Vegetable Seedling Update/Heirloom Tomatoes and More

Welcome back.  It's been quite a period of time since my last post.  I have Spring to blame for that.  Yes Spring has finally sprung, and along with it the Spring yard chores.  I have been busy cleaning up the yard and gardens and getting ready for another growing season.

However, I still have found a little time to tend to my vegetable starts.

In my two previous posts I wrote about starting vegetables.  So far this season I have started sweet Spanish onions, leeks, scallions, and heirloom tomatoes.  For more details on the planting of the onions, leeks, and scallions, see my post of March 20, 2015 (http://dansgardening.blogspot.com/2015/03/its-time-to-start-vegetables.html).  For information on starting tomatoes, see my April 3, 2015 post (http://dansgardening.blogspot.com/2015/04/starting-heirloom-tomatoesfirst-robins.html).

So far so good as to the progress of these seedlings:

Heirloom Tomato Seedlings

Yellow Sweet Spanish Onions, Leeks, Scallions

This year I purchased a new greenhouse, since the old one was probably 10 years old and in pretty rough condition, especially the plastic cover.  These greenhouses can be found at very reasonable prices. You don't have to spend a fortune to have one.

As usual I set up my greenhouse again this year on the porch, which I have found works very well this time of the year in our area (central New York state).   The plants can be kept in the greenhouse in relatively cool temperatures (40s or even 30s) if the sun is out, since the inside temperature and humidity will be much higher.  This produces an ideal growing environment.

It is important to keep in mind, however, that temperatures at night can go below freezing this time of the year up through the end of May.  As a rule of thumb, I will bring the plants indoors overnight if the temperature is predicted to go below 30 degrees.  The greenhouse does provide some protection from the cold.

It is also important to make sure your greenhouse is secured to your porch or wherever you place it. This is especially critical if you are in an area prone to windy conditions.  I live on top of a hill with frequent winds.  I use ropes, bongee cords, and even cables to secure the greenhouse to the porch railing.

The tomato plants will be ready to be transplanted in about a week.  The general rule of thumb is to transplant them when they get the second set of leaves.  I will write a future post on the transplant process.

On the other hand, the onions, scallions and leeks don't need to be transplanted.  They can be kept in the original planting containers until it's time to plant them directly into the garden.


In my post on February 20, 2015 (http://dansgardening.blogspot.com/2015/02/its-seed-buying-timewinter-sowing.html), I described how the winter sowing technique is done.  This is the second season I have tried this with good results both years.  However, this year I made one mistake that affected my results somewhat.

This year, I planted two types of kale, scallions, romaine lettuce, and radishes.  Below are my results thus far:

Italian Kale

Romaine Lettuce

Scallions

As I mentioned above, the mistake I made this year was using a seed starting mixture that was too lightweight.  By that I mean it contained mostly peat moss.  It generally works OK for starting seeds, however for winter sowing it doesn't work well, since it doesn't hold moisture well, and it tends to shift around if the container is disturbed.  When the containers are out in the snow and wind, sometimes they will tip, etc as the snow melts.  It is better to use a potting soil mix that will hold more moisture consistently and when frozen it will not shift inside the container,

This is best illustrated by the romaine lettuce container as shown above. The soil shifted as can be seen in the photo. The germination was more uneven in this container.

The only seeds that haven't sprouted thus far are the radishes.

Thanks for reading, much more to come in future posts.

Brown-Headed Cowbirds and House Sparrows

Starting Heirloom Tomatoes/First Robins

Welcome back.

Spring has finally sprung and the snow is melting away.  Although we still have some snow cover in our yard, the grass has reappeared and so have the robins.  The first day I saw them was April 1st. They were in our yard, exploring, and hoping for worms.  I must say it was a welcomed site.

It's time again to start tomatoes.  The general rule of thumb is to plant the seeds 6 to 8 weeks before the last frost in your growing region.  Here in central New York State, the last frost has usually occurred by Memorial Day, which is the traditional planting time in our area.

This year I decided to only start heirloom tomatoes.  Normally I also start grape and Roma varieties, but wanted to keep it simple this season.  I will purchase a few grape and Roma plants at planting time.

I once again planted my favorite heirloom blend from Park Seeds, Rainbow Heirloom Blend.

Rainbow Heirloom Blend - Park Seeds

This blend contains Aunt Ruby's German Green, Dixie Golden Giant, Black From Tula, Brandywine Red, Big Rainbow, and Cherokee Purple.

There are many blends available for you to try, or individual heirloom varieties can be purchased,  It is really a trial and error process as to which heirlooms you prefer.  I especially enjoy this blend.

Once again I used a seed starting tray and peat pellets to start the seeds.  I find that these work well. The first step is to add water to the pellets so they can expand to the size needed for planting.  Warm water works best for this process, which takes 10 to 15 minutes.

Once the pellets have expanded to about an inch in height, carefully tear back the mesh covering on the top to expose a bigger area of soil for planting.  The seeds can then be place on the surface of the pellet.

Cover the seeds with potting soil to the recommended depth.  For tomato seeds I use about 1/4 inch. Carefully tap down the soil and water using a spray bottle (fine mist) as to not disturb the seeds.

Finally, cover the tray with the plastic dome cover.  Be sure to provide a few vent holes to allow for some air flow.  Place in a warm location, preferably where the temperature is consistently warm. Once the seeds sprout, I suggest a sunny window sill for a few hours during the day.

In future posts, I will have photos of the onions, scallions, and leeks which I planted recently (http://dansgardening.blogspot.com/2015/03/its-time-to-start-vegetables.html) and are now growing nicely.  I will also talking about planting herbs and using a greenhouse which is very beneficial especially in the cooler months.

Until next time.

Spring Is Here/It's Time to Start Vegetables!

Welcome back and thanks as always for reading.

Winter is finally starting to lose it's grip although it is being stubborn in doing so. The key word is starting. Last week we had some days with temperatures in the 40s and even the 50s, however this week it's been cold again with a low of zero a few nights ago.  Today was the first day of Spring, however we managed to get about an inch of snow.

About a month ago I wrote a post about winter sowing (http://dansgardening.blogspot.com/2015/02/its-seed-buying-timewinter-sowing.html).  This technique works well for some cold hardy vegetables such as lettuce, radishes, kale, etc.  However, for those vegetable which take longer to reach maturity such as tomatoes, long season onions, etc, it is better to start them indoors now to give them a longer growing season.

This past weekend I started Sweet Spanish onions, scallions, and leeks.

The technique is quite simply. All that is needed is a container to plant in and some good potting soil or seed starting soil.  As I have mentioned quite a few times before, never use your garden soil to start seeds indoors.  Chances are it contains microorganisms that can hamper germination and even cause seedlings to die off.

I use containers that originally came with peat pellets mainly because I have quite a few of them around. Any container will work that is covered (even using plastic wrap will work).

Before planting the seeds, moisten the soil evenly and flatten the surface using your hand.  This will provide a planting surface which will allow for a uniform seed depth once you cover the seeds.  Cover the seeds to the planting depth stated on the seed packet, tamp lightly with your hand.

The next step is to moisten the soil once again,  I use a spray bottle with a fine mist as to not disturb the seeds.  This is especially important when planting seeds such as onions and leeks since they are so fine.

Finally, I put on the plastic dome covers,  These covers have vent holes which I drilled out last year to allow for some air circulation.  The covers will retain enough moisture to allow the seeds to germinate properly.  Place the containers in a warm location.  It is not necessary to place them in a window for sunlight.  Actually, the temperature in a window can be quite cool at night which may delay germination, An even temperature is more important for good germination.

Once the seeds sprout, it is a good idea to place them in the sun at least for part of the day.  In future posts I will write about the progress of the onions and leeks and talk about planting heirloom tomatoes.

Until next time.

Bald Eagle and Other Bird Photos - Enjoy

Welcome back.

Yesterday turned out to be a great day weather wise, and even a better day in regards to bird watching.   On Monday the temperature was around 40 degrees with brilliant sunshine, the first 40 degree day we've had in months.  It was also only the second day of daylight savings time which made it seem even better as it now stays light until around 7 PM.

I was already home yesterday afternoon when my wife came through the front door all excited.  However, she was whispering, saying that I had to look out back.  What she said next got me even more excited. "There's a bald eagle out there"!

So I grabbed the camera and luckily the eagle stayed perched in the tree for about 10 minutes.  It wasn't until I went outside to try to get closer that the majestic creature took off.

These birds are simply magnificent.  They are more commonly found in the lower elevations along rivers, where food is more readily available.  We have seen them a few times before near our house on the hill (elevation is 1500 feet), but not directly out back of our house.  I have never had the opportunity to photograph one.  Now I want a better camera.

Well, enough said, here are a few of the photos I was able to capture:

Now for some photos.  In my next post I will write about starting vegetables indoors.  Believe it or not it's getting to be that time of the year.

Downy Woodpecker

Mourning Doves

Northern Cardinal

Blue Jay

House Sparrow

Until next time.

Great Backyard Bird Count Results

Welcome back.

Overall it was another good year for the Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC).  The abundant snow brought the birds out in force.  I counted for 3 of the 4 days, and manged to get a few photos also.  The cold weather continues as February draws to an end.  February of 2015 is turning out to be the coldest month of any month EVER(not just for February) for many cities in this area that have kept records for over 100 years.  Just amazing.

Northern Cardinal, American Tree Sparrow, American Goldfinch

Blue Jay

Next, my results from the GBBC:

2/14/15

2/15/15

2/16/15

To give you an idea of the scope of this worldwide project, below are a few statistics thus far:

White-Breasted Nuthatch

Until next time.  As always thanks for reading my blog.

It's Seed Buying Time/Winter Sowing

Welcome back to my blog.  I hope you participated in The Great Backyard Bird count and enjoyed it with your family.  In future posts I will share my results and some photos.

The brutal winter weather continues.  We now have 2 to 3 feet of snow on the ground and the bitter temperatures and wind chills won't seem to relent.  This next photo shows that even the normally hardy wildlife is having trouble finding food:

Rabbit Under the Bird Feeder

In this post I will turn my focus back to gardening.  In my post on December 31st (http://dansgardening.blogspot.com/2014/12/happy-new-yeara-first-look-at-2015-seed.html), I wrote about the various seed catalogs that I have received thus far.  It will give you a lot of possible sources for seeds and supplies.  Seed catalogs are also a great source of information, as they contain particulars about growing different vegetables, and which varieties are best for particular regions of the country.

Since all of the seed companies shown in my post have websites, you will be easily able to order as you wish.  Most companies will also allow you to order a hard copy of the catalog.  If you have leftover seeds from previous seasons, that post also explains how to decide which seeds to keep, and which to throw away based on age.

I also dedicated a post (http://dansgardening.blogspot.com/2015/01/talking-heirloom-vegetablestomatoes-and.html) to heirloom vegetables, including a background on them, how and why they became popular, and many sources to purchase the seeds.  It also includes a guide as to which varieties to grow.

Based on the seeds I had left from last season and the vegetables I plan on growing this year, I recently purchased seeds.  I usually purchase seeds locally to save money, except for some special varieties that are only available in the catalogs such as certain heirlooms.  These days even the heirlooms are becoming more readily available in the retail stores.

My Seed and Catalog Collection

Is It Time To Start Seeds Outdoors?  The Answer is Yes!


Believe it or not, it is possible to plant seeds in containers now, place outdoors in the snow, and they will germinate in the Spring.

The technique is winter sowing.  I wrote a post about it last winter:  http://dansgardening.blogspot.com/2014/02/winter-sowing.html.

The best results will be with cold hardy, short season vegetables such as lettuce, spinach, onions, leeks, and radishes.  Tomatoes and peppers will also germinate, but will be delayed compared to those started indoors and will mature much later.  The nice thing is that seeds sown this way require absolutely no care once planted until they germinate.

The technique is simple, start with a one gallon milk or water jug that is clean.  Cut the jug in half except to leave one area to act as a hinge,  Drain holes should be drilled in the bottom also.

Fill the container with a good seed starting mix or potting soil and wet thoroughly.  The excess water will drain via the drain holes.  Never use your garden soil for starting plants since the microorganisms (bacteria, fungus, mold) can hamper the germination process and even kill seedlings.

Plant the seeds and cover with the appropriate amount of soil as per directions on the seed packet. Water again lightly.  I use a spray bottle for this since a mist doesn't disturb the seeds during the watering process.

The final step is to seal the containers with duct tape and place outside.   That's right, place them out in the snow with caps removed.

In addition to the Baby Romaine Lettuce shown above, I planted Easter Egg Blend radishes, Italian kale, Dwarf Blue Scotch Curly kale, and White Lisbon onions (scallions).

In future posts I will follow the progress of the winter sowing.  The way this winter is going, the seeds won't be germinating any time soon.

Until next time.

The Great Backyard Bird Count Starts Friday, February 13th!

In my last post (http://dansgardening.blogspot.com/2015/02/almost-time-for-great-backyard-bird.html), I described the Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC) in detail, including a brief background regarding this very important citizen science project, and simple how to instructions.

The count runs from February 13th to the 16th for a total of 4 days.

Below are two of the bird species you may observe this weekend if you live in the Northeast.  For fun, see if you can identify the first bird below.  I took this photo this past weekend.  The mystery bird has been at my feeder quite often this winter, but I just figured out the species since there are other very similar species that frequent my feeders.  The second bird is a dead give away of course.  I will give the answer for the first bird in my next post.

Guess the Species

Blue Jay

The GBBC has become increasingly popular.  To give you an idea as to how many people participate in the GBBC worldwide, below are some statistics from last year's count:

Number of checklists: 144,109
Species observed: 4,296
Countries participating: 135
Estimated number of participants: 142,051
Photos entered in contest: 4,491
Photos posted to gallery: 1,242

So follow the simple steps listed in my last post (see link above).  The counts can be entered online, and there are even printable tally sheets on the GBBC website (http://gbbc.birdcount.org/) based on your geographic region.  For those of you with smart phones, you can use the BirdLog GBBC app to record and submit your bird counts.

This is available for both iPhone and Android and is free.  It is simple to use, you can log in using your existing GBBC/eBird account.

This is also of course a great opportunity to take some bird photos, as there is a photo contest with many great prizes to be won.

So enjoy the bird count, get your family involved and spend some quality time together.

Until next time.