January 26, 2017
The end of January is when we start looking for signs of Spring. The oak buds have turned the cranberry color of the apple buds so you know what that means? I don't either but I'm calling an early spring because that's what I do every year no matter what I see. I've never predicted a late spring because that would be negative thinking and it's better to go through the day looking for the bright side of things. That's how you discover the daffodils, crocuses and buttercups. Look down and pay attention..
There are diamonds on the ground. The 2'x6' patch of ground that unfolds as you walk along contains a myriad display of nature. It's also the size your grave will be if you fall forward..
January 27, 2017
I was pulling up the Brussels sprouts today and realized that I never cut the tops off and leave the roots to decay in the soil like I do corn. I remembered that I had read about a disease called clubroot that affects cruciferous vegetables that can be prevented by rotating the crops. I don't want those roots left in the soil because they could harbor the disease. I plant both spring and fall plantings of lots of the crucifers so I can't rotate them to be out of a spot for two years like you should. Instead I try to give them new soil to grow in by heavy applications of compost..
The microbes that destroy the disease are probably plentiful in compost. If you don't have enough compost for all your rows use a mulch of leaves, straw, hay or well aged shavings. Your soil will turn it into compost for you..
January 28, 2017
My starts for the spring garden are getting big enough to transplant. I had to put a taller cover on them so they wouldn't touch the top. It's best to wait until they have two sets of true leaves before you transplant them because this ensures that the roots have developed well enough to hold the seed starting mix together when you move them. Soaking them thoroughly is also mandatory otherwise the seed starting mix falls away when you lift them out of the container..
Hardening them off to direct sunlight can be accomplished in a week by giving them increasingly long exposure to direct sun. The same holds true for hardening them off to the cold which I've always dreaded. Leaving them out at night goes against my gardening instincts because I know they prefer it indoors..
