Busy Times

Spring is an insane time for me. The weather is getting warmer so I want to be outside. My kids tend to act out with Spring Fever and I am at the school a lot. Planting needs to consume all of my time, but can’t. This will be a brief catch-up without super accurate numbers.

First round of Tidal Wave and Wave Petunias that I planted from seeds purchased at Lowe’s. There are approximately 60 plants.

Wizard Coleus with about 8 plants. I am not having luck with the Coleus like I did a couple of years ago.

California Wonder Bell Peppers have around 70 survivors. I also have 9 Jalapeno plants.

I have a variety of Dahlia’s coming up. Here are four flats plus I just planted several more.

This is a flat of Petunia Hybrid Choice. I’ve never grown the smaller border petunias and just stick to the Wave varieties, but thought I’d do something different this year. This flat had a clear plastic cover and has essentially been ignored as in no water for a couple of weeks.

Same seed packet, but grown without the plastic cover. Obviously the greenhouse effect makes a huge difference. Unfortunately, the covers are $3 each and I need about 100!!

My first year growing Carnations and there are about 70 that are hanging on.

I have around 200 Impatiens of different varieties that are doing great. I’ve been pinching them back which is something I never bothered to do before. It sure makes a difference in the strength of the stem.

Early Girl Tomatoes about 2 feet tall. These will be for the greenhouse and I think there are around 25.

Another 20-some plants of Sweet 100’s and Purple Cherokee. I also will be starting tomatoes to try growing outside.

Border Scarlet Geraniums (26). I seem to lose more than I keep.

I have 10 Rainbow Coleus.

Moss Roses that could use a transplanting. This is my first year with these as well.

Lots of Stocks coming up.

Plus multiple flats of Snapdragons because I tend to be a little rough transplanting and lose quite a few. Too big of a hurry!

Livingstone Daisy…one of my favorites.

I have flats and flats of Zinnia. I am planting the 100-foot bed along the fence with them. I know it is a move I am going to regret, but I am getting tired of the Petunias.

A very late start to these Maverick Geraniums. I hemmed and hawed for over a month on my seed order and then it took over two weeks to arrive. I have many plants that are way behind which is greatly going to affect my success.

One of the late starts are the Wave Petunias. Highly unlikely I will have very big hanging baskets (again) this year.

Here’s the whole plant room. Thousands of little plants vying to be the one who goes into my garden.

My plant room will hold 168 flats (and 42 shop lights)….one flat holds 10 - 4 inch round pots or 18 - 3 inch square pots or 12 - 6-packs with 72 plants…you get the idea. There’s room to have a lot going on (and it seems I always want more room!).

Lots of Life

 

As usual I am way behind in planting. I haven’t even ordered my petunia seeds which should already be planted.

Last night Olivia helped me with watering, transplanting some Impatiens and mixing container soil. Little hands are hard on seedlings, but passing on my passion for gardening is far more important. I guess it is good that I over plant.

We broke apart half a sheet of Styrofoam to put in the bottom as these pots are very large. The mix was 2 parts soil, I part peat moss and 1 part sand or perlite (we alternated these two). It took 20-2 pound yogurt containers of material to fill the rest of  the planter (that’s our measuring cup).

Impatiens… currently 129 transplanted and about 16 6-packs to go.

California Wonder Peppers…about 19 6-packs.

Obviously I need to move the Early Girl Tomatoes under a taller light….there are 17 plants.

Sweet 100’s….24 (and a few more peppers).

I have 26 Geraniums left. Lost a few to stem rot. I need to get a far circulating the air.

Cherokee Purple…12 plants.

Impatiens and about 48 6-packs of Carnations seeded. This is my first year trying these, but I did see them growing outside the hospital in Anchorage when I was there last summer with my son so I am hopeful.

A few of the Wave Petunia’s came up in four flats. I used some different seeds and did not have my usual success which is why I’ll make an order today.

I have a total of 40 flats either growing or seeded. The plant room is still a disaster and is frustrating to work in so I seem to be avoiding it this year. I wish I would have thought to get things organized earlier this winter. The key will be to ending the season with it ready to go for Spring. This is hard to move in!