February Freeze - No Planting!

Well, there is not a hell of a lot of planting going on around here. The explanation is obvious on my thermometer, which registered -11 this morning. That is fairly brisk. I am going to try to insert a picture again, got the directions from my sister Pat and also a helpful note from “Wiseacre”.

The marigolds I started are doing nicely, but have not developed any true leaves yet. If you are new to this business, the first set of leaves a plant develops are the “Seed Leaves” and then the True leaves (which are miniature versions of the mature plant leaves” come along. Some sources say to transplant when the little plants have two sets of true leaves. Personally, I have never been able to wait that long and if the plants are up to a good handling size I transplant them. I move the little plants into 6-packs and use potting soil instead of the seed starter mix. I soak the hell out of the nearly full six packs and use a narrow spoon for the process. I simply punch a hole for each plant with the handle of the spoon, move the little plant in, and firm it up with the bowl of the spoon. After I get the six pack full, I use the spoon to top off each cell. I leave the plant in a dark spot for about 24 hours, and put them back under the light the next day. It is critical to handle the little plants by the leaves only. If you grab them by the stem, you will cruse it and the plants will die. I usually spoon out a clump of plants, separate them with my fingers and the spoon handle and transplant them one at a time. It will not hurt them to be handled pretty casually as long as you don’t let them dry out. I usually give them a dilute shot of miracle grow solution when I am through transplanting.

The picture I am trying to include is of Shirley standing under an awning that mother nature provided us, free of charge, a couple of weeks ago.