Enjoying the Downtime

 In a few weeks, we will begin preparing the gardens for the next growing season. I have already started perusing the garden catalogs for seeds to grow in 2025 and in about 2 months I'll have to get those seeds started in the little greenhouse. It's an 8X8' Yoderbuilt cedar greenhouse and we've built more table space, insulated the floor and installed grow lights for seed starting. I have heat mats and trays with lids for the process. Once the seeds are sprouted and large enough, I transplant to pots to continue the process and then move them outside to a temporary hoop house I put up and take down each year. I'm just about out of the case of 4" pots I purchased in 1996 (yes, you read that right!) so in 2024 I started using solo cups with a hole drilled in the bottom. They are sturdy and can be purchased almost anywhere. It worked out very well and I wasn't afraid to give away plants and not get my precious pots back lol! I also bought 2 sizes of soil blocks to make transplanting less shocking, but I'm still working on getting my soil mix correct. Last year we used this recipe:

2 cuft bale peat moss

5 gallon sand

1 cup of lime

5 gallon perlite

6 cups balanced fertilizer

10 gallons topsoil (1.5cuft)

10 gallons compost or worm castings (or mix some of both)

This makes a huge batch of soil, but we had excellent luck with it as a growing medium. I actually mixed it in a 5' water trough, but a large kiddie pool might also work. If you start with good beginnings, you'll get great results, so don't skimp on the soil. Check your pH levels to make sure the compost isn't too hot or too alkaline. The ideal pH is between 5.5 and 6.2, with is slightly acidic. Also, when watering seeds, water from the bottom using a 2 part tray consisting on one with holes in it on top and fitting into the second one with no holes underneath. When you water, you will separate the trays and with a watering can, water between the trays to 1/3 or 1/2 full. Then put the trays together and allow the water to come through the holes and wet the roots from the bottom. This keeps the tender sprouts from dampening off. Only water weekly keeping an eye on the soil so it does not get too wet or too dry. Keep a log of watering so you can adjust as needed depending on temperature and atmosphere in the greenhouse. Apply heat to the bottom and keep the lid on the trays until the stems are touching the inside of the lids. Remove lids and add greenhouse lamps light until the true leaves develop. One this happens, then transplant into the solo cups and watch your plants grow! If the weather is still cold outside, you may need to hold them in greenhouse a little longer before they can be moved outside to harden off. The hardening off process should be done about 2 weeks before you plan to plant in the garden so that the stems won't be too tender and experience transplant shock. Hopefully, you have more than 50% survival rate and your garden beds are overflowing!