AMKuska's 2022 Garden

[ducks4you]

Our current temperatures make me feel behind, AMK. Going back to normal? When?

I just have a few of the warm-season seedlings still lagging in the soil mix. Feel like writing to the seed company about their Giant Marconi pepper seed. With 0% emergence, I don't know how it would help to sow more!

Other than that, it's a new variety of eggplant, dragging its cotyledons.

Steve

Do you use heat mats? I Swear by them now, ever since I attended a webinar about growing cool weather vegetables in the Fall. Where I live the U of IL extension specialist suggested that most of them be direct seeded in August, which is the hottest time of year for us, when the soil is warmest. I discovered that your germination rate is best when the seed has heat. In Fact, I haven't yet put up the gro light for my bottom most shelf where I start seeds, and the sugar snap peas are growing nicely with Just the soil/water/plastic top on the 72 cell-er, and the heat mat directly below.
Right now the going rate is about $25.00
They sat at $20.00 for years until 2021, and they are still the same price.
I didn't want to spend the money.
It could also be a cheaper alternative to look into heat mats for baby chicks, and dog beds.
The price may be competative. I picked up a dog heat mat last year, thinking that Pyg might need it.
If I can get going on weasel proofing my chicken coop, I may use it There, instead.
They are designed to be washed.
If you have one of these and you aren't sure, an old window pane could go on top. It would still transfer the heat, but keep the mat dry.

 

[digitS']

Me break from the routine, @Ridgerunner & @ducks4you ?

I might have used paper towel/sandwich bag started seeds for transplants but I don't remember doing so. The top of the fridge used to be warmer with the cooling coils in the back instead of the bottom. I've used the shelf immediately above and, once or twice, on top of the cabinet at about 9 feet above the kitchen floor. I've never had a heat mat.

It's the same problem with some pepper seeds every year. Usually, it comes down to the combination, slow germination of a variety plus, the later competition of other varieties in the same container. I always "get by" but if peppers were more important to me - would change my ways. Further back in time, I started seed in a heated greenhouse or in a south window. The room with the big South Window these days is still the coolest room in the house, overnight. We don't have as many overcast days as AMKuska has but too many during the spring.

The temperature thing is in the open garden, also. Once the plants are in the garden they have to deal with daytime and nighttime temperature swings. So, they never produce very well. I tried Habanero once. One misshapened fruit on one plant. I suspect that all the Capsicum chinense would be a complete waste of time and garden space.

Steve
who will try a germination test on the G Marconi

 

[ducks4you]

SOME plants are like the "bad girlfriend/bad boyfriend." You grow them, make Excuses for their poor growing behavior, but after awhile you simply tire of them and tell them to go away.

 

[Cosmo spring garden]

@AMKuska if you grow jalapinos make sure to make some cowboy candy. It's a sweet and spicy treat!

 

[AMKuska]

@AMKuska if you grow jalapinos make sure to make some cowboy candy. It's a sweet and spicy treat!

I'll see if my husband is interested. I don't eat the spicy stuff so it isn't up to me!

I'm going to go out and plant the squashes and other big plants that take up a lot of room today, since most everything else will be out by the time the warmer weather hits. Maybe I'll take some photos today of how everything is progressing.

I'm also going to plant some 'back ups' of everything since I feel really concerned about the state of the world right now.

 

[Cosmo spring garden]

I'll see if my husband is interested. I don't eat the spicy stuff so it isn't up to me!

I'm going to go out and plant the squashes and other big plants that take up a lot of room today, since most everything else will be out by the time the warmer weather hits. Maybe I'll take some photos today of how everything is progressing.

I'm also going to plant some 'back ups' of everything since I feel really concerned about the state of the world right now.

Lucky! We are still 6 weeks away from our last frost date!
Having back up is always good but even more important now.
I was going to ask you, what variety of popcorn are you growing?
I tried a variety from hoss tools and wasn't impressed. So trying a variety from the feed store.

 

[digitS']

Steve
who will try a germination test on the G Marconi

Outta luck -- outta those Giant Marconi seeds.

 

[AMKuska]

Lucky! We are still 6 weeks away from our last frost date!
Having back up is always good but even more important now.
I was going to ask you, what variety of popcorn are you growing?
I tried a variety from hoss tools and wasn't impressed. So trying a variety from the feed store.

We're probably close to that but I have a grow tent to get them started in.

The kids picked out Dakota Black, Tom Thumb, and Tap Dancer. I have no doubt it will be a glorious mess of genetics if they try to save seeds haha

 

[AMKuska]

 

[flowerbug]

SOME plants are like the "bad girlfriend/bad boyfriend." You grow them, make Excuses for their poor growing behavior, but after awhile you simply tire of them and tell them to go away.

i've yet to try to smother a girlfriend with a few layers of cardboard and mulch...