Beets and Carrots and Rhubarb
Went paint-balling with my workplace yesterday. If we remove the bit where I got hit on the knuckles of my right hand the second time and getting hit on my head, I'd say I had fun. I couldn't close my right hand for over an hour afterwards. And I think the blow to the head may have caused a mild concussion. Both still hurt today; but the swelling has gone down. Another time, I'd wear gloves. And a helmet.
Today was a less violent day.
We went to the farmer's market, where in addition to a few other things I bought a few new basil plants. I repotted them today. Only one lone basil plant had survived. I rotated the box the basil plants are growing in to give it the best light. One of the strawberry plants was repotted. I still need another pot for the strawberry plant I am keeping inside.
I, being a big softie even for a plant I plan on eating, haven't been able to bring myself to throw out the excess lettuces, or plant them outside to be eaten by rabbits in their infancy. I moved some into pots that are probably too small; but better than leaving them in the trays they came in. I took the pot the very first plant we acquired (quite by unfortunate accident) had been in, and cleared out the dried brown remains of it and planted another three lettuces. I have tripled my lettuce capacity. There is still room for a few more pots; but I still haven't used even half the lettuce I bought.
Come on people, someone has to have balcony or a windowsill or unused flower bed! Please give these lettuces home! They are still growing despite their cramped quarters.
The really exciting news has been the arrival of the beets. Most of the seeds appear to have sprouted today. (At least, I think it is the beets, I have gotten a little confused about which pot was carrots and which was beets; but the little stems are purpley red.). All but one of the onions has come up. The radishes are being a little disappointing. After the first two, only one more has poked its head up. If no one else has shown up by next weekend, I think I'll reseed
In the meantime, I grow concerned for the carrots. I planted them before the beets, and the two seed packets say they have the same germination time. The thyme in the mixed herb box is also dying on me. I gave it some plant food (hopefully not too much) and extra water in case, being at the back of the box, it wasn't getting its fair share of the rain.
I ate raw rhubarb for the first time in close to decade tonight. It isn't the same though, to eat it all clean and trim from bundle. Eating wild rhubarb was one of those idyllic cornerstone memories of mid-childhood. I remembered being sufficiently small I'd have to brace myself to pull the stalk out, then cutting the tops and the slimy root off with a pocket knife, and brushing the dirt off before eating it, still slightly warm from the sun.
Today was a less violent day.
We went to the farmer's market, where in addition to a few other things I bought a few new basil plants. I repotted them today. Only one lone basil plant had survived. I rotated the box the basil plants are growing in to give it the best light. One of the strawberry plants was repotted. I still need another pot for the strawberry plant I am keeping inside.
I, being a big softie even for a plant I plan on eating, haven't been able to bring myself to throw out the excess lettuces, or plant them outside to be eaten by rabbits in their infancy. I moved some into pots that are probably too small; but better than leaving them in the trays they came in. I took the pot the very first plant we acquired (quite by unfortunate accident) had been in, and cleared out the dried brown remains of it and planted another three lettuces. I have tripled my lettuce capacity. There is still room for a few more pots; but I still haven't used even half the lettuce I bought.
Come on people, someone has to have balcony or a windowsill or unused flower bed! Please give these lettuces home! They are still growing despite their cramped quarters.
The really exciting news has been the arrival of the beets. Most of the seeds appear to have sprouted today. (At least, I think it is the beets, I have gotten a little confused about which pot was carrots and which was beets; but the little stems are purpley red.). All but one of the onions has come up. The radishes are being a little disappointing. After the first two, only one more has poked its head up. If no one else has shown up by next weekend, I think I'll reseed
In the meantime, I grow concerned for the carrots. I planted them before the beets, and the two seed packets say they have the same germination time. The thyme in the mixed herb box is also dying on me. I gave it some plant food (hopefully not too much) and extra water in case, being at the back of the box, it wasn't getting its fair share of the rain.
I ate raw rhubarb for the first time in close to decade tonight. It isn't the same though, to eat it all clean and trim from bundle. Eating wild rhubarb was one of those idyllic cornerstone memories of mid-childhood. I remembered being sufficiently small I'd have to brace myself to pull the stalk out, then cutting the tops and the slimy root off with a pocket knife, and brushing the dirt off before eating it, still slightly warm from the sun.