the mishap ... or I should say the weather ... with the Cole Family seedlings (Broccoli, Cabbage, Cauliflower, etc.) and how I had to deal with them. They will make fine dirt for the future. So, now I will tell how I replaced them.

Thursday night, Isaac, Abby, Andy and I planted 18 new Broccoli plants. Because I got them from Bonnie Plants, there were only a few varieties. So we planted 9 Premium Crop Broccoli and Packman Broccoli. I am curious about the Premium Crop because the package said they could produce heads up to 12" across. That is mammoth. They had a lot of fun doing it. I think they had more fun watering them they than did the actual planting.

We also planted 42 red onion bulbs. These were Whethersfield Red Beauty onions. I lucked up getting these at China-mart, I mean Walmart, for $1.88 for 50. Hopefully, these will do well.

I must say though that after Friday night's fun weather, it has gotten cooler and I have some of the Bloomsdale Long Standing Spinach poking their heads up. Hopefully, they will grow and not bolt. Just in case they do not grow, I bought some Bonnie Spinach today and planted them. I also bought some Bonnie's Romaine lettuce today, but I did not plant it because it was cold outside.

Well, we have some yellow and white onions to plant this week and I have to build another 4x4 bed.

Keeping you updated.

Update on the Delk Garden

March 2, 2012 -

My blog dashboard tells me that it has been two weeks since I last update this. So...here is an update.

Tragedy Strikes The Seedlings! I think I use that word too much. Well we all know we have had a very unseasonable winter. I like it but the seeds for most spring vegetables don't. I had a couple of varieties of cabbage and broccoli going but they just never seemed to develop. I also had some cauliflower going as well but it also seemed to have trouble flourishing. I think the reason was two-fold: (1) Poor nutrition in the seed starting soil I had and (2) it was just too warm. From what I read last year, the Cole family likes to have weather around 55-65 degrees to germinate. We just have not had that in the house or outside and because of that my seedlings bolted. Well needless to say, I chunked them into the compost pile last night. I have bought two varieties of Broccoli from Bonnie Plants that I will do and one variety of cabbage. These are Premium Crop and Packman for the Broccoli and Flat Dutch for the cabbage.

Tulips are still working their way up. I think just about every bulb came up that we planted in the fall.

Garlic is doing well. Hopefully it will continue to grow and I will have some garlic for the fall.

Got 8 of the beds functioning and ready for plenty of plants. Still got two that I need to fill and get ready. I also have enough material for at least one more with my re-purposed lumber.

I plan on this weekend starting my tomato plants indoors with the help of my empty toilet paper rollers.

Keep growing.

Broccoli - Green Goliath

February 4, 2012 -

I threw out 2 of the rolls of Green Goliath from 2011. They did not germinate. I think I might have planted them too deep. You are only supposed to go 1/4" deep and I think these guys ended up being about an inch deep. The 2011 Lot of the Green Goliath seeds were the last to germinate because I think they were too deep. All of the 2007 Lot of the Green Goliath germinated and are doing well. Although all of them are behind the cabbage. This kinda of surprises me.

But there are 4 of the 2011 Lot and 4 of the 2007 Lot going strong. I still have to plant some of the De Cicco Broccoli. If I get the opportunity tomorrow I will plant 6 of these as well.

Broccoli - Green Goliath

January 28, 2012 -

Earlier this month, I started my spring vegetables. Among these were Green Goliath Broccoli. Last year, Abby really enjoyed the Packman Broccoli we planted from Bonnie Plants. This year I plan on expanding. I had some seeds of this variety from 2007 and some from 2011 that I did not plant. I started both of these lots this year using my re-purposed toilet paper rolls. (More pictures on that to follow.)

I planted these a little over a week ago. To my amazement, I have sprouts from the all the 2007 seeds. Only 1 so far of the 2011 lot has sprouted. The average last frost in my area is the first week of April. I started these guys indoors 12 weeks before this date. The kids are very excited about the little seedlings popping up. With luck I can put these guys out the first week of March and enjoy some tasty broccoli.

I am also planning on trying some De Cicco Broccoli also this year. I will start those seeds next week.

Keep posting.