April progress

The garden as survived recent severe weather (wind, rain, hail) and things are coming along nicely.  Severe thunderstorms are forecasted for tomorrow (fingers crossed).  I hedged a bit and planted around 30 tomato plants at the community garden, as well as additional spinach, beets carrots, parsley, basil, and cucumbers this afternoon (after the clouds, rain, and thunder stopped).

kuroda carrot seedlings coming up

garlic transplants doing well

sugar ann peas growing with tendrils

beet seedlings putting on new leaves

potting up tomato plants (nice thick stems and vigorous root systems)

Garden Progress

Warm weather has been kind to the garden...however, there is a freeze in the forecast for next Monday night.

Beet seedlings

garlic and onions

Sugar Ann Peas

Random Findings

Found a trifecta of items while screening compost this evening for a new raised bed.  I think my three year old probably lost the ring while helping with the compost pile last year.  Funny thing, she lost it again within about 30 seconds of finding it...found it before the sun went down...whew.

1945 wheat penny, green marble, princess ring

Early April Tasks

Took advantage of the warm weather today and got some fun stuff done at the community garden.

gave the existing hive some water...bees drinking from cotton fabric draped in a bowl of clean water

built my first hive bodies and gave them three coats of varnish...bees to arrive in a few weeks...Ross Murphy is my bee expert with about 20 years of experience.

old honeycomb that can either be harvested or used to start a new hive

4x8 raised bed in the community garden...planted my broccoli, cauliflower, and cabbage seedlings and seeded six squares of Sugar Ann sweet peas and six+ squares of several types of beets (Early Wonder, Flat of Egypt, Detroit Red, Ruby Queen)

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)