Thursday, April 18, 2013

Back to Gardening

 

Daffodils_2013

 

I have been silent the past few weeks because I was so busy. I do seasonal tax prep and until April 15 it seems like I am a hostage, chained to the tax desk. And it gets crazy at the end.The tax desk becomes a confessional and Father Dave hears a lot of “bless me Father for I have sinned, I have not done my taxes for three (four, five, …) years.” And this year, April 15 was also a holiday in Massachusetts (you know, Patriots Day, Battle of Lexington Green, Battle of Old North Bridge, Red Sox Opening Day, and the Boston Marathon). A day that is normally a feel good day, a day of multiple celebrations, became a tragedy. We spent the day chained to our desks, listening to the radio and asking clients what they had heard.

Brassica_seedlings

 

All that is now behind me and I was able to spend my Wednesday gardening instead of doing taxes. In the morning I potted up my tomatoes and peppers, as I reported in the previous post. The afternoon was spent prepping the raised beds and setting out the lettuce and brassica starts, shown above. They are growing in 1 1/2 inch soil blocks made using Johnny's 512 Mix and I think they look particularly healthy, unlike the sickly starts I had last year using Burpee’s Seed Starting Mix made with coconut coir.

 

IBrassica_and_lettuce_starts

 

The raised beds were prepared by fluffing up the Mel’s Mix and adding compost. I also added some green sand, kelp meal, and blood meal to give the plants a boost and add micronutrients. The brassica starts looked particularly good.

 

Beedys_Camden_kale

 

Beedy’s Camden Kale.

 

Broccoli_transplant

 

Broccoli DiCiccio.

 

Purple_peacock_broccoli

 

Broccoli Purple Peacock.

 

Collards

 

Collards Champion.

3 comments:

  1. Your brassica starts are looking good. Mine are going along nicely too and it shouldn't be too long until I start getting some crops which will be really nice. I've missed broccoli - its been a while because it doesn't do well here over our summers.

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    Replies
    1. Fall is a good time for brassicas. Mine were looking good until last night, which had temps below freezing. They look a little sad today, everything but the escarole. In late summer/early fall around here you don't get freezing overnight temps, while spring planting is a gamble.

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  2. As a CPA who started out working in public accounting - I totally get the excitement of having tax season come to it's grueling end. I have been in government/industry for a very long time now, but fondly remember the relief of getting through yet another tax season.

    Your seedlings look excellent Dave! I like the 512 mix too. The coir mixes are pathetic in my opinion. Coconut coir makes a good basket liner but not a good soil mix.

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