Seeded the last of my tomatoes indoors...Indigo Apple from Brad Gates via Baker Creek Seeds.  Here are a couple pics of what this tomato looks like.  It's supposed to test off the charts for Lycopene and Vitamin C.  Reviews on taste vary.

Indigo Apple Tomato from Wild Boar Farms (Brad Gates)

 

Tomato turns deep blue-black in on shoulders that get sunshine.

Growing, Growing, Growing

Here are some shots under the grow lights...waiting for warmer weather.

Eggplant

Peppers

Tomatoes (nice thick stems)

Power of the Sun

I've continued to pot-up seedlings over the last few warm, sunny evenings after work...and the plants are taking off.  Pea seeds in the ground yesterday.  Holding off on planting broccoli, cabbage, and cauliflower until next week's cold weather passes (20's at night forecasted).

Eggplant Seedlings

Pepper Seedlings (will pot-up tomorrow)

Tomato and Tomatillo Seedlings after some natural sunlight

Tomato Seedlings waiting to be potted-up (hopefully tomorrow)

Garlic Transplant

fall planted garlic transplanted to a new raise bed

Pepper Germination

Getting great germination on my peppers this spring.  (Giant Marconi, fat N' Sassy, Poblano).  I'll probably hit a seedling sale later in the month sponsored by KC Food Circle. https://www.facebook.com/KCFoodCircle

forest of pepper seedlings

sweet basil seedlings (germinated in just a couple days).  I can almost smell the pesto.

Potting Seedlings

Potted up some Black Krim tomato and tomatillo seedlings this evening...mixed purchased potting soil with some of last year's compost.

plants in the wheelbarrow waiting to be re-potted

tomatillo seedling with roots (jiffy peat pellet)

re-potted tomatillo and Black Krim tomatoes...used 16 oz clear plastic cups from Wally World.

mulched about 10 bags of leaves through my Honda Quadracut mower after work today and added to the compost pile for some needed brown (carbon) material.  Started some more seeds after dinner; basil, rosemary, oregano, parsley, and eggplant. 

Here are a few pics from the grow light table tonight...

tomatillo seedlings (I've read that these can be planted deep like other members of the nightshade family - tomatoes, peppers, etc.)

pepper seedlings...about 50 of 72 have germinated (I count every morning and evening).

tomato seedlings...true (first) leaves appearing

Supercharging the compost piles (air, water, leaves, coffee grounds)



 

small compost pile



coffee "pucks" from starbucks

 



many BIG earthworms about 5' up in the compost pile

 

Moving Raised Beds

finally, warm sunshine and a busy day outdoors.

old raised bed location...city is doing street improvements and I am losing my space

new raised bed location...lots of shoveling...thinking cucumbers can climb on the railings

Cold Season Seedlings

Didn't want to buy bedding plants this year for cold season veggies so I decided to try starting seeds indoors for broccoli, cabbage, and cauliflower.

broccoli, cauliflower, and cabbage seedlings under grow lights

Also started several varieties of spinach and lettuce indoors as well.  Thinking about kale and chard but may be running out of time and space...may have to pick up some seedlings at a sale later in the spring.

spinach and lettuce under grow lights

2014 Garden Update:  Snow from the last storm is slowly melting away as seeds sown indoors for the quickly approaching gardening season are either currently germinating (nice and toasty by a portable heater) or resting contently under my new grow light setup.

Peppers: currently germinating under heat.  I planted a flat of 128 cells last Saturday - (64 Poblano, 32 Fat N' Sassy, 32 Giant Marconi).  Eleven seedlings germinated last night, mostly Fat N' Sassy.

pepper seeds germinating

Tomatoes:  currently under grow lights.  Varieties seeded this year include; Carbon, Cherokee Purple, Black Krim, Green Zebra, Pink Brandywine, Hillbilly, Black Cherry, San Marzano, San Marzano 'Lungo', Rutgers, and Jetstar.  Also trying Grande Rio Verde tomatillo.

tomato seedlings (seed starting mix)



tomato seedlings (jiffy peat pellets)

2014 Garden - First Post

I thought my first garden post for 2014 should be a look-back on some memorable pics from last year's fun.





Horse manure for the compost pile




cukes and tomatoes



wonderful carrots some don't make it to the kitchen



our square foot gardens - curbside