Disaster strikes!

Earlier this week, several of my seedlings reached the top of their little greenhouse, so I decided it was time to remove the top and let them live out in the open.  Big mistake.  Not only is my home very dry, its also too cold for young seedlings.   Overnight, nearly all the seedlings that had not already leafed, shriveled up.  Top back on and several days later, they still haven't recovered--nearly all the hot peppers that hadn't progressed beyond the sprout phase have withered and/or died (strangely, the bell peppers are ok, but growing slower than before).  But now I have an odd mish-mash of tiny sprouts and larger seedlings pressed up against the tops of their containers.  The solution: cut out the larger plants from the tray and move them out of the greenhouse while leaving the smaller ones inside.  

I've learned two important lessons from this experience:
1.  never take the top off your greenhouse before the plants are really established; and
2.  don't plant several varieties of plants in the same greenhouse.  We made the mistake of growing bell peppers and several types of hot pepper all together--a problem because each variety grows at its own pace. 

When we start the tomatoes in 1-2 weeks, we will definitely keep this in mind!

Mouse Melon

I've been searching the web for cool plants to grow and came across the mouse melon. 

Also known as a cucamelon or a mexican sour gerkin, these plants look like tiny watermelons and taste slightly sour.  I must have these in my garden!

The beginning

11 days ago, Evan and I planted our first seeds: 1 variety of bell pepper, 5 types of hot peppers, parsley, chives and basil.  We are starting them indoors about 10 weeks prior to the last frost (little unclear when this is exactly in Jersey City, but we think around May 1) in small plastic greenhouses.

The pepper seeds sat there for a few days before forming tiny white sprouts.  At about 5 days they took off, growing fuzzy white roots, shortly followed by the beginnings of a green stem.

At 7 days, leaves uncurled from the seed pods of the hot peppers.  The bell peppers, seemed to be taking their time, however, with most still in the fuzzy white root phase.  The herbs were doing even less well:  buried deeper into the soil, there was not even a hint of growth.

Finally, after 9 days, the herbs began to come up, with the chives leading the pack.


Now, at 11 days, the growth is almost visible by the hour.  It's amazing to see a tiny speck unfold itself to 20 times its original size within a matter of days.  Evan and I are so proud of our seedlings.  We cheer them on and delight in each new leaf.  They have reached the top of their greenhouse lids, so its time to keep them uncovered and move them near the window. Hope they aren't too traumatized by their move and exposure to the elements.

Heather and Leah's college garden. A minor victory!

Heather and I have never been content to be like other people. When we moved into our on-campus apartment in 1999, we decided that we needed a garden. And so, we proceeded to build a garden that was the talk of our college! Needless to say, no other campus housing could boast their own "Koi pond" and mini-farm! We grew beautiful lettuces, succulent strawberries, crisp sugar snap peas, and a collection of useful herbs. Heather was particularly fond of the Stevia growing by the front door. This little garden was more than a place to graze, it was a well used study space too! Thanks to a sturdy hammock swing, we could spend plenty of time surrounded by our bounty.

UCSD's campus isn't what you'd call urban, but there was no real opportunity to get your hands dirty. Anyone who knows me, knows that I need to have dirt under my nails. It was soothing to go outside and pluck a few leaves, investigate new blooms, and just maintain our little porch garden. I'm sure many people thought we were nuts to have invested so much time, and money, into a garden that would be ours for only a year, but it turned a temporary campus apartment into a home.

We lost some fish to an unfortunate beer incident, and an adorable pot of Armeria to theft, and had some tragic plant loss due to an angry transfer student, but overall, we gained far more than we lost. I don't think either of us can look at a Fuchsia now without thinking of Jimmy. (The variety of Fuchsia we bought was called 'Voodoo', and since Heather and I were taking "The Gods of Rock Guitar", it felt appropriate to name him 'Jimmy' after the song "Voodoo-child")

Growing a garden isn't just about cultivating plants after all, it's about growing memories, and literally putting down roots. I can think of no better way for Heather and Evan to start their new lives in a new house, than to grow a garden. Even if it isn't in California.