Well, here comes another March which I will go out on a limb and say will be full of sunshine, warm days, lots of snow and freezing cold and windy days.  A little bit of everything.  This is the month where winter gets pretty long around here.  I have to say, though, that having some plants growing in our living room takes a little of the sting out of the final clinging month of winter.

And here’s a little Tom Waits tune that has brightened many a day the last bunch of years and given me hope…check out while you read, and have couple tissues ready…

This year I’ve decided to sell herbs since I had many requests for them over the last couple years.  The three trays on the bottom contain, from left to right, Catnip, Chives, and Greek Oregano.  These were all started on 2/17.  We’ll see how they all turn out by the time I’ll need them for sale in the beginning of May, but I’m guessing the oregano could’ve been started sooner.

The trays in the middle have onions, leeks, parsley, dill and peppers which I started this past Monday, 3/2.  This weekend I will start basil and probably tomatoes.  Not entirely sure about the tomatoes, though.  If winter hangs on longer than expected and this snow sticks around, chances are gardens will get started pretty late.  Do I gamble on that and start everything a little later, or do I assume that spring will really show up and the snow will be gone by the first week of May?  Hmmmm?  I think this is one of those experience things that I will have a better grasp of with a few more years under my belt.  We’re looking at a good year for the wholesale accounts, so hopefully I make the right decisions and keep them happy.

On to the ginger…the first sprouts showed up a couple days ago.

  Out of about 150 seeds, I’m looking at 3 sprouts right now after about 2 weeks.  That’s ahead of the game over last year.  I’m not sure I saw a sport until sometime in April last year, though I did receive the ginger seed sometime early to mid-March.  This year I laid down a layer of Vermont Compost Fort Vee, put the seed on top, and covered with Bio-Biz Coco Mix from the local hydroponic store (Peak Hydroponics for those of you looking for some solid advice on hydroponic gardening…they have a website to order from, as well).  I’m thinking of planting the ginger in the ground in the greenhouse this year.  Might need a shade cloth for the greenhouse as I don’t think ginger enjoys the hot mid-summer sun so much.  Before I do that, I need to get some recommendations of soil amendments based on my soil test.  Yes, I need to do that.  Do it G!  Do it!!

Incidentally, the ginger has been on a heat mat(from Peak Hydroponics) set at 75 degrees.  According to the soil temperature gauge, the soil temp has fluctuated from around 65 to 78 depending on the temperature in our living room(which is usually between 70 and 80 with the wood stove going in the winter).

So here’s a picture of the spinach on January 31st.  Still looking pretty good.  I’d say its gone downhill since then.  I hope it just needs some sunshine and heat, but I’m wary.  I harvested about 5 lbs the other day and it took longer than I’d like due to the smaller size and funky leaves I had to cull through.  Quite a bit of frost damage.  For next winter, I think I’ll be prepared with an extra layer of row cover  for the coldest deep winter stretches, to see if that helps.

Whatever happens in the next couple months, I’m thrilled I planted half the house on September 1st.  I sold almost as much before November as I did all last winter.  That’s the ticket!  Plant early and sell in the fall and early winter.  There was little or no mold and definitely no frostbite.  That might be the plan next year.  Try and kill it in the fall, and anything in the spring will be gravy.  We’ll see.

That’s it for now.  Hope you enjoyed listening to Mr Waits.   Can’t get enough of that guy!

Spring is on the way!

See you soon!