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| Transplanting Tomatoes (April 11, 2016 Post) |
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| Tomatoes in the Greenhouse |
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| Planting Peas |
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| White, Red, Yellow, and Sweet Onions |
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| Shallots |
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| Romaine Lettuce and Red Russian Kale (February 11, 2016 Post) |
Thanks as always for visiting.
Saturday, April 30, 2016
Simply Photos - Garden Update
This week, just enjoy some photos of my vegetable plants and garden progress:
Monday, April 11, 2016
Starting Heirloom Tomatoes / Bird Photos
Welcome back. After the mild winter we had with almost no snow, the weather turned sharply colder and snowy in early April. During the first weekend in April, we had about 8 inches of snow and strong winds, the worst storm of the winter.
Although it just doesn't seem like seed starting time, the calendar says it's time. In my last post on 3/21/16, I talked about starting onions and leeks from seeds, as well as an update on my Winter Sowing project. Those plants are progressing nicely, however, it has been difficult to get them outside in my greenhouse because of the winter conditions. Hopefully this week the weather will break, and they can once again go outside at least during the day.
On April 2, I started heirloom tomato seeds. Again this year, I used a seed blend from Park Seeds, Rainbow Heirloom Blend. There are an endless number of heirloom tomatoes to try, so I would encourage you to experiment and try new varieties. However, this blend is a good starting point.
I also planted an heirloom paste tomato, San Marzano.
This blend contains Aunt Ruby's German Green, Dixie Golden Giant, Black From Tula, Brandywine Red, Big Rainbow, and Cherokee Purple.
Again this year, I used peat pellets to start the seeds:
First, soak the peat pellets. This will take about 10 minutes for the pellets to fully expand.
Evenly space the seeds, usually 4 to 5 seeds per pellet.
Finally, cover the seeds with about one quarter inch of potting soil, compact lightly, and moisten using a spray bottle.
Place the container in a warm place to enhance germination. It does not need to be in sunlight for the seeds to germinate. A consistently warm location is ideal, as opposed to an area such as a windowsill which gets cold at night.
Speaking of cold, a photo of the winter conditions as i was planting the seeds:
Thanks for reading. Stayed tuned for the progress of my vegetable plant seedlings and much more.
Although it just doesn't seem like seed starting time, the calendar says it's time. In my last post on 3/21/16, I talked about starting onions and leeks from seeds, as well as an update on my Winter Sowing project. Those plants are progressing nicely, however, it has been difficult to get them outside in my greenhouse because of the winter conditions. Hopefully this week the weather will break, and they can once again go outside at least during the day.
On April 2, I started heirloom tomato seeds. Again this year, I used a seed blend from Park Seeds, Rainbow Heirloom Blend. There are an endless number of heirloom tomatoes to try, so I would encourage you to experiment and try new varieties. However, this blend is a good starting point.
I also planted an heirloom paste tomato, San Marzano.
 |
| 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.
Again this year, I used peat pellets to start the seeds:
First, soak the peat pellets. This will take about 10 minutes for the pellets to fully expand.
 |
| Soaking the Peat Pellets |
Evenly space the seeds, usually 4 to 5 seeds per pellet.
 |
| Tomato Seeds |
Finally, cover the seeds with about one quarter inch of potting soil, compact lightly, and moisten using a spray bottle.
 |
| Humidity Dome In Place |
Place the container in a warm place to enhance germination. It does not need to be in sunlight for the seeds to germinate. A consistently warm location is ideal, as opposed to an area such as a windowsill which gets cold at night.
Speaking of cold, a photo of the winter conditions as i was planting the seeds:
Finally, a few more bird photos taken during the last few weeks of Project FeederWatch, which officially ended on April 7th. I enjoyed participating again this year, as I submitted counts every week except for the last two weeks of the season.
If you are not familiar with Project FeederWatch I have posted many times about this very worthwhile project, including on November 4, 2015. I would encourage you to participate next season.
If you are not familiar with Project FeederWatch I have posted many times about this very worthwhile project, including on November 4, 2015. I would encourage you to participate next season.
 |
| Dark-Eyed Junco |
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| Common Grackle |
Thanks for reading. Stayed tuned for the progress of my vegetable plant seedlings and much more.
Monday, March 21, 2016
Starting Vegetables/Winter Sowing Update
In this post I will discuss starting vegetables indoors. Spring is arriving early hear in the Northeast. The weather over the last few weeks has felt like April. Spring is officially here, having arrived yesterday, March 20th. However, this week is starting with a little cold spell with snow showers and strong winds today, reminding us that it still is March.
A few weeks ago, I started some onions and leeks. These are relatively easy plants to start, mainly since they can be transplanted directly into the garden from the original container they are planted in. When I start tomatoes in a few weeks, they will have to be transplanted into peat pots first before finally be moved to the garden in late May,
As you can see, I use a plastic tray (dome not shown here) with a good quality seed starting soil such as Miracle-Gro. The trays I used originally came with peat pellets, holding 25 pellets. In this case, just adding soil works much better when starting onions. I don't recommend using the very light soils that contain mostly peat moss and vermiculite, which are normally advertised as seed starting mixes. Potting mixes work better in my experience since they are a little heavier which allows them to both absorb and retain moisture better. Most also already come pre-mixed with plant food.
As you can see, I planted 3 types of onions, sweet Spanish (a large sweet onion), scallions, and an Italian red flat sweet onion, which I have never tried before.
Skipping forward to this week, all the seeds have sprouted and are progressing nicely. Below are some current photos:
Finally, as promised, an update on winter sowing. In my post on February 11, 2016, I explained in detail this technique. Some of the seeds have sprouted, as shown below. Some also have not, and hopefully will soon once the weather warms up again. The containers shown below sprouted nicely despite being outside during the brutally cold Valentines Day weekend, when temperatures reach minus 25 degrees, with wind chills as low as minus 37 degrees Fahrenheit.
As always, thanks for reading. In my next post, I will talk about starting Heirloom tomatoes indoors, and also Project FeederWatch, which ends in a few weeks.
A few weeks ago, I started some onions and leeks. These are relatively easy plants to start, mainly since they can be transplanted directly into the garden from the original container they are planted in. When I start tomatoes in a few weeks, they will have to be transplanted into peat pots first before finally be moved to the garden in late May,
As you can see, I use a plastic tray (dome not shown here) with a good quality seed starting soil such as Miracle-Gro. The trays I used originally came with peat pellets, holding 25 pellets. In this case, just adding soil works much better when starting onions. I don't recommend using the very light soils that contain mostly peat moss and vermiculite, which are normally advertised as seed starting mixes. Potting mixes work better in my experience since they are a little heavier which allows them to both absorb and retain moisture better. Most also already come pre-mixed with plant food.
As you can see, I planted 3 types of onions, sweet Spanish (a large sweet onion), scallions, and an Italian red flat sweet onion, which I have never tried before.
Skipping forward to this week, all the seeds have sprouted and are progressing nicely. Below are some current photos:
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| Rossa Di Bassano Onions |
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| Sweet Spanish Onions |
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| Scallions (Front) and American Flag Leeks (Back) |
Finally, as promised, an update on winter sowing. In my post on February 11, 2016, I explained in detail this technique. Some of the seeds have sprouted, as shown below. Some also have not, and hopefully will soon once the weather warms up again. The containers shown below sprouted nicely despite being outside during the brutally cold Valentines Day weekend, when temperatures reach minus 25 degrees, with wind chills as low as minus 37 degrees Fahrenheit.
 |
| Romaine Lettuce |
 |
| Russian Red Kale |
As always, thanks for reading. In my next post, I will talk about starting Heirloom tomatoes indoors, and also Project FeederWatch, which ends in a few weeks.
Saturday, March 5, 2016
Hydroponic Gardening/Bird Photos
Welcome back.
In this post I will take a look at hydroponic gardening.
For those of you who may not know, hydroponic gardening involves growing plants without soil, by just using water and nutrients. This technique has been around for thousands of years, a few examples being the hanging gardens of Babylon and floating gardens of China.
In the United States, research involving hydroponic gardening started around 1950. Today, hydroponically grown vegetables are available in most supermarkets. Although they are considered healthy, most hydroponic vegetables re not considered organic since the nutrients uses are chemically refined.
So what are the advantages of this technique? The main advantage is that the growth rate is 30% to 50% higher than plants grown in soil under the same conditions. Also, yields are higher. Why? Simpy put, the nutrients are easier for the plant to absorb. Also, much less water is used compared to soil gardening, and usually fewer pesticides are needed if any.
Even though no soil is used, this techniques involves using a growing medium to aerate and support the roots. Various types of mediums are used including hydrocorn and rockwool, Others include perlite, vermiculite, and sand.
Recently, a small hydroponic system from Miracle-Gro caught my attention, so I decided to give it a try.
This system uses pre-seeded pods that absorb water and nutrients from the reservoir. It uses a CFL gro light and the height of the light is adjustable up to 10 inches The growing medium used in the pods is called a "grow sponge".
The model I am using has built in light timer that keeps the light on for 16 hours. It also has an indicator light to remind you when to add nutrients (every two weeks). The kit includes a bottle of liquid nutrients.
A selection of pre-seeded pods are available from Miracle-Gro, along with seed pods that allow you to plant your favorite seeds. The pre-seeded pods include herbs, salad greens, tomatoes, peppers, herbal teas, and even flowers.
This is an interesting idea, and will keep you up date on the progress of the Aerogarden. Below are some photos thus far. I planted Genovese basil, curley parsley, and a Mighty Mini cherry tomato. I started the garden on January 30, 2016.
As you can see, the growth rate of the plants is impressive. Not only are they growing fast, they appear very healthy. The tomato is starting to get buds already.
Stay tuned for further updates.
Finally, a recent bird photo for your enjoyment.
In my next post, I talk about starting onions and leeks indoors.
In this post I will take a look at hydroponic gardening.
For those of you who may not know, hydroponic gardening involves growing plants without soil, by just using water and nutrients. This technique has been around for thousands of years, a few examples being the hanging gardens of Babylon and floating gardens of China.
In the United States, research involving hydroponic gardening started around 1950. Today, hydroponically grown vegetables are available in most supermarkets. Although they are considered healthy, most hydroponic vegetables re not considered organic since the nutrients uses are chemically refined.
So what are the advantages of this technique? The main advantage is that the growth rate is 30% to 50% higher than plants grown in soil under the same conditions. Also, yields are higher. Why? Simpy put, the nutrients are easier for the plant to absorb. Also, much less water is used compared to soil gardening, and usually fewer pesticides are needed if any.
Even though no soil is used, this techniques involves using a growing medium to aerate and support the roots. Various types of mediums are used including hydrocorn and rockwool, Others include perlite, vermiculite, and sand.
Recently, a small hydroponic system from Miracle-Gro caught my attention, so I decided to give it a try.
 |
| Miracle-Gro 3 Cell AeroGarden - Seed Pod Shown |
 |
| Miracle Gro 3 Cell Aerogarden |
This system uses pre-seeded pods that absorb water and nutrients from the reservoir. It uses a CFL gro light and the height of the light is adjustable up to 10 inches The growing medium used in the pods is called a "grow sponge".
The model I am using has built in light timer that keeps the light on for 16 hours. It also has an indicator light to remind you when to add nutrients (every two weeks). The kit includes a bottle of liquid nutrients.
A selection of pre-seeded pods are available from Miracle-Gro, along with seed pods that allow you to plant your favorite seeds. The pre-seeded pods include herbs, salad greens, tomatoes, peppers, herbal teas, and even flowers.
This is an interesting idea, and will keep you up date on the progress of the Aerogarden. Below are some photos thus far. I planted Genovese basil, curley parsley, and a Mighty Mini cherry tomato. I started the garden on January 30, 2016.
 |
| From Left to Right, Basil, Parsley, Cherry Tomato, 2/20/16 |
 |
| Progress a of 3/5/16 |
As you can see, the growth rate of the plants is impressive. Not only are they growing fast, they appear very healthy. The tomato is starting to get buds already.
Stay tuned for further updates.
Finally, a recent bird photo for your enjoyment.
 |
| House Finch (Male) |
Saturday, February 20, 2016
Great Backyard Bird Count Results and Photos
Welcome back my fellow bird watchers and gardeners.
I hope you had a chance to participate in the Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC) last weekend. It is a very worthwhile citizen science project which this year again saw a record number of participants. If you did count birds and haven't had time to enter your counts, not to worry, You still have up until March 1st to do so. For details, see the GBBC site.
In this post I will share my GBBC results, some overall GBBC stats, and some recent bird photos that I captured.
Following is my results from the 3 days that I participated in the count:
Saturday 2/13/16: 7 Species Total
6 Mourning Dove
2 Blue Jay
2 Black-capped Chickadee
2 Dark-eyed Junco
1 White-throated Sparrow
1 Northern Cardinal
7 House Sparrow
6 Mourning Dove
1 Downy Woodpecker
4 Blue Jay
2 Black-capped Chickadee
4 European Starling
4 Dark-eyed Junco
2 Northern Cardinal
1 Red-winged Blackbird
4 Brown-headed Cowbird
4 House Sparrow
Monday 2/15/16: 11 Species Total
4 Mourning Dove
1 Downy Woodpecker
1 Hairy Woodpecker
4 Blue Jay
2 Black-capped Chickadee
1 White-breasted Nuthatch
4 European Starling
6 Dark-eyed Junco
2 Northern Cardinal
1 Red-winged Blackbird
8 House Sparrow
I hope you had a chance to participate in the Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC) last weekend. It is a very worthwhile citizen science project which this year again saw a record number of participants. If you did count birds and haven't had time to enter your counts, not to worry, You still have up until March 1st to do so. For details, see the GBBC site.
In this post I will share my GBBC results, some overall GBBC stats, and some recent bird photos that I captured.
 |
| Black-Capped Chickadee |
Following is my results from the 3 days that I participated in the count:
Saturday 2/13/16: 7 Species Total
6 Mourning Dove
2 Blue Jay
2 Black-capped Chickadee
2 Dark-eyed Junco
1 White-throated Sparrow
1 Northern Cardinal
7 House Sparrow
Sunday 2/14/16: 10 species Total
6 Mourning Dove
1 Downy Woodpecker
4 Blue Jay
2 Black-capped Chickadee
4 European Starling
4 Dark-eyed Junco
2 Northern Cardinal
1 Red-winged Blackbird
4 Brown-headed Cowbird
4 House Sparrow
Monday 2/15/16: 11 Species Total
4 Mourning Dove
1 Downy Woodpecker
1 Hairy Woodpecker
4 Blue Jay
2 Black-capped Chickadee
1 White-breasted Nuthatch
4 European Starling
6 Dark-eyed Junco
2 Northern Cardinal
1 Red-winged Blackbird
8 House Sparrow
 |
| Northern Cardinal |
Now some worldwide overall GBBC results:
Statistics from 2016
- Checklists Submitted:
- 153795
- Total Species Observed:
- 5387
- Total Individual Birds Counted:
- 17313521
| Country | Number of Species | Number of Checklists |
| United States | 657 | 123,004 |
| Canada | 244 | 12,741 |
| India | 728 | 6,483 |
| Australia | 528 | 1,688 |
| Mexico | 684 | 912 |
| Costa Rica | 602 | 351 |
| Taiwan | 254 | 323 |
| Portugal | 201 | 284 |
| New Zealand | 138 | 267 |
| United Kingdom | 159 | 219 |
 |
| Downy Woodpecker |
 |
| House Sparrow |
In my next post, I will take a look at hydroponic gardening, which I am currently experimenting with myself.
Thanks for reading.
Thursday, February 11, 2016
The Great Backyard Bird Count Starts Tomorrow/Winter Sowing
Welcome back. Time is flying by as always and we find ourselves just a day away from the start of the Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC).
Winter is finally settling in as this weekend will bring the coldest air since last February. So far, this winter has brought only brief cold snaps, unlike last winter's long lasting brutal cold.
Later in this post, I will discuss winter sowing, For those of you unfamiliar to this technique, certain vegetables can be sowed outside now in the cold and they will sprout in the Spring! Don't believe me? See below for more details.
First, a couple of recent bird photos for your enjoyment:
I recently posted information about the GBBC in my post on January 29, 2016.
Below is some simple steps to follow in order to participate:
Are You Ready?
If you have not participated in the GBBC since before the 2013 merger with eBird, create a free account to enter your data. Save your username and password in a safe place.
Can't remember your username or password? look for the links on the sign-in page (under the blue button) to re-set your username or password.
Have questions about how to count the birds you see? Please print and review the GBBC Downloadable instructions.
If you want to enter your GBBC observations from the field, download the free eBird Mobile app for either IOS or Android devices.
So sign up today, sharpen your pencils and dust off the binoculars. And remember, this is a great family activity.
To show just how popular this project is, below is some stats from last year's count:
Can I Plant Seeds Outdoors Now? In The Cold? Really? 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 called winter sowing.
The best results will be with cold hardy, short season vegetables such as kale, lettuce, spinach, onions, leeks, radishes, and Brussels sprouts. 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. Potting soil actually works better since it tends to absorb and retain more moisture, whereas seed starting mix (usually just peat moss) tends to dry out very quickly.
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. The opening in the top will allow moisture to enter and also prevent the containers from overheating once spring arrives.
I planted Siberian Improved Dwarf kale, White Lisbon onions (scallions), Baby Romaine lettuce, and Long Island Improved Brussels sprouts.
In future posts I will follow the progress of the winter sowing. With wind chills expected to be in the minus 30 Fahrenheit range this weekend,, the seeds won't be germinating any time soon.
Until next time.
Winter is finally settling in as this weekend will bring the coldest air since last February. So far, this winter has brought only brief cold snaps, unlike last winter's long lasting brutal cold.
Later in this post, I will discuss winter sowing, For those of you unfamiliar to this technique, certain vegetables can be sowed outside now in the cold and they will sprout in the Spring! Don't believe me? See below for more details.
First, a couple of recent bird photos for your enjoyment:
 |
| House Sparrows |
 |
| Northern Cardinal and House sparrow |
I recently posted information about the GBBC in my post on January 29, 2016.
Below is some simple steps to follow in order to participate:
Are You Ready?
If you have not participated in the GBBC since before the 2013 merger with eBird, create a free account to enter your data. Save your username and password in a safe place.Can't remember your username or password? look for the links on the sign-in page (under the blue button) to re-set your username or password. Have questions about how to count the birds you see? Please print and review the GBBC Downloadable instructions.If you want to enter your GBBC observations from the field, download the free eBird Mobile app for either IOS or Android devices.So sign up today, sharpen your pencils and dust off the binoculars. And remember, this is a great family activity.
To show just how popular this project is, below is some stats from last year's count:
Top 10 countries by checklists submitted
| Country | Number of Species | Number of Checklists |
| United States | 671 | 108,396 |
| Canada | 241 | 10,491 |
| India | 717 | 6,810 |
| Australia | 524 | 812 |
| Mexico | 653 | 425 |
| Costa Rica | 559 | 303 |
| Portugal | 197 | 193 |
| New Zealand | 126 | 161 |
| Ecuador | 784 | 138 |
| Honduras | 353 | 133 |
Can I Plant Seeds Outdoors Now? In The Cold? Really? 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 called winter sowing.
The best results will be with cold hardy, short season vegetables such as kale, lettuce, spinach, onions, leeks, radishes, and Brussels sprouts. 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. Potting soil actually works better since it tends to absorb and retain more moisture, whereas seed starting mix (usually just peat moss) tends to dry out very quickly.
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. The opening in the top will allow moisture to enter and also prevent the containers from overheating once spring arrives.
I planted Siberian Improved Dwarf kale, White Lisbon onions (scallions), Baby Romaine lettuce, and Long Island Improved Brussels sprouts.
In future posts I will follow the progress of the winter sowing. With wind chills expected to be in the minus 30 Fahrenheit range this weekend,, the seeds won't be germinating any time soon.
Until next time.
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