*March Gardening Thread*

[creativeOTmomma]

I was hoping to get everything in the ground before my LO came (due March 26th). He decided to come 3 weeks early, however, which has actually worked out fine. Spring is coming late to Ohio. I usually have started peas outside by now, but the ground is still frozen. I have started onions, basil, leeks, broccoli, cabbage, lettuce, spinach, tomatoes, eggplant, and peppers. My grow lights are getting pretty full! I was planning on having the onions in the ground and the leeks, broccoli, and cabbage in my cold frame but the weather just isn't cooperating this year.

FYI, If any West Central Ohio area people are looking for a gardening blog, I started one last May. You can check it out at http://rlsnyder.us/blog

[3lilbubs]

Maybe that's better? I remember having a heck of time bending over at 39 weeks to do anything (let alone SEE what I was doing - LOL!). I haven't started much, it's beautiful and warm but I don't trust it. Last year they said frost was over and I planted tomatoes and corn and lost half the corn and had burned tomatoes for a while. I just started the warmer crops inside this week.

OK, so the pics I forgot the other day, a few of my berry bushes and the garlic and some 1rst year bare root sequoia strawberries I bought on a whim. The red heritage raspberry and the himilayan wild blackberry are going crazy! The yellow and black raspberries are slowly coming to life



First blossoms..looks like it's going to be a good year!


Wrong time of day to take this pic, but this is the side of the house, I put the rabbit hutch in the back corner for the growing chicks to go into during the day. When it gets warmer, I will put shade cloth over that corner. The railroad ties are planted with grasses, grains and sunflowers to (hopefully) act as a salad bar for my chickens. I also plan on putting a couple big pots in the corner full of cherry tomatoes. My chickens love them. Trying to make a small unused area useful for the flock.

[3lilbubs]

DP.

[Fashionably Green Baby]

I started my seeds late but they are mostly started at least. I need another tray to finish I think. It was lovely here today, 43 degrees and the kids played outside all afternoon and now I see we are due to get up to 10 inches of snow tomorrow

[3lilbubs]

FX it doesn't stick! poor mamas! This is the last cold snap for most of you, right? I'm honestly very surprised it hasn't hit us yet. We've had snows as late as the end of April before. Everyone around here is planting out their full gardens and I just don't trust it yet.

[B+EBabyDipes]

Holy jeez gardening is HARD! Here is what I got done today! Half way there!!

[joyjoy]

Originally Posted by 3lilbubs My seedlings prefer to sit on the corner of the kitchen table, unfortunately my dh does not like this arrangement much at all. He said the garden and chickens are invading our house. s:

ha! my DH is the same way. i have a couple hens who at various times prefer to come in the house and lay their egg in the dog crate in my DD's bedroom. this drives DH crazy. whereas me, i'm just like, "look...there's a hen in the house." *back to whatever i was doing.*

perhaps your seedlings just like the sense of closure that's provided by beginning and ending their life cycle on the kitchen table. has he thought about that??

[joyjoy]

anybody else have rain barrels or plan to make some this year? we have a couple of convenient downspouts from the roof of our new house that i'm eyeing. supposed to be a dry summer here this year...depending on hurricane season.

also, how do you store your sweet potatoes through the winter if you want to have your own slips to start with the next year? in the past, my mom/aunt/grandma has always had some going, so i'm a newbie at trying to obtain some for myself.

[3lilbubs]

Originally Posted by B+EBabyDipes Holy jeez gardening is HARD! Here is what I got done today! Half way there!! Attachment 137867

WOW. It gets easier year after year. The first year I started the plot I'm currently using it was half clay and I dug it up and turned it with nothing more than a shovel and my back. I couldn't see spending $50 to rent a tiller when it was such a small plot. I literally couldn't walk the next day but it was well worth it, all that compost added, I can go dig a hole with nothing but my fingers now. Nice work!

Originally Posted by joyjoy ha! my DH is the same way. i have a couple hens who at various times prefer to come in the house and lay their egg in the dog crate in my DD's bedroom. this drives DH crazy. whereas me, i'm just like, "look...there's a hen in the house." *back to whatever i was doing.* perhaps your seedlings just like the sense of closure that's provided by beginning and ending their life cycle on the kitchen table. has he thought about that??

I'll tell him that when he sees the tomatoes and peppers currently sprouting atop a heat pad on the table. Our girls like to meander in the house and steal the dog's food. Often it's our EE's tilly and greta. They're so sneaky and quiet you won't even know they're in till one of them is standing next to you, happily trilling.

[joyjoy]

i'm so glad y'all appreciate my sense of humor. it's nice to make someone smile...or wet their pants laughing ... whatever.