Talk about dropping the ball on germination schedules.

6 weeks:

Starlight Scentsation – Matthiola longipetala – night scented stock – 2 rows
Globe amaranth – Gomphrena globosa
Calendula mixture – Calendula officinalis
Florence fennel – Foeniculum vulgare
Blue solaize – Allium ampeloprasum – leek

Dad did the Tommy Toe tomatoes and the Black Hungarian peppers two weeks ago on top of the pellet stove. They look fabulous!

9th Annual Pennsylvania Herb Festival

http://www.paherbfest.com/

April 13-14, 2007

Apparently, lemon balm has been voted the 2007 Herb of the Year. Congratulations!

I am particularly interested in the Saturday workshop Planting by the Moon, presented by Sue Morris.
"Planting by the moon takes us back to a time of ancient wisdom when we understood our connection to the heavens in daily living. In this talk you will be invited into the world of cosmic gardening and will learn to plan your gardening activities by the cycles of the moon. Lunar gardening aligns the spiritual in the human being with the spiritual in the universe. Gardening by the moon is an enjoyable way to cultivate a deeper connection with nature."

My First Flower

My single crocus is blooming, the tiny yellow fleck of color yelling out from the tired brown of the garden.

To-do List for Spring

April

• To determine if soil is ready to work, take a handful and squeeze it. If it crumbles, then it is ready to work. If not, wait several days and try again.
• Bait for slugs, and clean out hiding places where they live.
• Cut and remove weeds near the garden to help prevent plant viral diseases.
• Plant pansies, if you haven't already.
• Pull those first weeds as you see them. By cultivating the garden, you bring more weed seeds to the surface, so be diligent about pulling those early spring weeds.
• When soil is dry enough, prepare your annual flower beds. Turn the soil and add organic amendments, such as aged compost.
• Cut off faded tulip and daffodil flowers before they go to seed.
• Sow grass seed early so it develops before the heat starts. Perennial ryegrass is the best grass for spring sowing.
• Prune roses when daffodils bloom.
• Mulch to a depth of 2-3 inches and fertilize established shrubs.
• Remember that some trees prefer a spring planting (i.e., oaks and birches).
• Keep in mind that cut tulips will last longer if the flowers are wrapped in newspaper and allowed to stand up to their necks in water for a few hours.

Source: Penn State Cooperative Extension in Delaware County

Seed Planting Schedule

Germination of seeds:

March 4 (10 weeks): Actual plant date – March 8
Viola
Golden Marguerite

March 18 (8 weeks):
Globe Amaranth
Night Scented Stock
Calendula Mixture
Bunny Tails
Black Hungarian Pepper

April 1 (6 weeks):
Leek
Fennel
Tommy Toe Tomato

The rest I’m going to plant outside after last frost.

We been redesignated as Zone 7?

http://www.arborday.org/treeinfo/ZoneInfo.cfm?ZipCode=19611

Last frost (Mother’s Day) for the sake of tender seedlings, I’m being conservative with this date. For purchased plants, I will be using the date that I have observed from data gathered from 1990 – 2006. (I can’t remember offhand what that is – I think the first week of May.)