Tomato trouble
For the last couple of days, I’ve been worried about my Brandywine seedlings. I noticed them turning purple. Worried that the 61 degree basement might be harming my babies, I turned to the web. Research turned up that they may be NORMAL, since some heavy anthocyanide varieties do this. Most tomato seedings like temps between 55 and 70 degrees. When the tips of the leaves turned brown and shriveled, I panicked. I moved the seedlings into the mini-”greenhouse” plastic tent, displacing the ornamental annuals residing there. I watered them well, hoped they’d warm up and kept watch.
A day later, I researched some more and discovered that over-watering mimics under-waterining. I searched for a remedy, like fertilizer. I took them out of the “greenhouse” and put them on the heat mat, instead. Now they dry out faster. The four inch peat pots that I saturated last night are light and dry today. I am considering repotting them, using the mix I found on my new favorite site, Selected Plants. http://www.selectedplants.com/index.html
Deer repellent
Ding, ding. Round 22. So, today the Minion picked up more deer repellent. Not before arguing that we’ve spent thousands of dollars on deer repellent, and plants that they’ve eaten anyway. The argument went something like, “What should I get? I don’t want to keep throwing money away on what doesn’t work!”
Response: Nothing works all the time. The best advice I can round up is that deer become acclimated to pretty much anything over time, so products or tricks must be combined or varied. The last product was Plantskydd Deer Repellent. It looks and smells like blood. I find it completely repulsive, and my horses shied away from the water tank after I applied Plantskydd to a barrel of recently chewed daylilies too near the water. Wear gloves to apply it. It seemed to work for a couple of weeks before it wore off. I only know the effectiveness wanes when I see new deer damage. Then I run to re-apply it. Two major problems are that the spray applicator sticks, making it hard to pump, AND WORSE, my dogs really love it. They are instantly attracted to the smell, licking it, rolling in it……….Yikes.
Today, I sprayed Sweeney’s Deer and Rabbit Repellent. It also smells disgusting, but more like garlic than blood. I’ll keep you posted…
Dirt Cake
My preoccupation with all things dirt led me to offer that for my niece’s 3rd birthday party treat. I’ve done this in various ways over the years, but this incarnation I actually (ashamed to admit it, though) owe to Martha Stewart. Some unknown benefactor gifted me with a subscription to Martha Stewart Living, either as a joke or a strong suggestion. Anyway, everybody loved the results.
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- Dirt Cake
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- Dirt Cakes
Instant pudding
Milk
Chocolate cookies run through the food processor
Gummy worms
Mint sprigs
Wooden spoons
Put it all into small plastic flower pots. Et voila! Very tasty.
Ponderosa Pines for Earth Day
Colorado State University Extension Office of Pueblo was selling tree seedlings for planting on Earth Day. We picked up 30 ponderosa pine seedlings for $60. The seedlings are about 6-7 inches tall. The only requirement to purchase the trees is that the purchaser must have two or more acres of land. Commercial landscape companies were not eligible to purchase the trees.
The sale started at 11:00 am. I arrived 15 minutes early. At that time, they were almost out of trees. It looks like many people had the idea to arrive early.
Ponderosa pine trees are a fast growing pine. We planted seedlings about 10 years ago that are now over 12 feet tall.
Here is a picture of some of the seedlings purchased today.
Ponderosa pine seedlings
Eruption
Even though the wind is blowing 25 miles per hour (I know this because both of my pinwheels were decapitated), I went out to check what the daily spring rains have wrought. I have GREEN!
The Cherry Belle radishes I planted two weeks ago sprouted, as did the lettuce and spinach. I could tell the peas were joining the party because of the long row of uplifted dirt. These are the leftover “Green Arrow” peas I overbought at Big R last year. I seeded them thickly, since they are old. Reminds me of the San Andreas Fault. Can one ever have too many peas? I never seem to plant enough for them to make it to the house. The kids just pick them and shell them right there. Oh, well. I guess the point is to enjoy them; I will take that as a compliment (peas should, too).
The 50 red onions have serenely stood guard through the sun, wind and rain of the last 13 days. When will I see some growth there? Still waiting on the carrots, too.
Aero salad week 3
However, the lettuce in the Aero garden is about 5 inches high! I am planning to harvest the Easter salad from there. The kids will be impressed.
Return of the Western Bluebirds!
The mountain bluebirds have been moving into three of the six nest boxes that we have on the property. Today, I saw the first western bluebirds of the season.
Here are the photos:
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- Male Western Bluebird
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- Male Western Bluebird
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- Female Bluebird