And so it begins…
I finally feel like I have a purpose again. Funny how being without a giant garden and living under a microscope for three years can change a person.
I woke up yesterday and practically jumped out of bed. Hurrah! Seed starting day!
If I were still in the PNW I would have planted my tomato seeds on March 1st with anticipation of hardening the seedlings off around the end of April, and have them in the ground on Mother’s Day. So, being here in New England, I honestly have no idea if I have missed the boat, if I’m right on schedule, or if I am starting my seeds too early.
Trail and error. I’ve missed that these past few years and I am so glad to be back in the game again. And… to have a mini greenhouse of sorts to mess around with as well. Is it my dream greenhouse? No. Is it the prefect area to harden off seedlings when the time comes? Yes. What is my dream greenhouse you ask? You can see it HERE. Maybe someday my ship will come in, maybe it won’t, all I know is IT FEELS GREAT to be planting seeds and creating a new garden space again. I am PUMPED with excitement!
I’m thinking the whole passive black water barrel thing is gonna rock. Do you have a greenhouse? Do these barrels really help to heat the place up? Curious minds want to know.
At first I was thinking about setting up some folding tables in the greenhouse to harden off the seedlings when the time comes… But now I’m thinking I could just place the trays right on top the barrels and maybe have a row or two of larger pots on the dirt floor area. What do you think?
Seedling trays I salvaged from the greenhouse. And that wooden tray. I think it will be the perfect to hold seed packets in once I get it cleaned up and painted.
Where tired old potting soil goes to die.
We haven’t even been here a week and every day is like a treasure hunt around here. Yesterday I noticed 2 compost bins in a random spot away from the house. I guess I’ll have to wait until the snow melts to see what the compost bins are sitting next to. Who knows…. Maybe it’s a giant pile of black gold I can use in the garden?
Yesterday while I was cleaning out the potting shed I found a vintage flower pot from the R. R. P. Company. It’s really not our style so I looked the flower pot up on Ebay and a couple of sellers are asking $50 for theirs. I think I’ll clean it up and donate the pot to a local {charity} thrift shop with a note telling them about the pot.
The sellers were so incredibly kind and left us all sorts of items they no longer wanted {but figured we might}. If I thought we were going to be moving again in a couple of years, or if I knew this wasn’t our forever home, I might be tempted to box up the stuff in anticipation of having a yard sale or something. Honestly though, I feel like we are past that stage now. I don’t want anything I’m not absolutely in love with or find useful to be cluttering up the closets anymore.
I feel like I’ve worked really hard over the past few years to reduce the excess “noise” and I’d like to keep it that way. I don’t even know if that makes sense to you, but it’s how I feel.
Mystery item of the day. Anyone know what this is? I found it in the potting shed. The glass is very thin. I was thinking it might be some sort of vase for bulb forcing but I’ve never owned one. Does anyone know for sure?
Spring, it’s right around the corner. And as soon as this snow melts…. I’ll be ready to dig.
Have a wonderful Tuesday everyone,
~Mavis
Jennifer says
It’s a decorative apothecary jar but it’s missing the lid!
Shari Harniss says
That’s what I thought, too. Maybe the lid is waiting to be discovered on another treasure hunt!
Mavis Butterfield says
Let’s hope!
Michèle says
That was my guess too! They would put colored water in them. Used to fascinate me as a child…
Delma says
Think old-time pharmacy. My mom was a pharmacist and they had those on the counters full of colored water or fake pills ( how is that for dating myself! ) Today I cannot imagine anyone decorating with pills!!!!
Cecile H says
Not sure what the glass vase thingy is, but it would make a beautiful terrarium once you find a lid for it, sitting on a table just out of the hot sun! Everyday being a treasure hunt is a good thing!
mim says
You are right on time to start tomatoes, peppers, broccoli, etc. Around here, (VT), it’s not safe to set tomatoes out until Memorial Day. Your sort-of greenhouse looks great — I envy you! Re whether to put the seedlings right on the ground or on the barrels, or on a table, I would say it depends on the ground temps and what is closest to the light.
I’m off to transplant some seedlings into larger pots now — and then to boil more maple syrup. Ah, spring!
Have a great day!
Mavis Butterfield says
Maple syrup! You lucky duck.
mim says
You’re not too late (if you’re somewhere where it is still freezing at night and warming in the day). But with all you have on your plate, I expect waiting until next year would be more sensible. Just keep your eye out for some maple trees on your property. We have tons of them, but I have only three buckets on two trees and have already produced 7 quarts. At a 40 to 1 sap to syrup ratio (you need 40 gallons of sap to make one gallon of syrup), that’s pretty good. More than enough for us, even after I give some to relatives.
It’s easy and fun — and much cheaper than buying. You should try it next year!
Mavis Butterfield says
I think we are going to give it a go next year for sure. 🙂
Peggy says
I would put a top like a table on top of the barrels. Like wood planks or plywood, or something like that. I know the water things around spring plants help keep them a bit warmer, and if the ground and plants are wet before a frost, that helps keep the temp up a bit within the plant to prevent frost damage, so I think the barrels would be a plus. 🙂 Roseville Pottery is very nice, and I think it’s very nice you are going to donate it to a thrift store, they’ll make a few bucks off of it. I’m loving your greenhouse, the light in there is wonderful!
Kirsten says
As far as the seeds go, I would say you’re on time. My garden doesn’t go into the ground until end of May/beginning of June. I’m able to have my garden into October at least.
Wendy says
I would say you are right on time for seed starting in New England. I start mine in the house under grow lights and on heating pads in early April and harden them off around the middle of May for planting around Memorial day.
Heidi Cleveland says
It matters how deep into New England you are. I am on the shoreline in CT. People have already started putting their hardy veggies in the ground this past week.
Emily E says
The glass item looks like a very large bulb forcing vase, maybe for an amaryllis? Very cool! I think I would have to keep the Roseville pottery as a fun keepsake, but I totally get not wanting to keep anything that you don’t love.
Ruth says
sure looks like a nice Big old apothecary jar. How about forcing flowering branches like cherry blossom, or forsythia.
Lucky Mavis 2 Springs this year……western Washington bulbs are blooming, before you know it you’ll see them on your East Coast!
Kelly says
I would make a shelf on top of the black barrels with salvaged barn boards or other salvaged wood you find around the property. It could look really cool, and would provide a stable place to put your seed trays.
Em says
I had found a wooden tray like you show next to your seedling trays. Some visitors told me they thought it was a “drying tray,” like one might use for onions. Anyone else know?
I’m so excited for you, Mavis! Waiting to see the beginnings of the chicken coop area, too!
Becky says
You wrote:
“I feel like I’ve worked really hard over the past few years to reduce the excess “noise” and I’d like to keep it that way. I don’t even know if that makes sense to you, but it’s how I feel.”
You have no idea how much the above statement makes sense to me…so much so, the tears fall.
So happy for you and your family, Mavis!!!
Susan says
I was so moved by that statement also Becky, and when I read your response, well, you put into words so perfectly what I was feeling that I actually started to cry as well. Just knowing that someone else felt the same way meant so much to me. You have no idea. Thank you Becky.
Peggy Labonte says
I live in MA. You are right on schedule with planting. I just this week started tomatoes and peppers. As well as lots of other thing and tons of flowers. All cool weather things were starting long ago. It’s also time to plant onions and peas out side. So, soon as that snow leaves get busy. . Welcome to New England. I love that lean to greenhouse. You can get lots more f use out of that. I have big black trash in my greenhouse and they help.
Carrie says
I work at nature preserve where I plant native wildflowers in a greenhouse (actually starting this week!) to sell. We have two black barrels to heat the greenhouse. I am not at work during the night so I can’t really say if it stays warm in there but I haven’t had any problems germinating seeds.
I am looking into getting a small greenhouse for my home veggie garden and so I can add more dwarf citrus trees to my collection. Your dream greenhouse doesn’t even list a price! I am going with the assumption if you have to ask you can’t afford it! lol
Lea says
I’m wondering if that glass item is a cloche for keeping a fairly large plant warm and happy with oscillating temperatures in the early spring. No idea, really, but that’s my guess.
You look like you’re having SO MUCH FUN, Mavis! Enjoy! And I’m a wee bit envious of your “greenhouse”.
Lea
Kerry C says
My greenhouse is similar to yours. The temps during the day can get up to 120 degrees. At night, it will stay in the 40’s and 50’s. We don’t have the barrels, but have a brick wall that holds the heat. I start my seeds in there and then harden them off on the patio.
Angie Smith says
Maybe you already know this and just haven’t gotten to it yet (since I know you just got there), but the passive black water barrel thing requires the barrels to be open on top so the water inside can give off the heat it has collected during the sunny day. I had a friend a few years ago who used this method very successfully, so it’s what I’ll do if I ever have a greenhouse. He put long wide (maybe 1″x6″) boards across the tops of the barrels so he could put a few plants on top and not waste that space. I’m really happy for you to be able to really garden the way you want to again! 🙂
Mavis Butterfield says
I didn’t know that, thank you!
Sally says
Hi Mavis, its great to have a greenhouse isn’t it? My husband and brother in law installed one from BC Greenhouse builders in Surrey, BC last november, and i’m totally loving it! They installed a GAHT system(gound to air heat transfer system) underneath the greenhouse to help with heating, but i also have black 50 gal barrels filled with water to act as a heat sink. What my husband did was make a table top that just fits over the top of the barrels (like a cap) and he painted it black to absorb heat. Its the perfect height for me to work on, and cleaning it is very easy. When i”m not working on it i can rest my seedlings, pots of lettuce etc on the table. Its a win win situation, and works really well for me. I’m in zone 5b in Ontario Canada by the way. Gook luck with your new home,- it looks wonderful!
L. bryant says
Congrats on the move. I have some smaller dark barrels in my greenhouse and they help. I still need a heater and I live in Ga. Putting the seedling on top of he barrels will help keep the roots warm.
My curious mind would love to have you share a few pics of the property and home you bought. How many acres did you buy??
Keep busy and stay warm!!!
Carrie says
I also wanted to ask, how do you like the Jiffy pellets for starting seeds? I am using up the last of my compostable pots that I hate. They say you can plant them right in the ground but the plants always perform terribly if I don’t remove them from the pot first.
Mavis Butterfield says
I tried those compostable pots once and I don’t like them. I do like starting seeds in the Jiffy pots though because even if I want to transfer them to a larger container at some point, the roots don’t get damaged and will easily spread out into the new container.
Carrie says
Thanks! I will try the peat pellets next time. I am potting up my tomato seedlings this weekend. I know you love the snow but I am looking forward to warmer weather and homegrown BLTs. So glad you made it home!
Mrs. C. says
This makes three of us. I tried the compostable pots and didn’t like them. I don’t have the time to soil block, so I usually use the Jiffy peat pots.
Carrie says
Soil blocks interest me. I can’t wrap my head around how the soil stays together when you water them.
Alice says
I was reading someone’s report, and they didn’t like the soil blocks. They said the soil was too compact and the roots didn’t develop very well.
Rajena says
I started using soil blocks last year because I was getting really tired of having to buy so many of the plastic cells just to throw those same plastic cells away after they tore. Before the plants get established you do have to be careful if your watering from the top. I probably look like a crazy person waving my water wand like mad so that the soil blocks don’t disintegrate on the top :D. I really like them but there is definitely a learning curve to making them.
Maxine says
I love that I can follow your gardening adventures again!!! I am obviously behind. Just started seeds for cold crops in zone 7a. But I’ll start tomatoes and peppers next week (or sooner). Trying to sort out dates. If I’m too early I have bigger pots I can transplant into I guess? Just realized the peas can be planted in the ground. Ironically I still have some snow on the ground but with 60’ the next few days it’ll be gone in a jiffy. Lots of limbs to clean up too. Thank you for Big Dreams Small Spaces suggestion. I’m following a lot of allotments via Twitter, so I know of Monty Don and I used to watch a show with Alan Titchmarsh, so super happy!!! So excited for you!!!
Mrs. C. says
For anyone interested, Greenhouse Megastore (on line) has those Jiffy peat pots for sale in quantity at a good price. I bought a box of several hundred last year and just re-used my old trays (cleaned), and it saved me some money.
Cindi says
Mavis, I highly recommend you go to the web page for the Agricultural Extension Agency for your new state. I know in both places I have lived (Texas and Colorado), the Ag. Extension agents are at treasure trove of information. They publish tons of leaflets that will tell you the best varieties of flowers, shrubs, trees, and vegetables for your area, as well as advice for planting, dealing with pests, etc. Here in Colorado, I was able to view free hour-long course videos on things like raising raspberries and pruning fruit trees. Our Ag. Extension also has a yearly tree sale where you can purchase trees for a steep discount.
I have a greenhouse and use a barrel and a big black plastic trough filled with water — they don’t heat it, per se, but they help even out the temperature both day and night. In the summer they absorb daytime heat so it’s not quite so stifling (though we still use a shade cloth and open vents and doors) and in the winter they make it so it doesn’t get quite so low at night. I don’t agree that you have to have the tops open — all the plans I’ve seen show the barrels sealed — the plastic radiates heat. I also have a small propane heater we use some nights in the spring and fall, if the temperature is due to drop unexpectedly. This allows us to extend the growing season a few weeks either side. I am in zone 4b – 5a.
Carrie says
I agree about the tops being closed. Our black barrels are sealed and they radiate heat fine.
Pat says
I agree with your comment about the extension service. Here in WV the extension service puts out a calendar every year. Each day of the year tells what you should be doing as far as starting seeds, setting out plants, trimming trees etc. They also have lots of pamphlets with all kinds of info for your area.
Marge says
I’ll be looking forward to watching your garden grow this year, Mavis. We moved to northern New Hampshire a year and a half ago from North Carolina. Had a beautiful productive vegetable garden in NC, but NH is a totally different story. They say that here you shouldn’t plant until the first full moon in June. Talk about a short growing season! Last year was a disaster. I may give it another go, but I’m more inclined to just shop at the farmer’s market. We did plant some blueberry bushes, so hopefully we’ll get something from them in a year or two.
Jane Adkins says
Roseville pottery is a big deal! Lots of collectors out there 🙂
Laurie says
I agree! And it’s a numbered piece.
Angela J says
Such a joy reading about your newfound freedom. Hooray! 🙂
Carole says
Dying to know what town / state you are in!!! Im in MA and planting happens around Memorial Day.
Maureen says
Put a min/max thermometer in the greenhouse to observe what a difference those black barrels make, and be surprised.
Lisa Millar says
Hi Mavis!! I have been buried under visitors and tomatoes etc for a couple of months and am just getting back to catch up on what you are up to!
So exciting to start a big garden again.
You will love the hothouse. I didn’t know about barrels – interesting! I also thought before I read your thoughts that a board along the top of them would make a great extra bench for seedlings.
When we moved here there was a lot of stuff left over from the previous owners. We were finding things for years.
I know you don’t want clutter again – but if you can keep a stash of ‘stuff’ (hidden & out of the way) its amazing how handy that can come in later. I found lots of ‘useless’ or unwanted items over the course of developing our property fantastically – sure beat buying something when I could repurpose.
My garden is slowly winding down… going to be fabulous to sit back in winter and watch yours develop!
Kay Roberts says
Here in Western NC…my grandfather always said to not plant any vegetables until after May 15…and you are north of me. He always planted by the almanac also.
You know this for certain..but there must be a Master Gardener in your new area.
Love how excited you are about your new home.
K.
tracy says
I have tired the black plastic containers, I found that it helps regulate the temp, more of a constant temperature throughout the night.
I read this somewhere and it was game changing, I put a cold frame inside of my greenhouse on my raised beds. It supposely shifts you one more zone. I use this to start my heat loving plants and stretch my season out a little longer. If we get a early or late freeze I put 1 gallon containers of water next to the seedlings.
Also I started with gravel on the floor but upgraded to cobblestone on top of that. I put my seedlings on the warm floor. The cobblestone also holds the heat well through out the night.
Mel says
I really love these updates. If that tray doesn’t work for seed packets, I’d totally mount it on the wall to hold mini butter molds. 😉
I’m getting new, larger raised beds and mini greenhouses that fit on top. We have very little full-sun, so every inch counts. I’m a bit behind on planting spring veggies since the new beds haven’t arrived, but it will be worth it.
I started tomatoes about a month ago, and it’s about 6 weeks before I can plant (coastal MD). I also hated the compostable pots (they seemed to wick moisture away, were prone to mold, etc.), so I experimented with filling 4×4″ pots 1/4 of the way and just adding soil as the plants grew (since tomatoes root along the stem) before eventually transplanting to a larger pot. It definitely works, but I think starting in peat pellets or other small plugs and transplanting up works better. My favorite spring gift for friends is tomato plants in half-gallon-sized pots.
Mandy Nygren Daellenbach says
Hi Mavis!
So I wanted to share with you about those barrels. You don’t want to open them because it will humidity your greenhouse as the water evaporates…..not to mention all the creepy crawly critters that will crawl inside resulting in slushy deathtrap of goo! They are kind of like an old school wood stove in that they will radiate heat from all their surface area. We are in the PNW and my greenhouse is not the best quality. Using a black plastic trashcan I was able to cut the temp variation in 1/3. We were dropping to 57 at night and going to 130 midday. They are awesome. I laid blacl hose in the gravel under my beds so the warmth travels a bit. Great stuff!
Enjoy your new home!
Mavis Butterfield says
Thanks Mandy!
Diane says
Have you ever tried winter sowing? I think it would be a fun experiment this year to start at least a few milk jugs with seeds and compare the results to using grow lights. With such a big garden to fill, you might cut out a lot of work next spring if you decide that it’s worthwhile.
Congratulations on making your dreams come true! Your blog is a joy to read and an inspiration for me to set goals! Best wishes!
jackie klish says
I read about the solar warmed water barrels decades ago. They will help moderate the night temps. Boards were laid across the tops and seed starting trays could be put on top. I think in was in Organic Gardening in the 60’s or 70’s. You idea of larger pots on the ground should be perfect. I’m so jealous! but happy for you. You can grow spinach and other cold weather greens right now in pots.
Cass says
Disclaimer: I did not read all the comments so this may have already been said.
You have not said exactly where you are in the NE, but here in Upstate (albany) NY the date to put things in the ground (tender plants and seeds) is Memorial Day. Mother’s Day is far to early for our area….there WILL be a frost after Mother’s day. (Probably just one, cuz Mother Nature has a weird sense of humor, but it will happen and ruin your early start in one night)
Have you talked to any of the locals? That is your best bet on having a handle on when to put plants in the ground. Have you considered moveable row covers to extend your growing season?