Sanctuary Gardener Update ~ 2/2/15

Yesterday, we had a beautifully warm, sunny day here. It reached 67 degrees! A perfect day to plant some Tom Thumb peas along my front walkway (in the spaces where I’ve harvested lettuce). I also harvested some salad goodies and planted 288 seeds in flats for my grow room. Unfortunately, the warm weather will be very short-lived. A cold front is passing through today, and tonight’s low is supposed to be 28 (yeah, rain! Boo, frost!). But alas, such is winter in the Lowcountry. At least I can still garden!

WHAT’S NEW:

Remember my pea seedlings along my trellis in the raised bed? Half of them have disappeared. Yep, gone…without a trace. I had over a dozen Dwarf Gray pea seedlings on the left side of the trellis, and yesterday there were only two. No sign of shriveled plants or bottoms with tops eaten off. Nothing. I can’t figure it out.

Dwarf Gray pea seedlings – what’s left of them

My arugula is blooming now.

Arugula blooming

I had planted celery seed in a pot, and after some of the seed germinated, fire ants invaded the pot. I gave up on that pot, figuring I’d clean it out in the spring. Well, yesterday, I found this celery seedling growing in it.

Celery seedling

IN THE GARDEN:

When I removed the plastic from my hoop tunnels this weekend (for a few days respite), I found these ant hills in one of my beds. I don’t think they’re fire ants, but they are going to have to go.

Ant hills in my raised bed

On my biggest brussels sprout plant, the bottom sprouts are starting to get leaves. They look like tiny baby sprouts now instead of just buds.

Brussels sprout buds growing

Speaking of buds, I noticed my elderberries have leaf buds. I think it’s a bit too early for that. I hope frost doesn’t nip the buds and damage future growth.

Elderberry leaf buds

My cilantro has finally filled out in the pot.

Cilantro

GARDEN BOUNTY:

This past week, I harvested a half pound of lettuce and almost a pound of carrots.

This made a very large salad with leftovers. Identified from the top, clockwise.

Reine des Glaces, Red Sails, and Red Romaine lettuce

I love just-harvested carrots so much, it’s a wonder any of them make it into the fridge. And look at the funky one in the middle.

Parisienne & Scarlet Nantes carrots

IN THE GROW ROOM:

Yesterday, I planted my seeds for my indoor starts and placed them under the grow lights. Four flats of 72 cells each allowed me to plant 288 seeds! I planted 14 varieties of peppers (sweet and hot), 8 varieties of tomatoes, 3 varieties of eggplant, 2 varieties of squash, 1 variety of pumpkin, 3 varieties of watermelon, and 3 varieties of melon. (Some of my watermelon and melon varieties will be direct sown because I ran out of room under the grow lights!)

It was so nice yesterday, I decided to do it outside – making my special germination mix (click here for the recipe), filling the flats, and planting the seeds.

Ready to plant my indoor starts

As soon as I finished the first flat, the wind started kicking up to the point that it was blowing the seeds out of my hand. I had to finish inside. A large tarp on the kitchen floor and I was good to go.

Finishing the planting on my kitchen floor

Here is my germination station, set up with germination mats (for heat underneath) and grow lights. For now, my study is my grow room.

Germination station

I’ll update you on the growth of my seedlings every Monday, along with my regular garden update.

Have you planted your indoor starts yet?