Extremely cold spring - and impatience!

On April 20, I sowed arugula, baby salad, lettuce, and two kinds of beets, in neat geometric patterns, according to a carefully thought-out plan - I thought.

The soil I have bought is slightly to the coarsely rolled side, so the seed rows (if you can call it row) are both in depth and width in line with a normal distribution curve, where about 70% is roughly as instructed, and the last 30 % is a little too skewed, a little too deep and a little too high. This is how it can go og .and it did.

Rows - 70% straight and proper - of lettuce, baby lettuce and arugula

In my eagerness to simplify the cultivation of a (small) kitchen garden, I had promised myself NOT to germinate, use quilts, high mountain sun, talk therapy and non-woven fabric, etc.

Luckily, I did not mention everything in my ‘oath’ on the blog, in the efforts of the ‘easy’ kitchen garden, because I HAVE used some non-woven fabric.

The situation became - that my patience with cold, wind and night frost ended - now something had to happen.

Therefore, there was some heat treatment.

Maybe it would not have been necessary, but my experience is as mentioned to overlook, so thought it was best.

The whole ‘process’ took a good 1/2 hour, so it was not wrong. The whole thing is planted in raised beds with self-watering, so it fits fairly well itself, with the exception of a little ventilation.

5 days later, I sowed two kinds of carrots and very small purchased leeks for planting, so they already look like a success. I asked Peter, from ‘my’ previously mentioned nursery in Høsterkøb, if they could be planted now, to which the answer was ‘no’ - when I subsequently mentioned it was in GrowCamp - then I could still do well.

Great satisfaction for my impatience and, still intact go-ahead.
Now I hope they (the leeks) are planted correctly because there was no instruction. We will see.

On top of that, a number of potatoes have been laid, put some very elusive sprouts of celery leaves and beetroot, destined for chatter to be defined as seedlings, but uhhh, - again - a little too eager and a little too overrated.

Potatoes with very strong sprouts - ready for laying

Tiny celery plants

Small, slender leaf beds for planting

Celery plants and leaf beets could under no circumstances have stood in the open. They had been beheaded by a mild spring shower and blown. Let’s see if they survive in their sheltered housing.

Around April 27, I sowed peas that had been soaked a little longer than the recommended 12 hours - remembered it as 24 hours, and did not just get read on the package until it was too late - was probably around 18 hours.
Also beans came soaking, they obviously should not at all, so now I have sown some that have been soaking for quite a few hours and some after the instruction, so time will tell if it matters.
All this is planted in raised beds without self-watering.

Then some kale and kale were sown (in raised beds with self-watering). And finally spinach (in raised bed without self-watering), but of some old seeds I found. So I do not know if they are sprout-capable - mature they are at least, probably almost mummified. The package 'guarantee' has long since expired.

When I have used old seeds, it is because I found quite a few bags, from the one year I tried myself in the open air before the strawberries took it all. And there was quite a lot in profit. However, I would not exclusively use EVERYTHING for old seeds, in case they do not germinate. But it also runs up to buy half or the entire store range.

Now I have again a surplus of most purchased 'crops'. I have so many leek plants in surplus that the cat thinks it's cat grass, carrot potential enough to sponsor twirl snatch an entire season. Then it is possible to join forces to buy seeds and small seedlings, so do it - unless only one thing needs to be grown.

I have ALSO sprouted - against my expectation - for two reasons: the cold weather, which continues indefinitely, and recommendations. But only three things. Pale celery, beetroot and fennel. The first two, as mentioned, have progressed (a little fast), but they are still alive - at the time of writing.

Since I started sowing and planting, it has (quickly) taken about two to three ‘effective’ hours. Some of the time has been spent watering the soil as it was both dry and rough. Therefore, the soil did not hold water so well. So it took some time. It also took time to separate the very small plants (pale celery and beetroot) and plant them as gently as it required. - Should probably have waited, it would also have been faster to handle some more established plants.

But there are two-three - plus the loose-hours with great quality. As Kierkegaard has put it - the joy of anticipation is the greatest. I have expectations every day I go out and air, water or just parade past. And I'm hopeful and optimistic when I find that it's still growing - or at least not gone.
- However, lacks signs of life from the ‘old’ spinach and a striped beetroot….

I have only just started - there is still a lot of seeds to be sown, which I expect to do before the next post.

But the point is, there is still enough time to get started, and due to the unusually cold weather - (read it is the coldest in 22 years) - you will not even be behind - because not much has happened.
However, GrowCamp boosts the temperature so that it germinates early (and survives the frost) - fortunately.

Enjoy.