Transitioning Seedling Outdoors for Summer 2012

May 12, 2012  |  1 Comments  |  by Ben Czajkowski  |  Gardening

Hiding in my basement for the last six-plus weeks have been my seedlings. They’ve been waiting for their time to move outdoors, gathering strength from fluorescent lighting. I’ve been passive about getting them outdoors to harden off, afraid that Baltimore was still due for another frost. It has been chilly in the evening, but the days are now consistently in the 70s.

The seedlings will start spending the next few days outdoors as I finish setting up their sub-irrigated (AKA self-watering, SIPs) planters. I’m going to roll with a new design that I thought up late one night, for about 10 of the seedlings.

Moving Seedlings Outside

Moving Seedlings Outside

Moving Seedlings Outside

Moving Seedlings Outside

While hanging out in the basement, one of the tomato plants have already started fruiting!

First Tomato of 2012

First Tomato of 2012

I do have a problem, though. I have almost 50 seedlings and not nearly enough space to accommodate as much as I want:

Tomatoes: ~25 seedlings
Gourd-like vine-y things: ~15 seedlings
Peppers: ~10 seedlings

The peppers are lagging far behind everything else, except for the paprika peppers in my Aerogarden.

Paprika Pepper Plants

Paprika Pepper Plants

Thinking About Fall Garden and Summer 2013 – A Great Groupon Deal On Seeds

May 3, 2012  |  1 Comments  |  by Ben Czajkowski  |  Gardening

After the rabid success of the Great Seed Giveaway of 2012, I am now mostly depleted in my seed stock. Which is exactly what I wanted. Now, it’s time to refresh! The best time to do that would probably be at the end of the season, when stores and retailers are trying to get rid of their stock.

Groupon Seed Deal

Groupon Seed Deal

However, today Groupon is running a fantastic sale on seeds. For $25, you get TWENTY!! different varieties of seeds, and they’re not being stingy with the seeds either. Here’s the breakdown:

Variety Seed Count
Blue Lake Bush Bean Over 150 seeds
California Wonder Bell Pepper Over 70 seeds
Scarlet Nantes Carrot Over 800 seeds
Marketmore Cucumber Over 150 seeds
Parris Island Cos Romaine Lettuce Over 900 seeds
Golden Acre Cabbage Over 530 seeds
Detroit Dark Red Beet Over 260 seeds
Lincoln Shell Sweet Pea Over 100 seeds
Lucullus Swiss Chard Over 160 seeds
Beefsteak Tomato Over 180 seeds
Champion Radish Over 320 seeds
Green Sprouting Broccoli Over 500 seeds
Waltham Butternut Winter Squash Over 100 seeds
Bloomsdale Long Standing Spinach Over 260 seeds
Yellow Sweet Spanish Onion Over 145 seeds
Golden Bantam Sweet Corn Over 250 seeds
Hales Best Cantaloupe Over 70 seeds
Snowball Cauliflower Over 285 seeds
Black Beauty Zucchini Over 50 seeds
Crimson Sweet Watermelon Over 60 seeds

Some of you might recognize that I was giving away some of these seeds. Right now, I am interested in the broccoli, radishes, peas, and beats, all of which would be good for a baby and toddler, which I am expecting in the Fall, 2012.

This is a great deal for those who really want to branch out what they’re growing, a CSA, and for those who have a community garden to sustain and/or participate in. What’s great is that you can buy three of these, get 60 packets of good seeds for $75, shipping included. Then, you’re set for years to come, if you store the seeds correctly.

If you’re new to Groupon and decide to buy, please use my referral link. You don’t have to, but I would appreciate it:

http://www.groupon.com/r/uu3751450

Happy growing!

 

March 2012 Was Warmest On Record

April 9, 2012  |  1 Comments  |  by Ben Czajkowski  |  Gardening

The  National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) crunched the numbers and found that this past March was the hottest on record, since temperatures were recorded, in 1895. What does a single month of warm temperatures really mean? Probably not much without a context of manipulative numbers of surround it. So far this year, the global means have been pretty mundane.

Just how many record highs were set, in this great nation?

15,000. Fifteen and three zeros.

March Temperature Breakdowns

March Temperature Breakdowns

The high temperatures kicked off an unusually early spring cluster of tornadoes in the Midwest. It also sent us gardeners scrambling to get Spring crops into the ground and prepping our summer plants.

It’s also left me worrying what to expect for the rest of the year… I’m not sure my pregnant wife can handle 100 days of 100+ degree days.

 

Advanced Sub-Irrigated Planters – A Few Videos

April 5, 2012  |  2 Comments  |  by Ben Czajkowski  |  Gardening

Since I started gardening, in 2008, I’ve focused my growing methods, mostly, on sub-irrigated planters (AKA SIPs, AKA self-watering planters). These re-purposed buckets and containers wick water from a reservoir, driving the roots downward and building a stronger plant and creating better fruit production, for the most part.

Every year, my methods have evolved a little bit, as I refine the process. Here are a few videos that I’ll probably base my system off of, this year. I am looking to make a closed-looped water distribution chain of sub-irrigated planters.

Make A Gardening Apron From Old Jeans

April 2, 2012  |  1 Comments  |  by Ben Czajkowski  |  Do It Yourself - Gardening (DIY), Gardening

If you’re in the process of doing Spring Cleaning, odds are, at some point, you’re going to hit your closet and find a pair of pants you don’t want anymore.

If you’re like me, you have a favorite pair of jeans that you just can’t part with. Well, Chow.com has an easy way of turning them into a gardening apron, perfect for carrying stuff around.

A pair of cargo pants works just as well, though…

How I Truly Feel About Squirrels

March 26, 2012  |  1 Comments  |  by Ben Czajkowski  |  Gardening

Little buggers…

Squirrels Represented on Draw Something

Squirrels Represented on Draw Something

Five Resources On How To Make Soil Blocks For Seed Starting

March 26, 2012  |  1 Comments  |  by Ben Czajkowski  |  Do It Yourself - Gardening (DIY), Gardening

One of the best things about the gardening community is the sheer willingness to share information, walk through step by step how to solve a problem, and the overall good-natured support provided.

This Spring, there have been a bunch of solid guides for making seed starting soil blocks. While I’m content with making use of my Aerogarden for its hydroponic seed starting or the Jiffy pods, one of the most common methods for getting gardening going is by using soil blocks (pictured below).

Soil Blocks

Soil Blocks

Here are five links that you should read, use, and bookmark:

1. Daphne’s Dandelions – Soil Block Tutorial: I’m hesitant to use this word, but what an epic post by the Harvest Monday ringleader. She really covers the process, end to end, everything from soil to using a commercial blocker.

2. Annie’s Kitchen Garden: I’m sharing this one because she goes through, step by step, on how to make a soil blocker from pieces from your local hardware store or that you might have in your basement. As a huge supporter of ‘found-gardening’, I recommend this since it re-purposes discarded items.

3. From my bookmarks, Instructables has another guide for making a beefier soil blocker. Another potential for re-purposing.

4. Treehugger.com’s John Laumer has another great step-by-step guide with clear and concise photography.

5. Gardening Channel’s post has a great list on how to improve the longevity of your soil blocks.

Bonus video:

While I love soil blocks for their use-of-use factor, they do take time to make. However, they help reduce clutter and waste that you would get from buying seed flats, from your local hardware store or gardening center. Soil blocks are extremely easy to transplant. Plus, you can make bigger blocks and transplant the smaller cubes to fit inside the bigger ones. It’s like a puzzle! Or not.

Five Resources For Preparing Soil For Starting Seeds

March 25, 2012  |  No Comments  |  by Ben Czajkowski  |  Do It Yourself - Gardening (DIY), Gardening

While it’s great to receive free seeds, what should you do with them after receiving them? Should you plant them directly in the ground? Should you run out and buy some Jiffy pods? Should I get some potting mix and used my saved yogurt containers? Do I need to add special nutrients to my soil?

Soil Mix

Soil Mix

The answer to all of those is ‘yes, you can do that’. As you get more acquainted on the topic of gardening, a topic that comes up every year is how can you prep soil or soil-free mix to plant in.

Everyone has an opinion, on the matter, and there really is no right or wrong answer. Here are five resources to help you get started down the path of seed starting:

1. Colleen Vanderlinden, a great organic gardening writer, over at About.com, shares her recipe on The Perfect Soil-Less Recipe for Seed Starting. For the most part, the recipe can be extended to container gardening, in general.

2. Sharon Astyk, at Scienceblogs.com, takes a more philosophical, thoughtful approach to her process. She shares her thoughts, not only on seed starting mix, but the entire starting business.

3. One of the biggest controversies in gardening is the use of and diminishing of peat moss. If you read any blogs about gardening and homesteading, you need to add Root Simple to that list. Here’s a great Peat-free Planting Mix Recipe With Coconut Coir. The post does a FANTASTIC job of explaining the different ingredients that they use, many of which you should consider, for your garden (especially the worm castings).

4.Of course, the Gardens Alive website has a great Q&A/FAQ on preparing soil for window boxes.

5. A big question for Year Two and beyond, especially for container gardeners: Can I Reuse Old Potting Soil? Gayla Trail AKA YouGrowGirl writes about one of the tougher topics and how she recycles her soil. Nutrients need to be replenished and adjusted, based on what you’re growing. Many plants have different needs.

Bonus Video:

Here’s an organic potting mix recipe, if you have about 10 minutes:

<iframe width=”420″ height=”315″ src=”http://www.youtube.com/embed/-VuBa9_EAbM” frameborder=”0″ allowfullscreen></iframe>

How to Make Seed Tape

March 24, 2012  |  No Comments  |  by Ben Czajkowski  |  Do It Yourself - Gardening (DIY), Gardening

Are you an anal gardener? Do your plants have to be a certain distance apart? Especially your flowers? Are you a carrot or a radish planter? Are you bored in the winter, and you’re looking to interact with gardening, in some way?

Well, then seed tape is for you!

Seed Tape Roll

Seed Tape Roll

Over at HGTV, there’s a quick and easy guide on how to make seed tape. Materials you’ll need:

  • toilet paper (paper towels and napkins also work)
  • ruler
  • marker
  • Elmer’s white glue
  • seeds
  • toilet-paper tube or paper-towel tube cut into thirds

Then it’s as easy as cutting, measuring, adding a dab of glue, and then placing the seeds. You can plant the tape immediately or store it until you’re ready.

What Tasty Tomatoes Should You Consider Growing In 2012?

March 23, 2012  |  2 Comments  |  by Ben Czajkowski  |  Gardening

One of the most popular question that came my way, when I announced the Great Seed Giveaway of 2012, was “Which tomato type should I consider growing? There are so many out there!” I’m growing around a dozen different kinds, this year. Why not?

Sakura Honey

Sakura Honey

I did a little research, and the conclusion that I came to is “it really depends on what you’re looking for, in a tomato.” Do you want them for taste? Do you want them for salads? Do you want them for canning and/or paste?

One of the articles I came across, that I thought worth sharing, is a 2011 taste-test, in Franklin County, Pennsylvania. To be honest, I don’t think I’d even heard of any of the ones on the following lists. Sakura Honey ranked in the top slot. Here’s the list:

Taste

 1 Sakura Honey                  665.50
 2 Red Pearl                     623.50
 3 Five Star                     608.00
 4 Principe Borghese             555.50
 5 Old Brooks                    535.50
 6 Arbason                       525.00
 7 Fabulous                      521.50
 8 Heritage Hybrid               518.50
 9 Cherokee Green                499.50
10 SX 605                        493.50
11 Copper River                  493.50
12 Ceylon                        492.00
13 Lyn’s Mahogany Garnet         491.50
14 Green Zebra                   475.50
15 Big Beef                      469.00
16 Tribeca                       466.50
17 Delicious                     466.00
18 Defiant                       457.50
19 Rocky Top                     451.50
20 Dr. Carolyn                   436.50
21 BHN 876                       432.00
22 Scarlet Red                   429.00
23 Bison                         417.00
24 BHN 189                       412.00

Aesthetics

1 Red Pearl                      713.50
2 Sakura Honey                   670.50
3 Big Beef                       656.50
4 Old Brooks                     631.00
5 Rocky Top                      629.00
6 Principe Borghese              613.50
7 Arbason                        613.00
8 Scarlet Red                    611.00
9 Tribeca                        603.00
10 Heritage Hybrid               602.50
11 Five Star                     591.50
12 Dr. Carolyn                   578.50
13 SX 605                        578.00
14 Delicious                     573.00
15 BHN 189                       568.50
16 Defiant                       563.50
17 Fabulous                      558.50
18 Green Zebra                   552.50
19 Lyn’s Mahogany Garnet         550.00
20 Copper River                  541.50
21 BHN 876                       534.00
22 Ceylon                        525.50
23 Cherokee Green                499.50
24 Bison                         477.00

164 people can’t be wrong, can they?

This year, I’m focusing on whatever tomato varieties that I am able to can and make paste from. I spend a lot of time and money picking up tomato sauces, when I go to the grocery store. Making my own, at this point is crucial to my family budget, especially if I ever have a tomato harvest of 20 pounds again, this year.