2025 gardens

[roony]

I usually set a 10 or 12 ft board down and run the pointy hoe down the edge of that instead of using a line. I ordered that seeder. It should be fun to try something new.

[Dotch]

Have heard of it but haven't tried the sand method Barry. If I had a supply of sand I might try it just to see. It might be a challenge with some types of seed, especially things like the mesclun blend where the seed size & shape is variable.

Luckily I have a pretty light touch roony. As long as I keep the line taught & stay on the same side of it on every row, I manage to keep it pretty straight & the distance between the rows fairly accurate. The handles on my hoes & rakes are all marked with row spacings from 20" to 40". It becomes more like planting a test plot for me than gardening. About the only thing I don't do is the 3-4-5 triangle method with tapes to make square corners and sight down the line for accurate side & end lines like we used to do in the plots. Important for a test plot but a lot of monkeying around for a garden. I can mark out a new row with the line, make the seed trench, measure, move the stakes & pull the line tight for the next one. Seed the established seed trench, cover and firm the freshly seeded row then get on to establishing the next seed trench with the hoe. I picked up a new hoe for making the seed trench late last year but didn't get a chance to use it until this spring. So far, I like the way it behaved on the mellow, unworked ground. Now if it would just warm up above 40 - 50 degrees and not cover things up with snow for more than a couple days per week, something might actually start to grow. 

[roony]

Uncovered my row of lettuce. Now it can warm up! Maybe the peas will come up this week.

[Rookie]

Onions....get them in the ground as soon as possible. Still snow on the ground here.

[glenn57]

i have frost in parts of my garden yet!!!!!! and some snow!!!!!!

[roony]

Glenn, the winter onions are looking good! We should get our first taste in a week or so.

[glenn57]

Glenn, the winter onions are looking good! We should get our first taste in a week or so.

sweet........i haven't looked at mine in a few days........but when i did they didnt look even close to doing anything!!!!!!

[glenn57]

i spent most the afternoon outside......yea my winter onions nor the rubarb are yet to show any sign of life yet???

[Dotch]

Wife uncovered the daffodils yesterday a.m. Lucky they were covered as some of the other stuff that wasn't was showing signs it didn't appreciate the cold. I looked at the air and soil temps at the SROC in Waseca since I planted the radishes and greens March 29th. Takes 40 (lettuce) - 45 (radish) degree average soil temp for the process to start. The temp measured at the SROC is 2" and the seeds are planted at ~1/2" deep. Soil has been frozen in the garden some mornings. Not much for GDU's so patience is a virtue. 

I did finish pruning the eating/cooking apple trees. Also one of the crabapples that can be a real PITA when lawnmowing if it isn't pruned. Should get to the pears tonite then on to the friend's trees this weekend. 

[Scenic]

I checked out the compost I brought in last fall for raised beds.  No idea what the temps are but it appeared to be thawed down at least a foot.    I have a BUNCH of daffodil and tulip bulbs that need to be planted.   I know normally they should be planted in the fall but they did not arrive until the end of Nov.  The bulbs have been stored in the garage crisper drawers.   I know they probably will not bloom this year but how soon do I dare put those in the ground?   I did start a couple dozen each in pots to be transplanted but I started those to early as they are blooming already.

[Dotch]

Scenic:

Doing some checking, you should be fine planting both the bulbs you potted that flowered already and and those you didn't get planted that were stored in the fridge.

I've planted numerous spring bulb planters the wife brought home outside after they've run their course inside. Once the top growth has dried up pretty well, I'll take the soil and all out of the pot in one piece if possible. I'll dig a proper sized hole & put them in the ground so the bottom of the soil and bulbs from the pot are 6" - 8" down. They'll lie dormant until the next spring. It's a good idea to mark them with a stake or something or like me, you can lose track of exactly where they're planted. Sometimes the bulbs take a year or two to flower. The white daffodil planter I stuck in last spring has all kinds of vegetative growth but no sign of flower buds, this year. Not unusual. From other planters over the years we have hyacinths, grape hyacinths, tulips, miniature daffodils and regular sized daffodils that will be flowering this spring. The little native bees and butterflies like red admirals go nuts over a lot of that stuff.

On the bulbs you put in the fridge, I'd say anytime you can get them in the ground when it's fit, go for it. I'm optimistic there's a decent chance that they'll flower this spring based on the articles I've read. Here are a few of them:

https://www.bhg.com/can-you-plant-tulips-in-the-spring-8557117

https://www.gardeningchores.com/how-to-plant-tulips-in-the-spring-and-still-get-them-to-bloom-this-year/

https://shuncy.com/article/can-you-plant-daffodil-bulbs-in-spring

Good luck! 

[Scenic]

Scenic:

Doing some checking, you should be fine planting both the bulbs you potted that flowered already and and those you didn't get planted that were stored in the fridge.

I've planted numerous spring bulb planters the wife brought home outside after they've run their course inside. Once the top growth has dried up pretty well, I'll take the soil and all out of the pot in one piece if possible. I'll dig a proper sized hole & put them in the ground so the bottom of the soil and bulbs from the pot are 6" - 8" down. They'll lie dormant until the next spring. It's a good idea to mark them with a stake or something or like me, you can lose track of exactly where they're planted. Sometimes the bulbs take a year or two to flower. The white daffodil planter I stuck in last spring has all kinds of vegetative growth but no sign of flower buds, this year. Not unusual. From other planters over the years we have hyacinths, grape hyacinths, tulips, miniature daffodils and regular sized daffodils that will be flowering this spring. The little native bees and butterflies like red admirals go nuts over a lot of that stuff.

On the bulbs you put in the fridge, I'd say anytime you can get them in the ground when it's fit, go for it. I'm optimistic there's a decent chance that they'll flower this spring based on the articles I've read. Here are a few of them:

https://www.bhg.com/can-you-plant-tulips-in-the-spring-8557117

https://www.gardeningchores.com/how-to-plant-tulips-in-the-spring-and-still-get-them-to-bloom-this-year/

https://shuncy.com/article/can-you-plant-daffodil-bulbs-in-spring

Good luck!

Thanks Dotch.   I have also been reading up on it too and read many that says you can plant them up until freezing in the fall but found limited info on how soon you could plant them in the spring.  I am going to probably put them in the ground next week if it warms up like they say it is supposed to.    Between the bulbs and plants there are about 350 of them....cheaper if you buy them in super sacks.  I also have 100 oriental lilies that I will plant after the frost danger. I planted 3 Lilly bulbs to a container and I think all 34 containers are full.   Again cheaper to buy in super sacks.   That mini auger that goes on the drill will get a work out.  Also doing a bit of recruiting too.   

[glenn57]

scenic...........Make sure you plant some for the deer to get at too!!!!!!!!!   

[roony]

Peas are starting to emerge here. I was afraid they were going to rot in the ground.

[glenn57]

Peas are starting to emerge here. I was afraid they were going to rot in the ground.

as of yesterday afternoon......i still had frost in the garden in one corner of the garden............. and could tell on the north side of the house yet!!!!!

[Scenic]

scenic...........Make sure you plant some for the deer to get at too!!!!!!!!!   

   

Going on the idea that if I plant enough they can't get them all!!   Here the squirrels digging up the bulbs will be more of an issue.

At some point I want to plant some snap peas but it will be a bit yet before I can do that.   Should be kinda fun having these new beds and dirt to plant in this year. 

[Dotch]

I see the squirrels have been "planting" corn in the small garden where I planted radishes. Stopped feeding them. And this is why we can't have nice things...

[Scenic]

It's a double edge sword...feedem to watch them and then have to battle them too.   I did have a red one this morning in the feeder.   After chasing everything out of the feeders he passed away due to blunt force trauma.

[glenn57]

It's a double edge sword...feedem to watch them and then have to battle them too.   I did have a red one this morning in the feeder.   After chasing everything out of the feeders he passed away due to blunt force trauma.