Thought I would share a wee garden update, as I’ve been putting a lot of effort into cultivating my seedlings lately. With the exception of the my peppers and dill, most veggies are looking healthy.
I have several types of sweet and hot peppers growing. Last year my peppers did well, but this year they’re off to a rough start. That one in the far back right has lost all its leaves! They were hit with a few aphids, and when I tried spraying them with a mineral oil mix to deter the pests, the seedlings became a bit sunburned under their heat lamps. Oops. I still have a lot to learn apparently. Last night I fed the peppers some fish bone meal to try and perk them up. I’ve also heard that they need good circulation, so I’ll try to provide that too. Otherwise, it might be time for another planting.
Above I have planted three different tomato varieties: Bloody Butcher, a cherry tomato and an heirloom mix. Not shown here are some paste tomatoes from seeds given to me by Daniel at Your Small Kitchen Garden. The paste plants are bit behind because they were planted several weeks later, but two of the three have germinated. In case you’re interested, this is the method I use to plant my tomatoes. I continually cover the base of the plant as they grow, so a strong root system is produced.
A good herb garden is a necessity at my house, so I’ve started basil, parsley, cilantro, and dill. I’m hoping to have lots of dill for pickles, but so far the one surviving plant is looking haggard. This is my first time growing dill from seed so I’m going on no experience here.
At this stage, my slicing cucumber, northern pickling cucumber and zucchini all look the same. These guys sprout quickly and are pretty easy to grow.
Bought this English Daisy at Seattle Tilth’s plant sale last weekend. Since it’s rained every day since then, this guy has been a cheery burst of color to come home to.
How’s your planting coming along? If you have any updates you’d like share, please send me a link to your blog or photos.
