Harvest Monday June 18, 2013

I can't believe that it is already mid-June! How time flies. Everything has been growing super fast both on the balcony and in the community garden. I've been harvesting mostly greens - kale, mizuna, and broccoli leaf. I'm trying to find different ways to eat the greens and been having fun playing around with recipes. Here are some snapshots of my harvest:

Kale, broccoli leaf and mint

more greens..

And even more greens...

Just tons of greens!

I'm sharing my harvest at Daphne's Harvest Monday!

Seedling care: too much or too little - water and fertilizer?

I hate to dwell on the negative, but there are some signs of trouble with some of the seedlings. A leaf on two of the cherokee purple seedlings have shriveled up and fallen off.  I can't tell what it is...if I'm over-watering or under-watering. It doesn't help that the signs of both are the same - wilting. I've been pretty careful about watering so I'm hoping watering is not the problem. I'm wondering if it might be the soil. I'm using miracle gro organic potting soil and I've been watering with "compost tea". I put compost tea in quotes because I'm not sure it is real compost tea - I just threw in a handful of compost, and a tablespoon of epsom salt and azomite in 5 gallon bucket of water and let it sit for a couple of days. The soil look like it gets good drainage - so I don't think it is root rot.  

Wilty leaf on cherokee purple

This is a mild version - another leaf continued to shrivel up and then fell off

One of the broccoli seedlings have completely shriveled up and died. A second one seems to be following suit. I hope the third one survives but if it doesn't, I am glad I planned ahead and started many back ups. 

As of today, the seedling on the left has died and the one of the top right is on its way

This one here is the minigold cherry seedlings - I think this one is under-watering. Looks like the leaves are getting dry from the stem and spreading outward. 

This looks like under-watering? The soil was completely dry - the picture is after I watered it.

The final issue is that some of the seedlings look like they are turning yellow. The potting soil says that it has enough nutrients for 4 months, so I think I am over-thinking the yellowing of the leaves. I'm going to try not to be so obsessive. 

Slight discoloration but I'm not too worried yet

Timing for potting up seedlings

When you start seeds in soil-free medium (or nutrient free), they say to transfer them to some soil with nutrients after the first set of true leaves set. For my brassica (broccoli, brussel sprouts, kale) and fennel seedlings, I neglected them for some time. They had used up all the nutrients from the cotyledons and were essentially starving. I started two extra broccoli plants for the community garden a week or two after the first set and noticed the huge size and growth difference after potting them up. I'm not sure if the first seedlings are stunted forever...hopefully they will catch up.

Broccoli in the two pots on the right. The three broccoli seedlings (top right) were started before the  larger two seedlings (bottom right). 

Indoor gardening

I was itching to play with soil all day today. I'm not exactly sure why...maybe because it was a sunny day. By the time I get home, its just too dark to do anything. But today, I was absolutely determined to do some gardening. So I set up a gardening station in the living room.

The first seeds that I started were way overdue for transplanting to larger containers and in need of nutrients. I also transplanted two yuzu tree into larger containers.

Roots on the yuzu plant

Fennel, kale, brussel sprouts and broccoli seedlings

Chia seedlings 11 days old

It was great to play with soil. Just can't wait for the weather to warm up.

Lots o pea seedings!

I finally graduated from the little seedling setup on my windowsill and got myself a rack and lights. I have to say, I had some difficulties finding shorter shop lights and finally found it at Walmart.  It is an aquarium light (I think) but it did say grow light on it so I'm thinking it is OK.

I sowed some seeds (broccoli, brussel sprouts, cumin, fennel, lettuce, red lettuce, mustard, marigold) on 1/23 so it has been a little over a week. Most of the seeds have germinated. The cumin and mustard seeds were from my pantry...and they have not germinated yet. Also, the lettuce has not either.

1.5 week old seedlings...not all have germinated

Top three brussel sprouts, bottom broccoli (one cumin on the far left)

Kale in front and fennel seedlings in the back

I started snow peas and fava beans in wet paper towels and them sowed them in soil. I may have started this too early as they grow pretty quickly. They are kind of ready to be transplanted outside but it is FREEZING outside. For the snow peas, I'll have to bring a couple of containers inside and grow them inside for a while. If I can just get home fast home before dark to change the soil...

Snow peas, peas everywhere!

3 fava bean plants