Seed Starting

I started our seeds on April 1st.  By the 3rd, there were already broccoli popping out of the soil! 

April 1, 2019

I planted 8 broccoli plants.  I wasn't planning on doing any broccoli this year as it only grows okay here, but I figured I would try them in the outer garden and see if they do better there.  I should have room, so a row of broccoli should be no problem to fit in!

I started 16 pepper plants (for both Grandma and I) and so far, nothing has sprouted...  I don't seem to have much luck with peppers, but worst case scenario, I can purchase a couple plants from the local farmers at the Farmers Market when it starts.  They usually have some extras!

I also started 18 tomato plants.  These have almost all sprouted now.  I left the pots only half full so that I could add more soil to get a great root base started - hopefully this will work!

Now the trick will be to get these to grow well (and not too tall - I don't have grow lights, only a patio door) and live long enough to make it to outdoor planting time!  I guess I could always look into covering a raised bed with an arch to make a tunnel.  That may be a good idea as the soil is ready, but the weather is not!

We anticipate a foot or more of snow to fall from tonight through Friday, so winter is going to try to give us one last dose this spring!  Have to love living in Northern Wisconsin!

2019 Garden Plans

My favorite part of spring is starting to plan the gardens.  So full of hope and possibility, even when the garden boxes are still covered in snow!

My Mom came over the other day and we started to plan what seeds I need to start so that we can have items ready to transplant come the end of May.  Some things grow really well at her house (like beets, cabbage and squash) so she is going to grow those for me in exchange for me starting some seeds for her.

Such a great trade, if you ask me!


My plan for this year is as follows:

Onions - small amount - never been able to grow these before so going to give them another try

Snow Peas - small amount - only for fresh eating

Spinach - fresh eating only

Cabbage - Mom to grow two cabbage for me (process to kraut)

Radishes - a very small amount - for fresh eating on salads only

Beets - Mom to grow as many as she can for me.  Then help me can them as my stash is running low.

Potatoes - try to grow a few hills - never tried before!

Leaf Lettuce - fresh eating only

Carrots - grow much less than last year!

Chard - double the amount from last year

Green Beans - grow as much as I possibly can!

Sweet Corn - 1 row in the outer garden

Popcorn - 1 row in the outer garden

Cucumbers - try a direct sew this year - growing enough to make a few quarts of dill and refrigerator pickles is the goal!

Zucchini - 1 plant - fresh eating and shred for quick bread

Summer Squash - 1 plant

Peppers - 1 jalapeno, 2 poblano, 2 orange bell, 2 cali wonder (start seed for Mom too)

Tomatoes - 2 Barry's Crazy Cherry, 1 Mini-Bel (for Great Grandma) 2 Roma/Amish Paste for both Mom and I, 2 German Johnson for both Mom and I

Pumpkins - 1 hill of Mini's, 1 hill of Jack-o-lanterns, 1 hill of Pie


Additional Goals:
Fill in the two open beds with soil

Install Landscape Fabric, Pea Gravel and three long, narrow beds.

Plant raspberries, blueberry bushes and strawberries into the three long narrow beds!

One additional apple tree - Choose from Honeycrisp, Cortland or Wolf River.

Flowers or Weeds?

Eddie picked me some "flowers" on Sunday from around the outer garden.  I kept telling him that they are weeds, but he was adamant that we put them in the house on the table because the "flowers" were beautiful.


Shortly after, both kids picked my two remaining tulips and brought them in as well. And it turns out, I think the "weeds" are prettier than the tulips...


I guess I needed to be reminded of how we judge things based on society's standards - and they are not always right.  I hope he picks me some more "flowers" this weekend!

Apple Trees - 2016

Appears we have a slight chance to get some apples this fall...  Last year we only had 4 blossoms and none of them resulted in a single apple.  This year they are loaded and you can hear the insects buzzing around them.  So excited to see how things turn out and if we get a small crop of apples from these two trees!  I sure wish I knew what type of trees they are!

Southern Tree

Northern Tree

Garden Beds

We filled the garden beds this past weekend.  Miscalculated a little on how much dirt was needed so we still have about half of a bed to fill, but it was good to get this project almost completed!

Two of the four garden beds filled and ready to be planted!

September 15, 2015

Built two raised bed gardens this weekend with the help of my mother-in-law Sue.

My Goal in 2015

I am keeping things simple this year.  One goal (that has two parts). 




Create the 1) garden space and 2) plant a couple things in the orchard.




Simple, yes.  Easy, no. 




I still do not know where I want the garden to be.  I don't know how big I really want it to be (but I do know I want it big).  Makes perfect sense, right!




For the orchard, I know I want a couple (more) apple trees, a pear tree, a raspberry patch, a strawberry patch, some blueberry bushes, an elderberry bush and probably other things too.  I also need to get an asparagus bed started as it takes 2-3 years to establish one and I hear they can be very difficult to start.




Then we start in on the herb portion of the garden... 


And the idea to have a small greenhouse that is about 10' X 16' in size - I need to see if it is okay to build one of these - not sure if our covenants restrict this type of building.  I want one very similar to the one the Elliott Homestead built this past year.  It is beautiful and would be a welcome addition to any gardening lovers plans!  Can you imagine how early I could start vegetables and how late I could harvest them?  Wow.  What a wonderful addition if I can make it happen!  If I can't do a permanent structure, maybe a smaller portable greenhouse (like this???)


I am really excited to begin this process and planning where everything will go and how we will accomplish it!

Early Morning Beauty in my Garden

We made an offer on a home the other day. 

Last night, we made a counter-offer on that same home.  While I don't know how this will play out, I am confident in our decision and will trust that all is going to happen the way it is supposed to.

July 24, 2014 6:30 AM - Peppers, Tomatoes, Cabbage, Broccoli

The best part about the home we made an offer on is the yard.  Two acres of space to set up a wonderful garden and orchard.  There are many restrictions/covenants on the property regarding what we can and cannot do there, but for the most part, I can do almost everything I would want to (except have a few chickens). 
  

Pole Beans

The worst part about the yard is that we have no way to mow that much land right now - and I am pretty sure it needs to be maintained based on the covenants. We will need to hire someone to mow the rest of this season (unless we can find a decent riding mower for fairly cheap!) and save money over the winter to buy one next spring. Then there is the issue of snow removal - our snowblower could probably do it, but it would take a LONG time. Not something we really have a lot of in the morning before work!
 

Chives and Kale - Color is funny - the Kale really is green, not yellow!

I am looking forward to seeing how our counter-offer is received today. Hopefully, it will be accepted and we can begin to plan for our next chapter. But if the offer is rejected, we will just start to look again and see what else is available. Honestly I am not worried about the situation at all as I know that no matter what, we will find a wonderful place to call home.
 

July 24, 2014 - Early morning sunshine on my happy place.

For the next three weeks, I will enjoy my little home in the center of town and all that it has to offer. We were playing with the kids in the back yard last night and it seemed almost sad that we will be leaving this place. After 10 years of putting our stamp on this 1/3 of an acre, it truly has become a place I love. Seeing the beauty in the backyard this morning made me remember (once again!) that no matter where we end up next, if I can take our current backyard from where it was when we bought the place to how it is now, there isn't anything I can't make beautiful!

Garden Harvest - July 16

We had a great garden harvest last night for this early in the year (Zone 3).

1. Enough garden peas for a meal (blanched and frozen last night)
2. Enough kale for two large pots of soup (blanched and frozen last night)
3. Two cucumbers - which will be sliced and eaten on crackers tonight
4. A few small carrots from thinning out the patch (most were eaten directly in the garden!)
5. Enough beans for two large meals (my absolute favorite summer vegetable!)

I am going to get everything possible out of this garden before August 15 when we have to be out of our house for the closing.  Everything I can get my fingers on will be preserved or eaten.  Of course, the garden looks great this year too - hopefully the new owner will appreciate it. 

Eddie and Libby helped me pick the green beans - Libby picked beans, Eddie picked plants.  I know he wants to help, but it is hard for me to see him pull up an entire plant that is heavy with blossoms, knowing we will not get to eat those beans!  He also tried to pull out my sunflower plant.  Luckily, I stopped him in time!

On a side note, so far my use of grass clippings as mulch to keep down the weeds is working wonderful.  I need to have William save a few more loads to mulch the kale and carrots, now that they are properly thinned.  Should have had him do it last night when he mowed!

I am going to miss my little garden.  But I am going to enjoy creating a new one!

First Tomato of the 2014 Garden

 

The first tomato of the season (zone 3) --  Yes, its small, but it's there!!!

The Garden - July 9

I finally made it out to weed the garden last night.

It really needed it - but now it has been weeded, mulched and will be good for another week or so!

July 9

July 8 Harvest of Radishes

I sure am going to miss this little garden when we move.  But within a couple years I am sure I will have another one ready to plant.  Hopefully, it will be even a little larger!

Peonie Love*

The complexity of a single flower and its life cycle.

How much joy it has brought me today and how much it is teaching me about life. 

Today is tough.  I am not even going to pretend I have the energy or the strength to make it through today.  Being a parent is HARD.  Especially when you want to excel at everything you do!  Sometimes, I just need a day like today to make me step back and realize I am not in control and that I can only do so much - the rest is in God's hands.  Children are only little for such a short time - a lot like the blooming of a flower.

The peonie season is just too short, but I will be grateful and enjoy every moment of it.  Just like I will with my children in the short time I have with them - no matter how difficult it is, I will choose to be grateful.

This post shared at Gratituesday - Hosted by Laura at Heavenly Homemakers.

Homestead Ramblings - May 29, 2014

I made the most delicious soup earlier this week.  It had been raining all day and I was chilled to the core.  A good hearty soup is just what I needed to warm up.  So, Shaye's Chicken Tortilla Soup was the one I chose to make.  It was AMAZING.  Even the kiddos both tried it.  They didn't eat it, but they tried it.  I wish I would have taken a picture of it as not only was this soup tasty, it looked pretty too.   But I just gobbled it up instead.  Definitely a keeper!

The lettuce is growing.  I need to thin it out a bit!

The grass is growing like crazy at our house.  I bet we could mow two or three times a week and keep up with it, but who wants to do that?!  Hopefully, someday I will have more gardens and less lawn.  A girl can dream!

I weeded the garden again last night.  The majority of the weeds that are growing are seeds from the trees that are closest to the gardens.  I need to remind myself that at my next house, don't plant the garden close to trees if at all possible. 

I am having some troubles finding one small straw bale to use as ground cover in the gardens.  No one seems to have straw.  Do farmers not use straw for bedding anymore?  We always had straw bales growing up on the farm.  Maybe no one has small balers anymore and only use ones that make huge rectangle bales or round bales?
 

The Pole Beans.  These ones I will dry in the sun and use the beans inside the pods for soup this winter.
 

It is Eddie's birthday this weekend.  Little man will be two years old.  We are going to have a very small party for him with immediate family.  Simple food, laughter and play always sound like a good way to spend an afternoon.  I am hearing it may storm that day, so I am hoping it hits early in the day and we can be able to spend time outside or go to the park after the party.  No fun being stuck in the house when you want to go out and play!

This post shared in the HomeAcre Hop!

A Wonderful Long Weekend

Memorial Weekend this year was wonderful.  We stayed home and got rest and played outside and literally watched the garden and plants around the house grow in the heat!  Things are looking so wonderful and it makes my heart happy and content. Something about growth after a dormancy is so very refreshing and welcome.  Granted come fall, I am sure I will be ready to see everything to the compost pile.  The way our seasons cycle is absolutely perfect.

We also headed to a local cemetery for the memorial service.  I hadn't been to one in well over 15 years, and it was good to be able to expose the kids to the reality of the reason why we have this day off.  Eddie needs a little work on respecting the flag - they handed out small flags for the kids to wave, and he decided his was better used as a shovel or to tap the gravestones with - but the more he is exposed to it, the sooner he will learn.

The smallest hosta - purchased new last year as when we split the others, we missed filling in a hole!



One of the new perennials purchased over the weekend at the Cafe Wren plant sale.

Another one of the new perennials.

The buds are waiting to open - the anticipation this year is WONDERFUL!

Even the tomato plants and pepper plants are starting to perk up so nicely.  Many are still laying on their sides, but I will simply trench them when planting to take care of this.  Nothing to it.

The green beans are starting to pop through the ground, so I expect to have to do a re-planting this weekend for any bare spots that are not growing.  Pretty soon the garden will be all set and all I will have to do is keep the weeds at bay while the sun and rain do the rest.  Then comes the fun part.  EATING!!!

Garden Progress - May 23, 2014

I know there has been a lot of garden stuff here lately, but I just can't help it.

After the terrible winter we had in Wisconsin, I am so excited to see things growing!  Plus when I look back at the blog posts during the winter, these ones are some of my favorites, so I am excited to add a bunch to the collection to look at during the next freeze.

Took these photos this morning before heading into the office and I am so very excited that I get to spend three days at home this weekend tending to the garden, yard and house.  It has been neglected and it needs some care.  Plus, that kind of work is my absolute favorite.  I am happy when doing it and refreshed when it is completed.  That is exactly how I think you should feel after a good days work.  Just wish it was that way for my paid job!

Big Boston Lettuce

Merlo Nero Spinach

Blue Curled Scotch Kale

Ching Chang Bok Choy - A small variety that is ready to harvest when it is only 5" tall.
So yummy in stir fry and Cashew Chicken.

Alaska Peas



Lily of the Valley - Coming up nicely along the back of our garage!
This is my Grandmother's favorite flower and I think that once they bloom, I should pick a bunch and take them to her as a surprise.  She would love a visit anyways!!!

The Peonie is starting to fill out nicely and even has tons of buds.

The Lily of the Valley was given to my by Susie (Bill's step-mother) and every time I see them now, I think of her.  So nice to have wonderful reminders of family and friends that have passed on.  I will always associate her with this flower now.  I think if we do end up selling this house, I may try to take some with me.  If I can't, I will just make sure to plant some at our new place.  They are such beautiful and delicate flowers. 

This post shared on the Homeacre Hop!

May 22 Garden Update

My tomato plants look terrible.  My pepper plants are tiny.  My cucumbers are looking half decent.

Apparently I need a southern facing patio door like my sister if I am going to start plants from seed inside my house.  She planted hers this week in her gardens and I asked her where she bought her plants --- she started hers from seed too, a month ago and they are five times the size of mine and look healthy. 

I am leaving them outside full time now, so hopefully this weekend (or next) I can get them out into the garden beds.  I want to give them a little more time to see if they perk up before planting them into their final spots.  If it comes down to it and they just don't grow, I guess I can always head to the greenhouse to purchase some of their plants.  They likely will  not be beautiful heirlooms like I am trying to grow, but even a conventional home grown tomato and pepper is better than a store bought one!

Tomatoes and a couple pepper plants.

Cabbage, Broccoli & Cucumbers

Peppers

Green is Good

Things are finally starting to green up outside.  It is about time!

Inside the house are my seed starts and they are coming along nicely.  In the next three weeks I will be able to put them outside.  I can hardly wait!

Cucumbers, Broccoli, Cauliflower

Tomatoes - These need to be transplanted into cups so they can grow more before going outside.

Peppers

Jade Tree starts.  Cut from my original tree which was too large for my house.

A tropical plant that seems to do well in my house.  Not many tropical plants do well here, but this variety does.

Outside this May Morning - Wet and Rainy

Hostas finally poking up through the rocks

Peonies - My favorite flower.

Mother's Day basket from William and the kids.  Absolutely beautiful!

Marigold - Church gave one plant to every mother.  In my pot with the kids footprints - Mother's Day gift last year!

Chives are growing like crazy!

Spinach is starting to poke through the dirt.  Will need to be thinned in about a week or so.

Peas are finally starting to grow.  Planted these a couple weeks ago - didn't think anything was going to grow due to the cold and snow (and hail!) that hit us.

What is this I see???

Friday, April 4

Tuesday, April 8

Seeds are started for 2014

Libby, Grandma Connie and I planted our seeds this weekend in two large flats that are now sitting on my front entry table.  140 little round piles of dirt with promise. 

Promise that someday our gardens will again look like the above - instead of the below.

We planted many different varieties of tomatoes and peppers.  70 entire plants of just tomatoes and peppers for our tiny little garden -  I never know how the seeds are going to germinate, so I always plant a lot and then if I have excess, I can give them away. 

We also planted cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, swiss chard and a few other things I can't remember at the moment!  I am so excited to see the little shoots coming out of the peat moss in a few days! 

While our home is still for sale, I never know what is going to happen, so I am marching on like normal with our usual gardening activities.  If I have to leave my precious little plants to a new owner come summer, I guess it will just be a bonus for them.  Yummy little heirlooms for them to enjoy!

If a home closing is scheduled for about the time I would usually plant, then I will have to decide if I want to give all the started plants away or maybe there will be a garden area at my next house all ready for me to dig into the dirt - wishful thinking, I know, but a girl can dream!  If nothing else, I can patio plant a few tomatoes and peppers to take with me.  I hear a garbage can drilled with holes is a great place to grow potatoes - I've never grown potatoes.  Maybe this is my year!