Yesterday I worked in the garden thinning the radish and beets and then went in and started a half flat of watermelon seeds indoors. Growing watermelon, in Maine! Can you believe it? Well, the neighbors and I are going to give it a try in the greenhouse. I have no idea how the melons will do, but nothing ventured, nothing gained, right?
The blueberry bushes are beginning to bud.
And hostas are coming up in places I don’t want them to. Transplanting hosta plants, I’ll have to add that to the HH’s garden chore list for this weekend.
Indoors the herbs are coming along. I have the tray facing the window so they’ve been getting loads of sunlight.
I had totally forgot to order seed potatoes this year so I wasn’t going to grow them {the fingerlings are my favorite} but after finding a few yellow potatoes in the pantry that were well past their prime, I think I’ll toss them in a grow bag or the compost pile and see if we get anything.
Meanwhile on the radiator… The pepper plants I started 2 months ago are looking really good. I moved a few out to the neighbors greenhouse to harden off already, these will be next.
I moved the cabbage plants to the greenhouse on Sunday and they’re doing great.
And so are the tomato plants. I’ll probably move them to larger containers {18 oz. plastic solo cups} next week to give the roots a little more room so they don’t get pot bound. I plan on putting the tomato plants in the ground at the end of May, so we’ve still got three weeks to go.
I also started a second flat of basil seeds yesterday and set them in the greenhouse. At this rate, the entire neighborhood will be swimming in pesto this summer. {Seriously, when is having too much basil a bad thing?}
Check out my neighbors new garden boxes!! {And tulips, and greenhouse and clothesline!} Every time I wander over there something new is going on.
Remember last week how I thought my tulips were stunted? Well they’re not. I spoke too soon. I still haven’t figured out what to plant in the hellstrip {the strip between the sidewalk and the curb}. Maybe pink, purple and white petunias for the summer. That might be fun. And then this fall I can go crazy and plant 500 daffodil bulbs {I already have the variety picked out}.
Aren’t they beautiful? Any day now they’ll all be open and spreading joy to the dog walkers and peeps going by.
And last but not least. My resident handyman at work planting the hydrangeas for me. If the guys could see him now. 😉
Ahhh Wednesday. Let’s do this.
Have a great day everyone, keep on keeping on,
~Mavis
Mel says
We’re having an unseasonably cold spring here in southern Maryland. It’s been in the low 40s at night and the mid 50s to low 60s during the day. In other years, it’s been high 60s to 70s during the day and stable above 50 at night, so I usually plant tomatoes in the first few days of May. This year, it’s going to be at least 5 more days before I can plant them this year due to those temps. They look awful and spindly wasting away in their pots right now, and it’s been too cold inside or out for my peppers to grow. They have been 1 inch high for 7 weeks now, and I’ve never had that happen. I’m wondering if I should try direct seeding them this year.
I planted beans this past weekend before I realized the cold would last at least another week, and I’m now wondering if I wasted 6 packets of seed with how cold it is. I wouldn’t normally worry quite so much about all of this, but with grocery stores already having so many issues right now (we went grocery shopping for the first time in a month yesterday, and it was a nightmare), it’s very stressful.
Mavis Butterfield says
If you are worried, toss a sheet over the beans at night. I am going to plant 2 packets of bush beans next week {a little early} but I plan on covering them at night. It would be nice to squeeze an extra planting or two this year.
Mel says
Of course! I’ve done that in the past, but I completely forgot this year. Thanks! Do you think it will still work even if they haven’t sprouted yet and if it’s rainy? You’re the best!
Mavis Butterfield says
I would think so… if they haven’t rotted or the birds got to them. I always worry about the birds plucking them up. It makes me crazy.
Deborah says
I have a pink hydrangea. I planted mine a tad too close to the house, but it is on the north side of the house. I love them. I need to get another one or two.
Cecile says
One of my life long friends has put in a neighbourhood garden in the ‘hell strip’ as you call it. She put herbs, chives, spring onions, a few pepper plants and other items people would have to ‘run to the store to grab’ in the middle of a recipe. She also put a sign up saying that it was the neighbourhood garden and to help themselves. Every so often as things come ready to pick she makes a sign saying, ‘onions ready for harvest’ and everything being identified with markers there is no guess work. If people haven’t harvested all the items after a few days she pulls them up or picks them and puts them in containers on her front walk with additional signage for people to help themselves. She’s all about community gardening and helping those who need it.
E in Upstate NY says
Our city decided that it was more important to widen the street than to maintain our “hell strip.” Just a slightly wider sidewalk with wider street. Winter time it’s a royal pain, as the street snow gets plowed onto the sidewalk and we have to keep the sidewalk clean.
Mama Cook says
I love that you reused your containers for the pepper plants!!! Sometimes I’m slow on the uptake, but figured out this year that those Rotisserie Chicken containers could double as a mini-greenhouse!
Yesterday I planted Einkorn Wheat! Just a small patch…we’ll see how it goes!
Emily E. says
Hey there Mavis, things are looking good in your neck of the woods! Maybe I missed it but it looks like you’re not using the little grow bag-pot-things you used last year. Is there a reason you’re using plastic cups and seed trays instead this year? I’m trying them this year but they seem to get dried out pretty quick. Is there a secret? Thanks and happy gardening.
Mavis Butterfield says
I only just found my little grow bag things this morning {they were in my all my canning stuff for some reason when we moved.} No secret, you just need to keep them watered. Last year I was watering them from the bottom up {I had the bags in a long black plastic tray and would put water at the bottom of the tray}. I hope that helps.
Marie says
How are you planning your watering system for the year?
Diane says
You should look at some YouTube videos by Charles doubting about multi sowing vegetables such as beets, onions, and radishes. It will change your mind about thinning!
Diane says
That should say Charles Dowding! He has the most relaxing videos to watch about the no dig method. I’ve watched a lot of them when I need to get my mind off the news.
Jennifer says
Mavis your projects and posts are inspiring. Thanks for keep up with your blog 🙂 You are a household name for us. My kids will ask, “Are you reading Mavis?” or “Is this a Mavis recipe?” So, just wanted to say thanks!
–Jennifer in WA
Mavis Butterfield says
Thanks Jennifer. 🙂
Linda says
I literally laughed out loud when I read your comment. Same at my house. I’ll say, “well Mavis says this about gardening or that about chickens” & my hubby will say, “that Mavis must know a lot because you’re always quoting her!” And I’m also asked if this is a “Mavis recipe?” My hubby even asked if I’d ever sent her a thank you note before?! Ha!!! Btw- not a formal one but I have through a comment! Ha!
Thanks again Mavis!!! From your Mississippi fan club!
Annette says
When you use plastic cups for seedlings, do they need a drain hole?
Mavis Butterfield says
In theory, yes. Did I? No. Between them sitting on the radiator then being transferred to the super warm greenhouse they have needed to be watered every 2 days {so not enough time to get soggy}.
Jim Doolittle says
You just make me want to go out and dig :). Seriously, your blog is a great motivator. Sue says hi too, and hope you guys are doing well!
Emily says
While we’re no where close to neighbors, we are both in the same planting zone now. I’m having fun gardening along with your from home. I just moved my tomatoes and peppers into bigger pots. I’m anticipating they will go in the ground around Memorial Day.