Starting seeds indoors

Springtime’s Knocking on the Door

Hey there, springtime’s knocking on the door, and you know what that means – it’s time to start prepping for some indoor gardening magic! Clear up those cobwebs, sweep away the dust, and get ready to turn that back room into a little slice of horticultural heaven.

We will make our weekly trips to the local greenhouse or nursery for your plant fix, but where’s the fun in that when you can dive into a whole world of variety right from the comfort of your own catalog? I mean, just think about the possibilities – tomatoes in every shape, size, and hue imaginable, from fiery red to sunny yellow. And let’s not forget about those heirloom gems, each with its own story to tell. How about the peppers from sweet to super-hot.

Now, before we dive headfirst into seedling paradise, let’s get organized. Step one: seed order. Get those babies lined up and ready to roll. Most take a week to show up. Next up, let there be light! Grab yourself some affordable fluorescent shop light fixtures and swap out those tubes for some grow lights if you want. Your seedlings will thank you later.

As for containers: milk cartons, cottage cheese tubs, old cake pans – you name it. Just make sure they’ve got drainage holes to keep those roots happy. And if you’re recycling containers from last year, a quick dip in a 10% bleach solution will zap away any lingering diseases in the container.

Forget about soil; opt for some good germinating mix. Trust me, it’s a game-changer. And hey, if you’re feeling adventurous, why not kick things off early with onions, geraniums, begonias, or petunias? Mid-March through the end of the month is prime germination time.

So there you have it – the roadmap to indoor gardening glory. Get those orders in, set up your space, and let the green thumb games begin next week!

Home Improvement

Latest Paint Selections

It’s fascinating how the latest paint selections from various companies are shaping design trends for homes. The diverse range of colors, from deep blacks to calming blues and earthy tones, offers something for everyone’s imagination and style preferences.

Behr’s Cracked Pepper, a warm black, seems to be creating a unique atmosphere in homes, especially with the increasing preference for black tones among millennials. It’s interesting how dark colors like this can enhance the overall aesthetic by highlighting room accessories in both living and dining areas.

Benjamin Moore’s Blue Nova, inspired by a new star in the galaxy, brings a classic appeal with its mid-blue hue. C2 Paint’s Thermal Blue, on the other hand, provides a calming touch, reminiscent of the soothing qualities of the sky or a river – perfect for kitchens or bathrooms.

Valspar’s Renew Blue, with its green undertones, offers versatility in design styles, allowing for mixing and matching. Skipping Stones by Dunn-Edwards takes a step towards calming tones, deviating from the bold color choices of recent years.

Dutch Boy’s Ironside, a dark green, aligns with the growing trend of darker colors in home decor. It’s interesting to see how preferences are shifting towards these richer, more intense shades.

Glidden Paint’s Limitless, a modern neutral with a hint of yellow, stands out by breaking away from the traditional browns and greys. Its adaptability to various design styles is a testament to the enduring appeal of neutral tones.

Viridis by Graham and Brown, a muted green, brings a natural and relaxing vibe, making it an ideal choice for bedrooms and living spaces.

Sherwin-Williams’ Persimmon, with its earthy terracotta tone, adds warmth and rejuvenation to any room.

The variety in these paint selections not only reflects the evolving tastes in home decor but also offers homeowners a chance to create spaces that resonate with their individual styles and preferences. It’s exciting to witness how these color choices can influence not just walls but also the overall design of furniture, textiles, and home accessories.

Garden almanac

My Annual Garden Review

So, my annual garden review is a rollercoaster of wins and losses before I look at the new seed catalogs!

Let’s kick off with the radishes. Radishes are my nostalgic weakness. Every year I plant them, hoping for those crisp, peppery roots but, they have a mind of their own. Seems like they’re on a mission to shoot up and bolt before giving me anything to eat. Maybe it’s the memory of childhood radish love that keeps me going, but next year, I’ve sworn to myself, that a new direction awaits, stop planting them.

And then there’s the broccoli, playing hard to get with its tiny heads when it should be growing up big and strong. Those few hot spring days really throw them off. Time to reassess and find broccoli is not in tune with our unpredictable spring weather.

I planted melons with different maturity dates, but they decided to party together. Blame it on the weather, they say. It’s like they had a secret conference and decided, “Let’s surprise the gardener.” And they did bear not over 5 weeks but most over 2 weeks

Last winter wreaked havoc with its heavy snow, and our poor shrubs and trees bore the brunt of it. Lilacs a year later are still waiting for that pruning session.

Now, onto the cool-season flowers – calendula, surprised me with your lackluster performance, and those early tulips, what happened there? It’s like they decided to take a gardening vacation. And don’t get me started on the fruit trees – opened too early for the pollinators to get to them.

But wait, there are silver linings! Old carpet between garden rows and weed barrier cloth down the plant rows. Drip irrigation system under the barrier to conserve water and moisten the soil

.Tomatoes were a mixed bag, but Celebrity stole the show with many medium fruits. Lemon Boy, is a yellow tomato with a low acid content. Watermelons, especially the Clay County yellow ones were the sweet surprise. Summer squash – early bird and Rugosa Fruilana, you stole the nutty spotlight. And the winter squashes, Kabocha and Rogosa Violina Gioia, you’re the kings with that dry, stringless flesh.

The flowerbed has a perpetual fiesta with 4 o’clock, Mexican sunflowers, castor beans, amaranth, and blue salvia. Just a note – perennial salvia, you’re not invited to this party. Annuals, you rock!

Here’s to lessons learned, surprises embraced, and the ever-optimistic gardener in me gearing up for a new year of planting, pruning, and, of course, a few gardening mysteries along the way. Cheers to the green adventures ahead!