Triumphs and Failures

Like most gardeners, I have a tendency to loudly tout the successes I have and gloss over the failures. In an attempt to compensate for this tendency, I will have to admit some of the stupider things I have done, which are probably more common than some folks think.

In an extremely experimental mode, I started some flower seeds in January to see if I could get them up to blossom state before time to transplant. That was a tad early, a big, big tad early. My marigolds are in blossom, and with the weather as unsettled as it is, I don’t dare set them out. Hopefully, I will be able to keep them alive and healthy for another week or two. Next year I will try again, but about a month later.

I started “Big Beef” tomato seeds on the boiler, and had a horrible germination rate, only got four plants from an entire packet of seeds. I also had total failure with the “New Ace” peppers and also some hot peppers I was interested in. I thought I had screwed something up, but didn’t know what. Luckily, I had a few packets of other varieties of tomatoes hanging around (Rutgers and Big Boys) and they started well and I will be planting them this year. I will probably pick up a six pack of peppers at a local store (and possibly a six-pack or two of something else).

My gardens are still way too wet to till, and I will stay off them until the world dries up a little. The raised beds should be OK for some hardier stuff like carrots, beets, and onions, and I will start some of them as soon as possible. I also started three dwarf apple trees, which I bought from the nursery on the Brookdale road in Norfolk. I think the owner’s name is Shyne, and he is pleasant, knowledgeable, and reasonable, an easy person to deal with. I had to put cages around those trees because they are outside my electric fence, and the dear would think I planted some treats for them. Incidentally, if you are thinking of planting any fruit trees, you had better hurry. Most reputable dealers do not like to sell them later than mid-May.

I had a complaint from one of my readers, who complained to my wife because I have not posted for quite a while. My only excuse is that I was blogged down with other stuff. Heh, Heh.

P.S. Any black flies where you live? Want some?