Flowers...

First Rose

Mr. Lincoln

As of May...

last week, here is how the bed looks. I already see a bloom on one of tomato plants. I planted 3 chard transplants, the ones in the pots are growing well as birds are feeding the chard in the bed. Added few marigolds, 1 sweet basil, 1 cucumber and 1 orange bell pepper. Along with all the good developments, weeds are also coming out, bed needs some weeding too.

Whats growing in containers?

Here is update on the containers, I started this season. So far they are growing well with early warm weather. Below are Chard, few carrots and Chard ..

Tophat Blueberry which survived last winter, but not sure if it can give any fruit...

Jasmine plant which survived 2 winters, hoping to see atleast 1 one this year..

Herbs (Oregano, Mint and Sweet Basil)

Ornamental Thai pepper

Eggplant is sharing a pot with 3 marigolds

Flower box with pink petunia and marigolds

Plants went in ground little early

With unusually warmer weather, I planned on putting some seedlings in the bed. I did transplanted some tomatoes, hot peppers and eggplants on May 2nd. Tomatoes and peppers in the blue pots are doing ok, except that the 2nd row in the bed, some pepper and eggplant transplants disappeared. I am not sure what happened to them, if any sparrows plucked them ?(we have been seeing some sparrows searching for food in the bed) or they are gone with the winds we had.

Today the night temperatures are going almost before freezing. I am keeping my fingers crossed for tomatoes, but the blue pots came indoors. I still kept each of the transplants aside to plant them after the official frost date

Basking in the Sunshine...Seedling Update - May 1st

Emma F2 Sungold(Cherry Tomato)

The seedlings are enjoying some sunshine and in the process of hardening. Weather for the weekend is wonderful and this would be an opportunity for them to get some outdoor light and air. All the seedlings except for marigolds and petunias are growing under shop light. Not sure how many I could fit in the only bed I have but will try to find some home if they are healthy and happy.

Little Prince (Eggplant)

Sweet Basil

Early Jalapeno pepper

Vase with lilacs.....

Lilacs in bloom....

Petunias

Indoor germinated petunias

Its way too early for me to dream about petunias, but I am glad that I have few seedlings from indoor germination and bunch from winter sowing. Indoor germination rate was not great.The seedlings in the beginning are so tiny and it was hard to believe that they will even survive, but after seeing some true leaves, I am a bit confident something will come out soon. Winter sown seed germination is almost 100%. Looking at them it feels it may be little difficult to separate these densely germinated seedlings, but I am planning on transplanting them in chunks once I see some true leaves. I have my fingers crossed for the flowers. Last year I got one transplant container from a plant swap and it gave me so many beautiful flowers. Please check that container here .

wintersown petunias

Winter Sowing

Marigold Sprouts

Here are the containers from my first attempt with winter sowing. They germinated well.

New Sprouts

Chard Sprouts

Carrot Sprouts

I tried some carrot seeds on seed mats and they germinated well, but as I left them out in wind one day many seedlings wilted and finally 7, 8 are left.

Herbs as of April 19th

Mint & Oregano

Supporting Seedlings

All the Cherry Tomato and Siberian Tomato transplants are growing strong, I had to support couple of them with small sticks as they are growing tall. Peppers, Eggplant and Basil transplants are slow in growth. Only source of light source for all them is the shop light I have it in the basement.

Spotted Deadnettle (Lamium maculatum)

Over wintered spotted deadnettle are growing just fine. I divided them in few containers and planning to add these to some flower plants in early summer.

Seedling Update - April 10th

Basil

Egg plant, Jalapeno pepper and Cayenne pepper

Here are the seedlings (eggplant, Basil, jalapeno pepper and cayenne pepper) which got transferred to peat pots and some plastic cups today. Below are the transplants(Tomato and Cherry Tomato) which are growing under a light and got out today for some time.

Red Siberian Tomato and Cherry Tomato

Bloomed Branches

Here are some pictures I captured when I went for a walk yesterday, no they are not the cherry trees from DC Cherry Blossom festival, but they are from Cambridge, MA.