I Think Spring is Here !!!

Sunday, April 13, 2014 - What a great weekend to be outside and get the outside grounds ready for Easter. I decided to take Friday off and mulch my flower beds. I was glad to get my 6 yards moved  by mid afternoon as then I put down fertilizer around many of my trees and shrubs the remainder of the day.

The remainder of the weekend I visited Exley's, Moore's and Triple Oaks Nursery. My wife and I enjoyed our visits looking at the new perennials available this year as well as checking on the vegetable plants I will be purchasing in a couple weeks.

Each nursery offers something different to the public. Going to Moore's and seeing all the flowers and vegetables for sale helps me prepare for the upcoming weeks. Both Exley's and Triple Oaks Nursery have many beautiful plants and shrubs for spring planting.

I also spent time in my vegetable garden. Uncovering my strawberries as well as adding extra lines for my peas to climb. I also made herb planters which I place daily outside however remembering to bring them undercover this time of year due to cool nights and frost.

With temperatures in the 70's and bright and sunny days, I believe Spring is finally here !!!! It was great pleasure I put my snow blower away and now I look forward to the warm weather we not be having.

A Great Gardening Weekend

Sunday, April 6, 2014 - I am hoping with the weather we have this weekend that spring is officially here. With weather in the 50's I was able to begin my annual spring clean up as well as spend time in my vegetable garden.

Every year I am amazed with the amount of leaves and branches I clean up. Completing this same process at the end of fall, I am hoping one year I will be able to go outside in spring and see few leaves in flower beds, under shrubs and also stuck in my fence.

After spending most of the morning blowing and picking up debris, I spent time in my vegetable garden. I put in my second planting of peas as well as spinach and two types of lettuce. I am very happy to see that all my crops planted back in March have broken ground and survived those late winter cold temperatures.

Today, I hope to clean our my main flower garden. It is time to think about mulching all my flower beds which is something I always try to have done by Easter.

A Great Day To Plant !!!!

Sunday, March 9, 2014 - Waking up early and going outside in the garden is  the best way to begin any day. In my area, it is always so quiet and the only sounds heard are the birds and occasional car driving down the road.

Last week this time, we were preparing for a major snow storm with predictions of 10 - 12 inches hitting our area. We did luck out, only get 6 inches, but the cold and bitterness we had at the beginning of the week certainly helped enjoy this morning that much more.


Today I started my first planting of cool weather crops. I planted two types of peas, 3 types of lettuce, 2 types of spinach,  2 types of kale, 2 types of broccoli and cauliflower. This year I am experimenting with different types of seeds.  Also I am trying seeds which advertise which can be planted in the early spring and last throughout the summer.

This year I have decided to plant again another cycle of the above mentioned seeds a month from now. I am hoping during  the early spring and the beginning of the summer I will be able to enjoy all of these greens during the early part of the growing season.

More Snow Is On The Way !!!!!

Sunday, March 2 - It is so hard to believe that I am sitting here thinking about the predicted snow fall in our area that is supposed to begin this evening. At this time, my area, Sewell NJ, is calling for 8 - 10 inches, ending Monday afternoon.

As I mentioned in my last post, this past weekend was beautiful. With unseasonable temperatures in the 60's all my neighbors were outside trying to get a jump on our spring clean up. This weekend, I went outside and started my snow blower making sure it was ready for tomorrow.

Daffodils standing 3 inches tall
waiting for the snow storm to
begin.

For the past 5 years, I always plant my cool weather crops the weekend before St. Patricks Day.  I know the typical planting date is this holiday, but I try and get an extra week of growing since I don't fertilize my garden, only using compost and organic means.

My cool weather crops I am planting this year are peas, different types of spinach, lettuce, broccoli and cauliflower. All of these crops could benefit by the covering of snow that would occur tomorrow, but seeds need germination temperatures no lower than 20 degrees and this week we have a few days where the lows will be in the single digits. The possibility of not receiving any crops if I planted this weekend was not worth the risk of trying to get a "heads start".

It looks like I will spend next Sunday in my garden. Here's hoping this is the final snow storm for this winter.

By the way, if my good friend I work with does take the time to read this note, yes, it is true I sat on my tractor today wishing I was able to begin my spring ritual. :)

A Beautiful Winter Weekend !!!!!

Sunday, February 23, 2014 - It is so hard to believe with all of the snow we have had this winter, this weekend we were "teased" with temperatures in the 50's. ( Yes, and this week we will have temperatures in the 30's with two days of snow showers expected ) Today I decided to work in my vegetable garden.

It was a great day to be outside. Seeing neighbors I have not talked to in months as well as beginning to prepare my soil for planting for mid - March put everyone in a great mood to begin the work week.

Today I tilled part of my garden. Before beginning, I did sprinkle saw dust and shredded paper on the soil to help with the drying out process as well as help prepare the soil with the needed nutrients for growth.

This is a great start to the growing season. Getting air in the soil as well as breaking up those areas which are hard will be a benefit to my planting of my cold weather crops.

A Great Gardening Weekend !!!

Sunday, March 3 - It was a great weekend working in my vegetable garden Saturday. I decided to till my garden and then plant an early crop of cool weather vegetables.

I chose to plant 4 types of lettuce; Salad Bowl, Mesculin Mix, Black Seeded Simpson and Gourmet Mix. Also, I put in a small line of baby and olympia hybrid spinach, broccoli and kale.

It was great to get back in the garden but my planting did not stop outside. I did purchase a grow light system by Hydrofarm so I could begin some vegetables inside for planting around Mothers Day. With my inside planting, I started 6 type of tomatoes; golden nugget, sweetie, beefsteak, rutgers, roma and tomatillo.

Also I planted inside watermelon, cantaloupe, kale, purple basil and green and yellow squash.

This is the first time I have started seed inside with a grow light. I am excited to see how my plants will grow over the next few weeks.

Today, my wife and I went to the Philly Flower Show. This is the first time I have ever gone to this event and enjoyed this years theme England. The beautiful landscape display of flowers combined with the many vendors helped make this morning enjoyable.

We Escaped the Winter Storm !

Sunday, February 10 - South Jersey was very fortunate as we escaped the much anticipated Nor'Easter this weekend. With only a thin coating of ice and snow we have in our thoughts those living in New England who are struggling from the brunt of this storm.

Before my wife and I went to the Philly Home Show Saturday, I spent the morning planning when and were I was going to plant my spring crops. I also took a few pictures of how beautiful the winter weather is around our home.