The Sun Returns. We Are Blessed.
Spring returns again with blossoms and bees and daffodils and silver wattle and blue skies and the odd warm day. It's seed time! Every year I plant more and more seeds because it is thrilling and fun! ..and also useful and thrifty, but mostly Thrilling and Fun. This year I have lots of baby flower seeds as well as vegies, and required a more productive seed set up, so I bought a mini plastic greenhouse and some heat mats to grow the seeds more efficiently, and set it all up in the attic.
While the attic gets some light it's really not enough to grow strong and sturdy seedlings. Nowhere in my house is really light enough for that, but I have come up with a system that works in our climate. It is way too cold to plant out cold-sensitive seedlings like tomatoes right now, but it is warm enough for them during the day in the sun, so during the day I take the tomato seedlings outside, and bring them in again at night and tuck them into their warm cosy heated greenhouse (the heat mats heat up the greenhouse nicely with the door zipped up). I did the same for the peas and spinach you can see above, but because they are cold hardy I planted them out today and they can make their way in the wide world.
Maybe one day I will have an outdoor greenhouse, or some grow lights inside, but currently, this is a workaround. If it is a cold, nasty day the tomatoes stay inside sulk a little, but from now on they should be fine outside during the day.
Meanwhile, it's spring! There are daffodils and grape hyacinths!
Daffodils and pink shasta daisies and forget-me-nots:
Daffodils and dill! I have always found dill difficult to grow, but finally it self-seeded in the garden last autumn, and now I know that one of the secrets to happy dill is sowing it in early autumn in our temperate climate, where it can flourish all winter:
Daffodils and apricot blossom:
Comments
Patricia
What happens in the garden in Florida in September? I hope the iguanas didn't eat all your ripening capsicums..
Neighbors shared their mangoes, and now avocados which is wonderful. None of my trees are producing yet. Maybe in 2-3 years.
Iguanas enjoying way too many of my plants, and the neighbors mangoes, as evidenced by their fat bellies.
Blueberry, I know literally nothing about grow lights, except that they are supposed to provide a full spectrum of um, something. UV? Does one need a particular type of LED?
Spring is wonderful! Some interesting things have popped up in the garden and only time will tell if they are 'good' things or 'bad' things, otherwise known as weed. Something ate half my dahlia seedlings, which was annoying.
Enjoy planting your seedlings!
Deborah
Cheers,
Patricia
Patricia, I am waiting agog for the iguana updates: Iguana Mornay, perhaps? Cream of Iguana Soup?
Oh my goodness your garden is looking beautiful. Respect. The tent for the seed raising is a great idea not to mention the heat mat. The greenhouse has been a game changer here, but I reckon it works because it has permanent raised garden beds rather than just shelving. Over the years I've seen a lot of those buildings that are empty, and err, footprint of the thing. Your tent idea is a much better use of space. Hasn't it been such a lovely week weather wise? We set the seeds out on Tuesday, and already some of them have begun to sprout. I'm trialling radishes this year. I have such fond memories of them as a kid, just eating them straight out of the garden beds. Gardening gets into your system! :-)
Cheers. Chris
As you are reveling in the return of longer days, I am getting excited about the shorter, slightly cooler days of late summer here in Georgia, a respite from the grueling heat and humidity we had this summer. Your photos are beautiful.
Chris, I love your greenhouse, it makes me green with jealousy. I would love a permanent greenhouse to plant things like ginger and turmeric in. What greenhouse projects have you got going on this year?
Mary, I am finding that the heat mats heat up this tiny greenhouse very well, for very little cost. Enjoy your cooler days and the coming of autumn. Autumn is my favourite, but also spring is my favourite, because flowers:) and baby seedlings:)