Tag Archives: indoor gardening

Jump-starting Springtime

Last months crocus display was another doozy.

It’s the last day of winter here in the northern hemisphere today, and the season is hanging on firmly. We’ve had flurries the past few days, temps in the 20s, and quite blustery winds. Of course, living in Ohio, if you don’t like the weather here, just wait a few hours. The high tomorrow is going to be in the 50s, which is what’s expected at this time of year.

Not that I’d have started my outdoor gardening last month on the 70+ degree days (our last frost date isn’t until early May). However, it it has been interesting to watch all of the early growth outdoors grind to a halt. Trees had started budding out, and perennials were shooting up almost a month early. And then, in the past couple weeks, Mother Nature seems to have hit the pause switch.

Since I’m incapable of exhibiting any sort of patience, I haven’t paid this weather setback too much attention. I set up a greenhouse in our basement, and this years seed-starting has taken off with a flurry of planting. I spent this weekend transplanting seedlings that have already outgrown their first tiny pots. Heading down to check on the greenhouse has become a highlight of the day, and I’ve been obsessively monitoring the temperature and humidity as I watch all the little seeds sprout and grow. It will be awhile before anything moves outdoors, but what kind of gardener would I be if I didn’t test the limits of the greenhouse (and the laws of physics) by cramming in as many plants as possible?

The greenhouse is currently housing a collection of pothos, pineapples, a lemon tree, a few succulents, some madder root, a banana tree, and a crop of seedlings: basil, comfrey, cumin, oregano, sesame, cantaloupe, watermelon, leeks, lettuce, loofahs, bell peppers, poblano peppers, cayenne peppers, tomatillos, cherry tomatoes, paste tomatoes, petunias, blue false indigo, and swamp milkweed. Out on the deck, the cold frame is housing some spinach, and, creek sedge, yellow coneflowers, tall ironweed, blue false indigo, wild bergamot, and swamp milkweed are all basking away in recycled milk jugs until it’s warm enough for them to sprout.

The next few weeks should continue to be pretty busy. We’re having a new fence installed to replace the current one, which is beyond dilapidated. Once things warm up just a bit more, I’ll get the leeks transplanted outdoors, the carrots, onions, parsley, and snow peas planted, and the next round of seedlings will get planted in the greenhouse. Our asparagus crop should be springing up soon, a favorite of ours. And, I’m planning to mulch all of the beds around the garden with leaf compost.

Come April, I have a few shrubs to add to the yard. I’ll be nabbing a rain barrel and getting that set up. I’m also planning to rework one of our shade gardens by the wildlife pond. The compost bin that lives there may be moving around a bit, and I want to better design the space so things look a little more cohesive with the rest of the yard. It’s also entirely possible that I’ll be adding another raised bed so I have room for everything I’d like to grow this year (see aforementioned seed-starting mania).

So, that’s early springtime sorted around these parts. Hopefully your gardening plans are also coming together this year. If not, it’s only Mid-March. There’s plenty of time! Happy gardening!

One of the greenhouse shelves, packed full of lettuce and tomatoes.



Au Revoir, Old Man Winter

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At this time of year, it kind of amazes me how much can change in a week. Our crocuses are now blooming. The leaves from the tulips, narcissus, and day lilies are beginning to appear. Even the birds are changing. I’m starting to see lots of red-winged blackbirds and mourning doves around the yard, and being able to hear more songbirds really helps affirm that spring will officially be here by the end of next week.

While our last frost date isn’t usually until the second week of May here in Central Ohio, the weather is definitely getting warmer. We’re expecting highs in the 60s all week, and while it will probably snow again by then end of the month, it really feels like the garden is starting to blink awake again.

  • Crocuses, Hellebores, Allium, and Tulips

I do a lap in the yard most days. In addition to the bulbs I mentioned above, our giant allium bulbs are starting to sprout. We have two different species of hellebores, and they are very close to blooming. The sedums, like our Autumn Joy (my favorite variety) are popping back up underneath the shoots from last year.

  • This is the first year I’ve managed to get peppers to start growing from seed.

And inside, the Druzba and San Marzano Tomatoes, and Italian Sweet Pepper seedlings I started last month are coming along nicely. The peppers just sprouted in the past week, but many of the tomato seedlings are already growing their first true leaves. When seedlings sprout, the first leaves you see are called cotyledons, or “seed leaves.” The seed leaves won’t look like the leaves the plant will end up having once it starts to grow. They serve a really important purpose, though, using the nutrients from the seed to feed the plant until the true leaves develop, which is when photosynthesis begins. Like Bill Nye taught us, science rules.

  • Druzba Tomatoes, with their first true leaves

Now that we’re cruising towards warmer weather, it’s time to begin planting my next round of seeds. This week, I plan to start my basil, oregano, and wild bergamot. In a few more weeks, I’ll start the rest of the seeds that will begin life indoors. And a few, like the leeks, lettuce, carrots, parsley, little blue stem, and prairie drop seed, will be directly sewn outdoors around the end of the month. That means I need to get my ass in gear and build the next two raised beds and get them topped off with compost and dirt here in the next few weeks. Oh darn. More dirt will require a trip to the garden center… wonder what else I can find while I’m there…

Hope these last few days of winter find you well. Happy gardening!