Sprouts!

In contrast to the dreary, rainy day today, there are tiny plants everywhere in the greenhouse: arugula, basil, brocolli, brussels sprouts, several varieties of mustards, kale (2 types), calendula, all tomato varieties, and even eggplant from the replanting a couple days ago. I’d get excited, but what has sprouted has also given me an indication of those things I planted early on that will not be coming up. I’ll have to order more seed for some of the peppers and an eggplant variety as well.

Our buyer emailed that he has a customer that would like 200 Walla Walla onion starts. I planted them today. I also put cilantro, spinach, buttercrunch lettuce and nasturtiums in soil today. I planted the cilantro in 5-inch geranium pots, and there is a reason. Cliantro does not transplant well. It will bolt before it recovers from the root shock. So, don’t buy cilantro starts for your garden. Instead, direct-seed the plant or buy one our handsome, pre-potted plants and put it on your windowsill.

If you’ve never eaten nasturtium blossoms, you’re missing a great treat. They make a colorful addition to a salad and taste a bit like radishes. The leaves taste the same and have a nice texture. When we were growing for market, we sold the flowers by the ounce to high-end restaurants for $7/oz.

The greenhouse is nearly full to capacity, and I haven’t even planted any squash or cucumbers yet. The weather will once again play a critical role in our success because, to make room, I eventually will to have to move plants into temporary hoop houses that I will build next week. If it doesn’t warm up soon, I may have to delay transplanting herbs into 4-inch pots and tomatoes into gallons. Our buyer has indicated that he can start taking plants next week, which will make some room, but not nearly enough.

I’m praying for sun.