So, last weekend, we did "spring forward" (utter foolishness), and this weekend (Sunday) is the official first day of spring. Now if we can just get some good spring weather, 'round these parts! I guess this is what I get, for moving from Texas 2 years ago (where spring crops would already be in the ground, and growing well), to western NY. We're getting warm days now, but the 10 day forecast is showing too many cold nights, still, with next week, Sunday and Monday, looking downright COLD!! I was able to "harvest" these, today, grown indoors, over the past 5-6 weeks, though. Going to shell them tomorrow, and toss them in a salad, for some extra taste!
I feel for you. Up north where I grew up we would dream of planting this early, but way down in Dixie we have already harvested the broccoli, the potatoes are a foot high and the tomatos are blooming. Good luck with your endeavors.
Not in this part of Dixie! Last frost around here is supposed to be April 15th, but I usually wait till the first of May to plant cause the weather is better, and the ground is warmer and dryer. Don't get in any hurry, as there is still plenty of winter out there,,,two weeks ago we had snow!
I have planting on my mind also. Spent the other day going through my seed packets. Some had expired back in 2014 so I got rid of the really old ones. I had been planting the old seeds and not getting yield so it is time to start fresh. My planting area and patch has changes so it will be fun to see how this year goes.
There was a post several years ago, about reviving old seeds by soaking them in hydrogen peroxide. This is supposed to increase the germination rates, but when seeds are cheap and available why bother. Post-SHTF is another situation.
Thanks @Wildbilly, I will search for that thread. Seems odd that hydrogen peroxide would revive old seeds. But good knowledge and worth a try.
Never fails for me, I'll wait until the last frost date passes, wait an additional 2 weeks and plant my garden. Then BAM, a late frost! I'm ready though, had a great crop last year and I hope to get more this year! Getting close to finishing off my canned tomato juice and green beans from last year, still have more jalapeƱos than I know what to do with. I did get onions and garlic in already, they can typically handle the light frosts we will get from this point on, along with broccoli and cabbage.
Spuds are coming up nicely, Beans are starting to make a showing this morning. Found that red potatoes go dormient during the winter here, Throw a bit of water on em and boom, Up they come!
I feel like I'm behind this year, but with all the rain down here in Bamaville the ground is still pretty wet. Supposed to have a week of pretty dry weather so I'll try and get the ground prepped.
Update: 2 months later. The windows are open, the temperature's fine, and I've got seedlings galore!! According to the Farmer's Almanac, warm weather plants (peppers, tomatoes, cukes, etc) won't go outside until late May/early June.....and I'm still probably behind the curve, in that department! But everything in this photo was planted from seed, and slowly making its way to getting ready to go outside to play. Peppers (bell and banana......chili peppers are already growing indoors, like weeds!), and some flowers (gotta have something to attract the pollinators, right? Pansies and marigolds ought to help!), with tomatoes (super sweet 100's already re-potted, and yellow pears started today), squash (gold nugget, a winter variety, already going strong, with straight neck and crook neck started today), cukes (for pickling) started today. Just about every windowsill that sees sunlight has some starter pots set out on them! Speaking of which, anyone recognize the fancy starter pots in this picture? Courtesy of my Sunday morning "I don't feel like cooking" breakfast, that I'll pick up after getting my groceries. Either at BK, or Mickey D's. Something told me those heavy duty paper cups would come to some good use, someday!
Oh yeah.....forgot one! Got some Anasazi beans planted, too! For those interested, these are (allegedly) an old Pueblo Indian staple, "re-discovered" a number of years back. Good tasting, and they supposedly have 25% less of the element in beans that create gas....so you're less likely to suffer from this sort of attack, if you serve them!!