growth

Yesterday, Negin and I filled a second box with peat moss + vermiculite + compost. I keep forgetting to add bone meal. The new box is filled about 6 inches from the bottom with empty bottles and cans, about 2 deep. The terra cotta style containers are parsley, spinach, arugula that were started March 31. You can see an early version of the setup from my rooftop in the picture below.

The second box is on the south side, it is covered with one of the orange and brown afghans. We planted new Seed Savers Amish snap peas, an old packet of Burpee spinach, Botanical Interest chives from last year and some lettuce seeds I got in a zine that my pal T. sent me from Pittsburgh. The other box on the north side is also covered in the same kind of afghan. It was planted on April 11 with carrots, chard, radish, and lettuce that I had started inside. I have just started to see the chard sprouting up, but I'm not sure if it has been warm enough for the Chiogga beets, that prefer 40 degrees minimum. We had a couple cold nights, one of which I put newspapers on the box, the other I used one of the available pressed board tops.

The collards from last year have bolted. They are ridiculously tall and have some lovely yellow flowers. I'm waiting so I can collect the seeds which I hope to plant.

The sprouts are coming along ok too, but I'm not sure when and where I will put all of them.

paint question

So the aphids have been eliminated, I hope. I washed the baby leaves with soap water started turning the fan on daily. I potted up some plants last weekend but need to do some more today and tomorrow. On the hunt for a kelp/fish fertilizer. No luck at Menards on North & Kostner, and the hose reel I got there had no directions either. Not looking forward to going back out to the store :(

I started making the sign for the front of the garden. I feel hesitant to put the big boxes out on the lot before the sign is ready. But the free paint I got from the paint store is old and lead-based. I don't see a problem using it for the sign, but do you think it would be ok to stencil a few stars and stripes on the sides of the boxes? I'm a bit torn about this. It would not come into direct contact with the soil, but I don't know if there are other issues I should be concerned about. What do you think?

aphid attack!

Aphids have started up on the seedlings. The coriander seems to have been hit the worst. I am squishing and repotting and going to give them a good bath in soap water. Some people recommend releasing ladybugs indoors?!