Posts
That same thermometer registered 34 degrees, with an inch of snow on the ground, at six thirty this morning. By five pm the temperature was 40, and the only snow left was a small pile on the deck beneath my solar power panels.
Many parts of Massachusetts got several inches of snow this morning, which was actually one of the warmest mornings since I planted my first seeds on St. Patrick's Day. I had planned to sow beets, carrots, Swiss chard, Fava beans and more peas in the intervening days, but the unseasonably low temps kept me from planting. Past experience has proven that planting most crops before the days are consistently above 50 degrees is not efficient, because germination is so slow that seeds planted later mature simultaneously. There has been some good news outside-- my discarded storm window coldframes work! Lettuce, arugula and spinach are growing quickly under glass. I wish I had more windows.
As most of the outside plantings wait for warm weather, the seedlings I've started inside (in two upstairs south-facing rooms) are thriving in makeshift setups. I supplemented the window light first with fluorescent lights in emptied bookshelves, then under one of the same lights tied to a broken lampstand. It may look funny, but everything is growing, especially the 'Mortgage Lifter' tomatoes, which already have two sets of true leaves and will need to be re-potted soon!
Tomato 'Celebrity' is not far behind, while the pepper seedlings continue to mosey along at their own deliberate pace-- but I got around 95% germination, which is great for peppers. The bottom heat I provided for the peppers definitely helped-- I used an old plug-in back heater, separated from the plant tray by a steel baking rack. Later plantings of more tomatoes, cabbage, moonflowers, chives and basil are all doing well. On the floor nearby are crates of potatoes 'chitting', or presprouting. I did not find any local blue potatoes, but I got a great deal on Yukon golds at Tractor Supply.
My planning and growing continue, a bit thrown off by the weather, but ready for Spring when it finally comes-- and it will!
