Recent content by Branching Out

Carrot Sowing Day! I got out my handy dandy carrot seed template and started flinging seeds. This spring I'm trying a new variety called Goldfinger. Voles ate most of my carrots a couple of years ago, so I seeded this patch in a large cement ring that I hope will deter them. I'm also...

Having started all of my tomatoes, peppers, lettuce, and zinnias in tiny cups of vermiculite I can attest that the roots go straight down-- and they do not get tangled with the roots of adjacent seedlings, which is what makes it so easy to prick them out. The pea seeds can also go several days...

Followed our local garden guru Linda Gilkeson's advice and started Green Arrow peas on vermiculite. Very good root development, and exceptionally easy to transplant. I will definitely try this pre-sprouting technique again. 👍

Fresh spring bouquets at a local coffee cart. 🌞

Big yellow thing in the sky. I don't want to get my hopes up, but they say it may be making an appearance daily. Shocking trend. 😎

You are not alone in this feeling flowerbug. I suspect that many gardeners feel overwhelmed by what they need to do, vs. what they actually accomplish on any given day-- especially in early spring, when the garden starts to put added demands on our time and energy. Making lists can sometimes...

The plant looks pretty healthy to me too. But while we're on the subject, this article suggest that one of the first factors to consider with leaf curl would be too much heat and/or light: https://learn.hydrobuilder.com/leaves-curling-up/

Went to harvest some of the last overwintered carrots, and found these two cuties-- they form a double helix, and almost appear to be hugging. 😍

More rain in the forecast for the whole week. It's too wet to plant most things out, so my flats of seedlings are backing up all over the place. The trees and shrubs are greening up beautifully though. ;)

I 💚 compost. Here we use three of the big black lidded plastic compost bins. I like that the bin tapers at the top and has no bottom, so when it's time to flip the compost the bin just lifts off. That feature makes it really easy and even kind of fun to flip. No heavy lifting involved. :)

Good images of the horsetail root structure flowerbug. It's an interesting plant!

Yesterday I noticed a tiny green fruit on one of my Honey Nail tomato plants. The first one of the season. 😍

I think in our gardens we tend to stay on top of them, which helps. My friend and I are trying to help out a neighbour who has solid horsetails in lousy dirt. We are on year three of amending the soil, and that is definitely making a difference. We work together to try to gently lift them out...

Thanks so much! 🥕🥕🥕

Musical plants. Moved some pansies and echinacea to spots where they'll have more room to stretch out. There were also some curly endive plants and a Red Mizuna that over-wintered, so they got new homes as well. It would be nice to save seed from the mizuna if it survives the transplant...