Zucchinni Up Close

I often struggle to document all of the detail I see with my eyes. I have a pretty good camera, but I can’t always get this amazing device to show the world what I’m looking at. Every once in a while I get lucky enough with some tricks my nephew taught me to get the focus just right. The trick is to focus the camera on a nearby object, then once it’s locked into focus, point the camera at it’s intended target. The method takes some time to master, but the payoff is pretty amazing.

Zuke Zoomed Out

The first photo was a zoomed in shot of these zuccihini plants. The little bumps on these seedling are it’s first attempts at growing flowers which will turn into edible zucchini. There are definetly too small to pick now, but I’d guess they will be the first of the season.

Goji Berry Plants

I tend to take a look at everything with as much detail as possible. A few weeks ago I was just starting to see the green leaves on this goji berry plant emerge. I was pretty amazed when I looked again over the weekend and there were now full leaves. The growth on this little guy truely made my day, as I was about to give up on them after a difficult summer last year.

Tomato Leaves - No Purple Here

Sometimes it helps to look at things from odd angles. Tomatoes can get a purple coloring to the bottoms of their leaves. This could be due to cool temps or over watering. Purple leaves aren’t terrible for a plant, and most will grow out of it, but it generally signals a phosphorus intake deficiency. I’m quite happy to note my leaves are as green as can be, and are doing very well this year.

New Archway

In addition to planting seeds, I recently decided to eliminate a spare bedroom and combine it with my living room to make a much larger man cave. I started by carefully removing all the old seedling shelves, taking down the paneling, then removing the studs that formed the wall.

I then used a number of 2 x 4′s to build an archway with a two supports seperated by 2 x 3′s. I ran new electrical wires down through the hollow center, and installed new plugs at the base.  The 2 x 4′s were then covered with the original paneling that I removed from the walls, then covered in some recycled trim.  I used some special “Polyshades” stain from Home Depot to stain all of the boards a more uniform color.

I’m pretty proud of myself for working so hard on this archway even on days when I had little spare energy to work, but it was worth it, as all of this was accomplished with about $30 worth of materials !

In conclusion, it all reminds me of how my father used to tell me constantly “Open Your Eyes”. One day I did, and I haven’t stopped being impressed.

Assorted Tomatoes and Peppers

The greenhouse is full, and not just to it’s intended maximum capacity; There are plants on the floor, and plants on new shelves. I’ve so crowded this clear shed with seedlings that I intend to redesign it’s shelving system to hold at least twice as many plants by next year.

The thousand or so seedlings which have emerged from the soil are starting to relieve the stress of knowning whether they will germinate or not. Each year as this miracle is underway, I find myself stressed just a bit while the trays sit empty and the seeds work their magic under the soil. Once they poke through the top, I can monitor them, and properly care for them, and that stress turns to accomplishment. Very few seedlings that emerge from the soil perish on their way to the garden, so once I see green, I know I’ve made it about half way.

In the photo at top, I’ve planted cherry tomatoes about a week or two early, and they are stretching skyward as they compete for the catalyst of growth provided by the photons from the sun.

Ready for Takeoff

The table towards the bottom of the photo holds tomatoes and peppers. The second table in the background is covered with cucumbers, zucchinni, winter squash, egg plant and celery, as well as some over sized tomato plants.

Table of Misfit Plants

The center table in the greenhouse contains quite a mix of bio-diversity, including chives, sage, cilantro, parsley, peppers, collards, onions, and a second planting of lettuce. A few more large tomato plants round out the second shelf.

Cucumbrits are Taking Over

The fourth and final table contains mostly cucumbrits including melons and several varieties of cucumbers. This entire table was full of cool season crops which have since been planted out into the garden.

While I may rebuild the entire shelf system in the greenhouse next year, I will also be implimenting a staged growth system. Just as the cool weather crops were being planted out, the warm season cucumbrits should be planted indoors. Next year, I can plant far more cool season crops, without worring about saving room for cucumbers.

Cauliflower, Lettuce & Pak Choi

With the help of my new planting cells, I’ve managed to plant more cool weather crops and in greater quantities than last year… and it really shows ! My plants this year are nearly three weeks ahead. The difference is pretty clear when looking at the broccolli that I planted out on May 24 of last year, which you can see here: http://itfarmersblog.com/?p=1613

Not only have I been freed from poking numerous holes in styrofoam cups, I’ve also found these cells are a cinch to fill with soil: Just plop a hand full of dirt in the center and spread it around. Then poke holes and add some seeds.

Pak Choi

My indoor planted pak choi is really doing well. Last year I planted it after my warm weather crops, and it didn’t grow well, so I decided to read the seed packets planting instructions, and try again. This time I planted pak choi right after planting celery, and the little green leaves are doing great. I am still a bit unsure what I will do with all of these plants, but then again, I have no idea to do with all of the tomatoes I’m growing either.

Cherry Tomatoes

Since I was able to plant so fast with my new cells, I found time to plant lots of cherry tomatoes. These little tomatoes will be perfect for salads while we wait for their full size cousins to ripen. To the right you can see pepper plants poking out of the soil. They are a week or two late, but I think a little green water will do miracles.