Good Morning! It’s a beautiful day here, sunny and bright, sunrise was wonderful to see this morning. I thought I’d make up for the prolonged lack of blogging with some photos. Warning: big pics, so this will likely load slowly for you dial up folks.

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As your seedlings sprout in your flats, the first greens to appear are the “seed leaves” or cotyledons. They produce food for the plant as it begins to grow true leaves and are usually distinctly different in appearance from the plant’s leaves. If you are starting your seeds in flats, once the second set of true leaves start to appear it’s time to begin potting up – transplanting your seedlings from the flats into individual containers or cells of multi-packs.

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Once you have a place to start your seeds you of course will need a growing medium and some type of container to put them in. Containers of all kinds are available, and just about anything can be used from milk cartons to egg cartons to purpose-made seeding flats as long as they meet a few criteria. They must be deep enough and sturdy enough to hold 2-3” of growing medium, they must be able to hold up to being wet, and they must provide adequate drainage. I use commercially made plastic seed flats as they are inexpensive, a convenient size, and easy to use and keep clean. Another option is peat pots, which can hold the plant until it’s ready to be set out, eliminating the need for intermediate transplanting, but they aren’t as flexible as using flats and can get costly for large numbers of plants.

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The first thing you’ll need when starting seeds is a suitable place to do it. In order to start seed successfully, you must meet the environmental requirements for initial germination and subsequent growth of the plants until they reach the stage when they are ready for transplanting. A well designed rack or other area will meet the needs of correct temperature to start germination, and sufficient light and space to stimulate healthy growth.

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Those of you who have read my previous posts know that in addition to an avid winemaker, I am a lifelong gardener. In Wisconsin, like many parts of the country, the only way to grow many types of vegetables and flowers is by setting out plants started earlier in the season from cuttings or seeds. I start most of my own plants in a seed starting rack I’ve built in my basement. This series will step you through the basics of starting plants from seed and setting them out into your garden.

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Hey y’all. Sorry to be dark so much recently, but it’s that time of year and I’ve been ramping up for Major Labor under the sun and stars. I want to build something like this, but prettier. That’s my rub with growing houses- it’s so spendy to make them look nice. I’m house-vain like that, I guess. Still, I don’t want an ugly plastic shack on my lawn. At the same time, using recycled and reclaimed materials really appeals to me/my wallet.

Political, botanical, environmental, beautiful. What more can you ask for in a site?

Feeling snooty? I’m realizing just how snooty the gardening classes can be. But in this country at least, that’s going to change. Can you eat that 40$ cultivar, honey?

They may or may not be snooty, but they are pretty hardcore about their plants: I was over at Monticello the other day and gosh! You can see how a grrl could love Jefferson, what a whiz with plants he was! And speaking of things to look at, anyone know any good sites for garden design? With lots of pics? Most places I’ve come across are only trying to sell me a book or magazine and that’s not what I want/can afford. Oh, yes- I am very, very disappointed with all of you. Medium is the best we can do? Fuck. That’s pathetic.

Sorry again for the short and infrequent posting, but this is what happens in an economy where some of us are realizing it makes a lot of sense to have a plot that will provide…oh, let’s avoid polemic and hysteria this morning and just say 30% of my diet.  Read more 

I keep saying how lame a surfer I am, and it’s true. New to me! And, for you junkies. There is No Escape, Resistance is Futile.

I shouldn’t be here, but I had to look up some stuff and I stumbled across this place and of course got suckered in to leaving a comment. I find the tone, pitch, and language fascinating. This is how “the rest of America” speaks, politically. This is how they think, what they know, don’t know. I’m always struck by how…different we are, when it is made clear to me like this.

Back to the slave pits. Anyway, sharpen your tools. Planting time is here, and there’s work to do. You know what you have to do:  Read more 

Good drink and good food are natural partners so it’s no suprise that winemakers are often gardeners, and I’m no exception. A successful vegetable garden means plenty of produce to eat, give away, and preserve. Although most of my garden was wiped out this year by flooding in the area (Before and After), I still had enough tomatoes to can a batch of sauce this past weekend.

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Spaghetti Sauce, handmade and garden grown:

And five pints, both meat and vegan. It’s the Heirloom Familly Recipe, so I’m not sharing unless you come over for dinner.

But I will say this: I’ve got enough made to feed four people once a week for a year.  Read more 

Some folks asked to see the flowers and suchlike I’ve been so busy with, so here are a few for you to enjoy.  Read more 

It’s finally here! I have no choice but to go out and work the grounds, the birds and budding flowers are calling me. Also, I must prepare the soil for the growth of the Mighty Zucchini of Chastisement.  Read more 

Succesful rhodendron:

Failed rhodendrons:  Read more