Getting in shape

[Wimpy69]

So I know it was the first week of Feb but here in SE PA was more like late March. Been away from growing since 2019 but everything I needed, I had. Bag of seed starter mix good, pre-moistened, check. Grabbed a couple varieties of radishes and bush snow peas, check. Pre-soaked peas with innoculant and started to germ radishes. Seems like I've done this before. Pea varieties are Dwarf Grey bush and Oregon 2. Radish varieties are French Dressing and Cherry Belle. Dwarf Grey's went into 2- 3 gal containers and radishes, 1st planting 12 of each in 1.5 gal square planters that will hold two plantings for 24 plants. Last night was coldest in a while
(23* f) so into small greenhouse they went with light for heat to get them thru the night. Second planting of French-24 germ seeds in back mud room to go out to greenhouse when they break thru. Dwarf Grey peas are just starting to break thru and Oregon 2 seeds went from soak-> egg carton->house ->greenhouse then into ground hopefully after St Pat's. Trellis is built and row is prepped and covered with 18"+ of leaf compost. More to come.

 

[Wimpy69]

27*f this morning but toasty inside. Frenchy's are popping thru and went into greenhouse. Pushin 50*f by this afternoon then down to mid ->upper 20*'s again by mid night.

 

[Wimpy69]

Cherry Belles aren't very excited about anything, did another planting of 25. Frenchy's growing vigorously, planted another full container. Peas in containers are peaking up but slowed down by nightly cold snaps, but healthy. 1st test of marigold seeds collected in late fall when fully dried on plant.

 

[Wimpy69]

More work today with this drop in the weather comin, cold 20's night rainy snow crap. Prepped pea trellis and row, will post pics. Not much but physically enough for me right now. Straw mulched major walkways and raked up alot of blow down bits. Marigold's are popping up so I'll go ahead and plant more this weekend.

 

[Wimpy69]

Things are popping up everywhere. Separated marigold seeds(like the good ol' days) and filled in nogo's and a shallow 6"pot. Peppers are starting 3rd set and gave'm 1st diluted feeding. I'm prepping Solo cups with Pro Mix w/Jobes Tomato gran and Espoma Garden lime gran. Pro Mix was a little dry so it's moistening up overnight and will see consistency tomorrow.

 

[Downriver]

Looks like things are going good @Wimpy69. I just saw that variety of Pro-mix at WM the other day. Did a little research on it and it sounds like the biggest problem is it can get dense and muddy. Perlite might be a good addition to help with aeration and drainage. Just a thought.

Continued good luck!

 

[Wimpy69]

With ya, not the first time with Pro Mix(yellow bag), but it's been a while. Bout the same, mixed up a 4 gal pot batch for solos and transplant topping off. Total amendments are the Jobes, cal/mag and orchid bark rough grinds (lentil size). Has worked before so I'll start with that. It's only solo cups for now. The moisture mix (purple bag) is a relentless sponge. I tend to keep things on the dry side and I feel the bark keeps enough for roots and to keep peat moss damp so it doesn't fully dry and become hydrophobic. Peat's a funny thing.

 

[Wimpy69]

Looks like things are going good @Wimpy69. I just saw that variety of Pro-mix at WM the other day. Did a little research on it and it sounds like the biggest problem is it can get dense and muddy. Perlite might be a good addition to help with aeration and drainage. Just a thought.

Continued good luck!

So you stuck a bug in my ear and yes a while is 2019. Let's do a test solo cup. Soil was moistened in bulk and broke apart after compressed in hand. Cup filled and not packed, really nice and airy. Top watered lightly till drained below surface. Let sit hour and then dug down with probe and water only penetrated 1"+ but mix seem to still be expanding but absolutely no air space. Got some horticulture sand from buddy of mine and added more bark on recommendation from him. Was told to pre-moisten more so all peat expanded as it absorbed. Mix done and of course do another test cup till drains freely further down cup while staying airy. Thanks for the second guessing, that's why I love this site.

 

[Wimpy69]

Nothing like the first taste of real light. My bell 4088 finally germed and starting 1st real set. Hots are coming along nicely. Swore I saw'em grow .5", most likely my meds. Some marigolds will go in greenhouse and peas which will go out in prepped row along with seed. Have a great day---

 

[Wimpy69]

So sprouted Dwarf Grey peas went in with soaked Oregon 2 & half pack Melting Sugar Snow in some warmed raised row. Other half maybe 2 weeks. French Dressing radishes stems swelling and hearty. Cherry Belles are a mutant growth that just won't develop. Gonna start another container with different soil and see what happens.

 

[Wimpy69]

Bell 4088 are slow but developing nicely. If they produce, maybe, would start 4 weeks earlier next time. 1st time with them, will keep tract thou. 26* here last night/ tonight then to the 60*/40*s for a week. Put 8" of leaf mulch on peas, first two inches were frozen this morning but vines were fine after scratching it off. Covering again tonight. Sea Ya

 

[Wimpy69]

Bell 4088's got there individual homes while I was transplanting my hots. The Basil propagation plants for my daughter were water rooted and put in 4"pots 6 weeks ago. Gave them some half fert and bottom watered them. Everything's going out in the greenhouse which has been 70* at night with a bulb on.

 

[Wimpy69]

Overnight temps look good(40's+) along with overcast and moisture for a couple. So in went some lettuce 1st- Nevada 2nd-Mixed Salad. Along with some white onion sets for green onions.

 

[Wimpy69]

So everything was down and watered in, fit in some more sets and put screening in elevated over soil. Since then nothing but continuous rain, fine we really need it, but planter is soaked now. Covered with plastic and not taking on anymore water which the sets will like. Lettuce seeds will do there thing and be ready for sun in a couple of days. Adapt and overcome-

 

[Wimpy69]

The Oregon peas have started, sweet and tender. 70's + day, +/-50 nights.1st Beans are in, sandwiched between peas and fencing. Three year old leaf mold pile has the peas 5'+. Wonder what it'll do for the beans.