STARTING APRIL SEEDS & PLANTING THE RAISED BEDS
The last big round of indoor seed starting is upon us! After this the mid/late April seeds I have (zinnias, cosmos, sunflowers) can either be sown indoors or it’s almost easier to just wait until after the last frost in May and sow them outdoors. This round is exciting because I’m starting tomatoes for the first time. I have San Marzano and Celebrity tomatoes - one determinate and one indeterminate, so things might get a little wild out there. I also started some Gazania, which I’ve never heard of before, and lots of Rudbeckia. All were started using the same methods as my March seeds.
I gently pulled apart the roots to get the onion plants separated. Hopefully the roots are established enough!
As I placed these new seeds under the grow lights, I took out the broccoli and onions because it’s time to plant up the raised beds! I probably should have given them at least a few days to harden off in the greenhouse but I figured I’d risk it and only gave them one day. I also presoaked the last of my sweet peas, which haven’t been doing too much for me outdoors so far [in the greenhouse and in a planter] so fingers crossed we have more success in the raised beds. With all of these, I’m going in with a “let’s just try it” mentality because some of these plants will definitely not work out for me. But everything is a learning opportunity, right? I also direct sowed some more Mr. Big peas, mini romaine lettuce, and carrots. All the planting areas were amended with BioTone starter fertilizer and thoroughly watered in after planting.
Now we wait and see if the soil mix is good, if the seeds want to germinate, if I provide enough water, etc. I want to set up drip irrigation in the raised beds just so I can get some experience with it but that might have to wait because we have other house projects going on at the moment.
It feels great to have the raised beds up and running! Let’s hope most things make it :) So far maybe 50% of the beds are filled which leaves plenty of room for peppers, tomatoes, and second plantings of some of these spring crops.