Posts
The alpine garden is now visible, having been completely covered in snow up to two days ago.
The sloped rock garden is first to produce blooms, though there are no crocus greens sprouting yet. I will be cutting the dead growth off in May, when there is little danger of damage to the new growth.
The vermi-composting bins are full and the worms are thriving. We'll be running out of composter space soon. Our garage is partially heated in winter, never dropping below -10 degrees Celsius. The worms survive well in these conditions but obviously, they would never survive outdoors.
The worms do eat less at the cooler temperatures, and probably huddle towards the center of the bin to avoid the freezing temperatures at the periphery. As the temperatures rise, the food seems to be converted to worm castings alot quicker and we see a greater number of worms wriggling around.
This is the "scaled down" light garden for 2009. I mean that I fully intended to minimize the basement garden this year, however, that seems to not have happened. I did start a few things later than usual, trying to avoid having large flowering plants in April, with no place to go. I still need to start pumpkins and a few herbs in peat pots in a few weeks. My tomato seedlings sprouted this last week, so they should be a nice size when I put them outside in June.
I am very excited to have germinated some Lewisia cotyledon, as this is one of my most favourite alpine perennials, and a true beauty. I could easily become obsessed with this plant. I have yet to buy a book solely on Lewisia, but I won't rule that out.
5 comments:
It's exciting when the snow starts to melt and the gardens begin appearing. It won't be long now till you are out in the garden.
Our garden space has emerged from under the snow! Soon it will be workable.
We are thinking of starting a vermi-composting bin ... we were at a local seed exchange and a gal was talking about them there. Sounds like it works really well and I see you seem happy with the system as well.
Looks like things made it through the winter quite well - so glad to see dirt and plants in your neck of the woods. I lost a ballast on the middle tier my light table and now am scrambling. I'm a chronic over-planter must have enough flowers to do around at least 2 of the 5 great lakes.
It's been a long ol' haul, this winter, but I think spring is trying very hard to put the run to the snow once and for all. and we're both more than ready for that!
I was wondering if you had tried the new version of peat pots yet, the ones made of coir. I tried them last year and they work just as well as peat pots do, while being more environmentally friendly. You can see them here: http://www.thegardenersshop.co.uk/organic-coir-pots--coir-compost-discs-x-10-580-p.asp
But they are also found at our hardware stores in the spring garden sections.
Post a Comment