Sprouts Sunday 6/20

Many gardening blogs have Harvest Mondays, where everyone posts their harvest for that week. Thanks to the California Agriculture Committee, I don't have harvests to post :/. I've therefore decided to have Sprouts Sunday, at least for the next month or so. Each Sunday I will be posting updates as to what plants have and have not sprouted and growth updates for those that have.

SPROUTED:

1. Radishes.

2. Lettuce.

3. Cucumbers.

4. Tomatoes: Brandywine, Roma, and misc. cherry--one of each so far!

5. Thyme (included in picture).

6. Basil.

7. Peas.

NOT SPROUTED:

1. Green onions.

2. Carrots.

3. Peppers: Bell, jalapeno, and sweet banana.

4. Sage.

5. Rosemary.

6. Parsley.

7. Chives.

8. Lavender.

It's a bit cool in the evenings still, so I'm worried the peppers are sulking. Also, I'm quite suspicious of the organic red potatoes I bought at the store--I've set them out to sprout for nearly a week, with no luck. Makes me think some chemicals have touched them!

New Beginnings

The drive cross-country has come and gone, and the move went off without much of a hitch. We’re currently finalizing unpacking and decorating, and it’s so nice here! The weather in SoCal is dry and warm, with cool evenings (that is, perfect!).

One small problem though—I arrived sans garden. “But didn’t she plan to bring her plants with her to Cali?”, you ask. I sure did, and they seemed to do fine throughout the trip—most were inside my car, which was being towed by the truck we drove. I put up the sunshade to keep the plants from roasting, and the temperature didn’t get too high in the car, just nice and warm. There was some wiltage, but nothing I didn’t think I could handle once we arrived.

I hadn’t planned on my plants being attacked. They’re just plants, right? Why would someone not like them? Turns out, the state of California hates plants from Virginia. Hates them so much, it turns out, that vehicles entering the state are searched for agriculture from certain states, and any found foliage is confiscated and burned.

And so explains why I arrived in the Inland Empire with no plants and a dejected spirit. My new balcony cried out for life, which led to the silver lining.

I got to get all new plants!

I purchased an aloe, a mint (unnamed, only one they had), and two flowering plants for the hubby. I also picked up some new seeds—hey, might as well get what I want while I’m at it, right?

Over three days, I planted the following: mixed leaf lettuce, easter egg radishes, sugar snap peas, bunching onions, brandywine tomatoes, miscellaneous cherry tomatoes, roma tomatoes, bell peppers, banana peppers, jalapenos, rosemary, thyme, basil, chives, parsley, lavender, cucumbers, and sage.

And my radishes have already sprouted!

My mother-in-law gave me some standing plant holders, so I'm going to use the taller one to train my peas up (the bottom pot). The other holder is going to shade some lettuce in this warm weather.

I plan to plant potatoes soon—already got organic red potatoes from the grocery store, just going to use them until one or two sprouts. I’m also planning to grow garlic, but it’s much too early to plant that yet.

Here's to new beginnings!

Growth updates!

I love this time of year....things really start getting off the ground (literally)!

It was a little cool recently, but a big rain came through and today was much warmer.

All the seedlings have been moved outside and have been transplanted to

small pots (or in some cases, small pot-shaped things I could find!)

I have tomatoes, either basil or thyme (forgot what I planted), and I believe two types of

peppers (of three possible, either banana, bell, or jalepeno). This is a hodgepodge of seedlings because I planted them whilst finalizing my thesis (defended yesterday, hurray!), so hopefully I'll figure out what's what :) Can't figure out how to get the pic up correctly, else someone could help me!

Two of the planted tomatoes are slowing growing....the sole remain

ing planted cuke is not long for this world I believe though....

....and a few carrot sprouts, finally! I think I'm also going to plant

some bee balm in this pot soon, so I don't have to hand-pollinate everything!

The other two tomato plants aren't moving much and are a little yellow, so I'm worried. The chives and parsley are exploding though! Maybe putting some leaf lettuce or radishes in once the tomatoes get larger and shadier.

Lime buds and flowers!!!

Pepper plants...I read that peppers "sulk" when it gets too cool, so I'm guessing that's what happened with these bells, not much growth.

Finally, my amazing mint plant. I love this

plant--nothing like it to boost a novice gardener's morale!