4 Weeks to Last Frost - Well Normally...

With this lingering cool weather and very early winter, I was eager to get started and beefed up my indoor growing. Going from one light and 2 trays to 3 lights and 4 trays. I also started a week early, my logic being that it was a early winter, and was hoping for a early spring. The result is my plants are ready for the garden and I am still 4 weeks away from last frosts.

So I spent a peaceful evening up potting my Tomatoes and Peppers, to what I hope is my last potting. Although they ready, I just saw a flurry fly by the window and dont even have a crocus in bloom.

That's 15 Tomato plants and 15 Pepper plants. As much as will fit under lights and really pretty much one of each type I had planted. Now what you don't see in the picture is the mass of plants that did not make the "cut". I called up my neighbours and said, first come first serve, if you have a windowsill, come and get. I just cant seem to murder them.

The tray has my seedlings I am starting over with. Rapinni, kale, broccoli etc. On the far left back is a few eggplants I have started. Labelling mistakes there have resulted and a large number of "white". Speaking of labelling, I am still using a permanent marker on aluminium blinds that I cut. It really works well. This weekend I need to finalize the beds, rake and prune., but tomorrow is suppose to be 10 degree Celsius and I think I would rather do it in sun, than flurries.

On another note to self, the BX potting mix I bought is proving to be so much better than anything sold at the big box stores. light, fluffy, holds moisture and yet not soggy or crusting. Perhaps its explains some monster plants this year.

1st April - Learning to Grow disasters

I was one of them, I have to admit. One of those people so divorced from nature that I naturally presumed that a seed sown, was a plant grown. How many times did I ponder the many times you hear of people starving on farms in yesteryear, wondering, why don't they plan better and plant more. Come on people this is what you do.

Well do to some health issues, this amateur gardener left things downstairs, on the deck and in the cold frame on Saturday. Today I eventually managed to make my rounds, all 3 have suffered from different issues.

1) Downstairs was dry, but alive. Things under 6 tubes grow much faster than my last years 2 and its looks like a jungle. There is a lot of up-plotting needed and I will need to rid myself of a number of tomatoes, peppers and eggplants, especially since I need the space now for new early outdoor crops which should been done by now.

2) On the deck, the trays I taken out are all pretty much dead. I think the tiny cabbage may survive and one or 2 others. All 3 types of Rappini, lettuce, 2 types turnips etc are dead. This was exposure damage, taking them out for some sun and acclimatization from the warm basement, and leaving them through a couple negative temperature and windy days.

3) Those in the cold frame are half dead. This includes all my onions, leeks, kales and broccoli etc. Its not the wind or the cold that did these, but the dry heat. We had a sunny 12 degrees day, and its bone dry in the cold frame. These died from lack of water, so I watered them and see which if any recover.

Having to start again a few weeks later is not the end of the world, especially since we having such a late spring (ground is still mostly frozen) and the new lights seems to speed up the germination process. I also have at least 10 sources of groceries within 2km. Maybe those pioneers new a few things more than I did.

With my bathtub sitting in the middle of the garden (future pond), the wind blown row cover, all the new wood chips and snow still on the ground, the 1st April 2014 is not feeling

very spring like yet.

Ghetto Incubator

Well, I wanted to raise my own ducks, although I know I could have bought them cheaper and easier, this seemed important parental step for some reason. So Here is my Ghetto Incubator.

After searching for a cooler, I gave up and did the insulation ducktape project. Inside my insulation box I have a basket with a good layer of vermiculite. What you dont plant eggs you say?  Well vermiculite is soft cushy and an incredible incubator. Plus helps maintain humidity levels. I currently have 3 temperature / humidity gauges in there. Why, well, I put one in, thought I better check it and the second was different, so I added a 3rd. All 3 are less than  degree apart, but still.

The heating system is a light bulb. I am testing this in terracotta pots, the idea was to add some thermal mass, thereby giving off heat more consistently, but it appears the temperature controller does a better job of it. Next to this I have a small bowel of water and a sponge for humidity. This I put into a clear container, to make it easier to carry and hold the wiring. Clear so I can keep an eye on the controller.

I bought a willhi temperature controller eventually on ebay. Its a popular choice for home brewing, home incubators and other home temperature projects. Wiring this things was ... lets say not as straight forward as it could. Note to their marketing department, why prewire this thing? Its set up to switch the light-bulb on when the temperature on top of the vermiculite gets less than 37 degrees and switch it off at 38 degrees Celsius. The ideal temperature for incubation being 37.5. The vermiculite should hardly change temps at all. I do need to open this to turn the eggs, but considering putting them in a eggbox and being able to do this in seconds. I think I may need a blanket over the top or something for a extra layer of insulation, at the same time, turning eggs needs to be quick and efficient. Baring power failure, I think I am on the right track.

The weather is really looking up. 6 degrees in forecast for tomorrow and then dropping again but back up on the weekend. we should hopefully get to season positive on a daily basis after that. It be much needed as I have some plants by then to plant out in the cold frame.

Post Note. OK the thermal mass is in the wrong place. I switched things a little adding a PC fan to improve circulation and removed the ceramic pots that bulb is in. Then added a brick under the eggs for thermal mass and trying again.

This worked really well and my temperature is now maintained within 1 degree.  Again, thermal mass (aka bricks) under the eggs and away from the heat. Fan near the heat source (bulb) and away from the mass. The heat source bulb is much lower wattage worked better as well. No insulation around the eggs. A bowel with a sponge for humidity.  I did have to arrange the temperature probe to be near the eggs and at about the same height or level. On 3 different thermometers this combination kept the temp within 1 degree Celsius. Even when opening it briefly to "turn the eggs".  I guess, the principal here was trust the Wilhi temperature controller to maintain the temp at the source. dont add thermal mass near it. This is opposite of what you do in winter to warm coop.

Just a regular Grow Op

Well, I asked my garden keen neighbour if they had started and their response was no, I do seeds in place only and buy peppers and Tomatoes. When I mentioned that I now have 4 trays already going in my basement, the response was "you have a regular Grow Op". "Mr/s Police please, they really are only my Peppers, Tomatoes and a couple other veggies."

 I found the lights at Home depot on sale for and so bought a regular box of bulbs and 3 lights which I then spaced with some galvanized strapping and small metal screws. The automatic timer turns them on at 6 am and off at 10pm. They a little high for the picture. They all seem to be working great, although I need to work on the hanging mechanism still, to raise and lower them easier.  In front I have some onions and 2 artichokes I am experimenting with. Next is a tray of peppers, then Tomatoes and then kale, cabbage, Brussels sprouts, lettuce etc (ok I have some overlap.) The final tray is a few hard to get sprouted peppers, still on heat. The soil temperature there around 29-30 degrees. (wonder if too hot). They all sitting on some pink insulation which helps them maintain the heat from the lights.

I am still using a aluminium blind, which I cut up write on with a permanent marker for tags. It was a great idea I found on the web and works great for me. In a week or 2, I will consolidate the Pepper and Tomato plantings into larger cells or small pots, throwing out the weaker and perhaps dropping to 2 or 3 of each seedling. I was hoping to move some of the cold hardy outdoors by then to the cold frame and begin more serious round of planting.

Weather wise, we are warming for the weekend to a more seasonal +3 odd. But by mid week we back down to -10 Celsius. The 14 days forecast has it just getting back up to 0 at the end of 14 days, with night time lows around -5. This winter is not releasing its hold yet and I may have a jungle in my basement soon. I have still not got my duck eggs, but I can hope for this weekend. The number of Furry Tailed Rats (squirrels) in my yard this season is incredible. It seems the more I grow, the more they come, but lets hope its just since its being a hard winter for all. 

Potato's

The year before last I grew a few potato's in a not all that successful attempt and to my retired polish neighbours (who was raised on a potato farm) great amusement. I decided at a couple dollars a bag, it really was not worth the effort, and so last year, did not try again.

Darn this internet. While reading some garden blogs, I came across a English vs North American potato debate. The debate was much around was it the type of potato or the environment that we grow in North America that makes our potatoes taste so different from England and France. The result, I started looking up favourite potato types. 

One name came up surprisingly often was Ratte. Even mentioned by one of my favourite TV personalities Raymond Blanc as his favourite salad potato. Consistently being mentioned, even if not winning as favourite as one of the tastiest waxy varieties. After some hunting around, I found a source in Quebec online with very reasonable shipping. http://www.brysonfarms.com/. At $10, I could buy a more potatoes than I eat in a year, but if these taste much better, its worth every cent.

So for science purposes, I  order half a pound of "la" Ratte and half a pound of Rose Finn. Both finger potatoes that they list as their tastiest. I think I will build 2 small potato boxes out of cedar, and do the taste test myself. For taste comparison, would I not need to then take a trip to France?

Tomato's and Brassica's are in (9 weeks to go)

I woke up this morning to severe weather alert of wind-chills at around -35 Celsius. So like any good gardener, I decided to plant. 9 weeks till my last frost is tomorrow and I was planning on waiting till 8 weeks to do my tomatoes, but this cold winter can't hang around and I needed the therapy.

Problem is If I give each plant 2 feet on the trellis, I should only plant 5 plants. Squeezing them to 1.5 feet each gets me 7 else I have no place for cucumbers and other climbing. Does anyone else see the issue I face? I think I need a new trellis.

Planted 4 seeds each

1. Isis Candy
2. Black Cherry (my personal favourite)
3. Belgium Giant
4. Green Zebra
5. Black Krim (not a huge success in last years poor weather)
6. Purple Cherokee (not a huge success in last years poor weather)
7. Red cherry
8. Sungold
9. Italian Heirloom
10. Kumato
11. Roma (determinate)

I also planted 

1. Copenhagen Cabbage
2. Filderkraut Cabbage (excited about this one)
3. Blue Hybrid Chinese Cabbage
4. Purple Sprouting Broccoli
5. Romanesco Broccoli (no luck last year, but I love the look of these) 
6. Covolo Broccolo Spigariello
7. Brussels Sprouts (last year I started these too late and only got a few)
8. Tuscan or Dino Kale
9. Red Russian Kale
10. Blue Curly Kale
11. Noble Giant Spinach
12. Okra ("They" say plant in place, but last year I only got 2 or 3 fruits before frost. so lets call it an experiment)

I still have some chard and a few other seeds that I could try push the time envelope with, but I will do another tray in a couple weeks as back-up as these may be a bit early. Perhaps if I keep planting, spring will get the message.

Season Started

Well I was expecting to be mothering my duck eggs, but have had a few challenges. Firstly my temperature controller I bought on ebay, did not arrive. After a week of haggling with s-chupost, asking him to resend, I thought a new one was well on the way and did not buy another. Today I got an email asking if he could refund me rather, leaving me to scrabble now for a local solution. Secondly the cold weather, has kept the ducks from laying, or at least, provided any confidence that the eggs had not frozen.  The weather forecast currently says at least 4 days above freezing later this week, so lets hold thumbs! 

I was supposed to wait till next weekend, but since I am not sitting eggs, and seeing some of the other bloggers I follow started, I decided to start a week early. It's 11 weeks till my last frost, which tends to be a little earlier than the official given the proximity to the lake and the city (It's 12 weeks till the official last frost). I pulled out all my seeds and started to plant, only to find that I had far more seeds (as usual) than I thought. With that goes, my ever ongoing problem of far too little space (indoors or out).

Additions this year I found a seedling heat mat for $19 at the tractor store and I trying new cell packs I got at William Dam seeds. I bought 6 cell and 4 cell a square size packs to go with my far smaller cells trays I used last year. I drove over and visited the store in person (about 1hour drive) and a very helpful young lady advised me this year on which vegetables she liked (daughter) and I look forward to trying some of these seeds out. I also found another double 4 foot florescent light on clearance at home depot, and wish now I just bought 2 so that they were the same size and weight (I am sure I could found another place for the existing light). Perhaps I go check this afternoon... This gives me about 4x2 feet of indoor light and I hope that 4 trays. This is all on a table in the laundry.

So notice the stainless baking dish? I found that the heat mat was not really helping much on a steel table. So I put 1 inch foam insulation on the table, then the heat mat and then the stainless tray. Only the stainless try is currently heated. The white plastic tray had gaps for water and the heat was not really making it into the soil. 

So what did I plant? 6 cells of everything, those that are potted up, I will keep 2 odd of the best as that's about all the space I will have.

Hot Peppers

1. Aji Limon (lemon drop) which I am very excited about 
2. Peri Peri - (African Birds eye) 3rd year I am trying to grow these. I have still not found seeds and trying this year from a new source of dried whole peppers
3. Chili d'Arbol  - South American bird chili relative
4. Jalapeño - Last year these were early and great fresh with BBQ
5. Ancho Rojo - last year not the most successful, but I cooking with store bought all winter
6. Hungarian hot wax - early

Sweet Peppers

1. Pepper Friariello di Napoli - From Weston Seeds  (love them for Italian herilooms) Last year I got a bounty really late in the season.
2. Corno di Toro Giallo - Also from Western Seeds. Last year like Jimmy Nardello these did not hold up to bugs
3. Chocolate pepper - Just for colour
4. Lipstick Pepper - One I read much about
5. Jimmy Nardello - This is one of my favourite, but last year the thin walls did not hold up well to my insect problems.
6. Alma Paprika - My last year staple, small thick walled and very tasty fresh or cooked
7. Antonhi Romania - Love these, with their strong taste and smell and be the 3rd year I am growing them.

Other

1. Celery stalk/leaf
2. Red Okra - (I know, these generally dont like to transplanted, but last year direct planting provided a few orkra just before first frost.
3. Black Beauty Eggplant - New edition
4. Ping Tung Eggplant - Got an abundance of these last year.
5. Purple of Romagna Artichoke - Call it an experiment.

Now, am I the only one that find his gets really hungry and salivary glands kick in while I plant? Mouth a'watering and stomach rumbling in eager anticipation for the season? 

Well The season has started, and in a week or 2 we add tomatoes and early cold weather greens!

1 Feb 2014 Garden

Garden is still at rest for some time. It is one of the coldest winters in years. My Tuscan kale, leeks and parsnips I never harvested still buried in the frozen ground.

Today I planted 3 seeds of a few of peppers I bought this year. I sourced them from people I had not before, and so want to just make sure I can get a few to sprout. That does not prove they will breed true, but will offer me some comfort. I also put my first leeks into a single pot, which after sprouting I can divide out. I am expecting more leek and onion seeds and will plant those out in a week or 2. I am close now to duck egg search, but yet to complete my incubator. I better leave this machine and planning and to the doing.