Tuesday, March 8, 2011

A Very Different March

Just reading the entries from the daily log for last year, and finding we had a relatively warm March and I had started more seeds than I have to date this year.  But we had our largest March snowstorm ever yesterday, and the yard looks exactly like it did in the picture from the last post.  Very long winter.  122 inches of snow so far, and not enough of it has melted along the way.

I usually get stuck with no more space for the seedlings, and that sets them back.  Keeping them transplanted into new spaces each month is as important as starting them early; seeds started in March can still be a couple of inches tall in May if they haven't been transplanted and fed in a timely manner.

This year I started 3 seedlings each of Tomatoes (Beaverlodge Plum, from Territorial), Peppers (Ace), and Eggplant (Nadia) about 3 weeks ago, so that I can start most of my seedlings later than usual.  This way I'll still have some very early produce without being burdened with too many big plants.  Usually by this time I'm setting plants outside on warm days.  No warm days this year!

I've also started all my onion seedlings (Ailsa Craig, Red Bull, Copra, King Richard Leeks, Purly Chives, and Nabechan scallions.)  I'll replant the scallions several times.  Started about 30 lavender, a dozen Magic Fountain Delphiniums which should blossom this year, oregano, sage, and rosemary.