April 3, 2021 by ilbloccocreati

March 2021 Garden Journal — ilbloccocreati

New York State, zone 5b/6a, spring is a roller-coaster in terms of weather.

February 24, 2021

It was warm enough to attempt winter sowing. I chose ‘Lollo Rossa’ lettuce as my first test. I found a container with a lid in the garbage and washed it. I then poked holes using scissors for the container, knife for the plastic lid to create holes for drainage and humidity.

Next step, I put soil in the container and leveled it off by shaking it generally. I poured all the seeds all over the container and gently moved the soil on top of the seeds. Not too deep, but a light covering. Afterwards, I used a watering can that has holes (will be used as a decorative succulent home in the summer, but for now, it works) or I could wait for rain to happen later that day.

For the lid, IG suggested I use a kitchen knife and a pencil or super thick nail to create holes on the lid. With the lid in place, I placed the container in a full sun spot where the elements can help it grow and thrive.

March 3, 2021

More winter sowing happened. I put in seeds for many different flowers, chives, and thyme. I received serviceberry/Juneberry (Amlanchier canandensis) cuttings as well, so I dipped them in rooting hormone and put them in pots. Hopefully, it works. I should enlarge the holes for the plastic top of my winter sown seeds, but I will get to it soonish (and I did).

March 10, 2021

The first warm day came today for the next few days. It is temporary, though. Today, I discovered three crocuses, which made me super excited for spring and more flowers. We (mom and I) raked much of the front yard, but it was windy, so we couldn’t finish it. Flower bed in the front is now clear of dead leaves. Argued with mom regarding removing ugly hedges and invasive useless shrubs in front. I WILL get those red dogwoods in and kill the ugly stuff slowly. Seeds, cuttings are doing well.

March 14, 2021

Today was extremely windy, so I moved my winter sown seeds to the porch for protection and watered all the containers of seeds. Working on convincing mom to grow grapes as a privacy screen on the porch. She keeps changing her mind. Zinnia and scabiosa seedlings have been growing really well inside. Lettuce is germinating as well, hopefully in a few months, mom will get free lettuce from my plants.

March 15, 2021

Moved seeds back out to their normal places.

March 19, 2021

Sowed tomatoes, luffa, pepper, and crazy daisy seeds in various containers. Hope they germinate.

March 21, 2021

Lettuce is germinating well. Got overwhelmed with the backyard and all the work involved in cleaning up and getting it up and ready for my plans. Did some work in the backyard.

March 23, 2021

Chamomile has germinated! They’re super tiny. I’m worried that lettuce is failing, though. My grow lights need to be replaced because even though I tried everything to get the built in timer to be turned off and to turn on at 6:00 AM when my timer outlet comes on, it doesn't. So my seeds only get up to nine hours of light a day, which is NOT acceptable.

March 27, 2021

SEEDS HAVE GERMINATED!!!!! Mostly. Peppers are still missing in action, though. Also, put up mom’s new trellis, her hammock swing, and hung lanterns in the porch area. Moved all my winter sown seeds to be in front of the ugly bushes in the front yard (they can be tucked underneath the bushes during extremely windy days.)