Where is Everyone? And what are you doing?

There are 94? people on this Ning account, where are you? No questions? No ideas? No comments? What are you doing? What are you planning to plant? What have you learned through your Winter research? What seeds have you bought or are planning to buy and through what companies?

I have been requesting books from the library all through Winter and there is a stack on my dining room table bench. I have seen books on hold at the library while picking up the books I have requested about gardening and I have hope that that person is involved in the community gardens of Des Moines.

Right now, I am trying to figure out what I want to build, the materials I need to build it, measurements etc then go to Menards or order online. Where are you? The time is approaching and the season comes on, fast! I think I suffer from both the manic and mania of SAD ... talk people! Talk. We need to keep one another going and we live in the same city.

▶ Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Craig Dean Anderson on February 7, 2010 at 8:33am: Hi, Donna
I'm going out to my plot tomorrow to plant snow peas! This past season I really enjoyed growing and eating cherry tomatoes on the community garden's smallest plot, and think that I will do the same again in 2010.

Whatever you're going to build, I would avoid pressure treated lumber, in it's construction. It leaches toxic chemicals into the soil.

As for SAD, I buy full spectrum light bulbs from New City Market, that simulate sunlight, and take a D3 capsule in the morning.

Thanks for taking the time to post a message. I've been thinking about the garden lately, and the people I shared time with there.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Sandy on February 10, 2010 at 10:25pm: Hi, guys! I've missed to garden and have Spring fever! Craig, as silly as it seems, I didn't know you could plant snow peas in the snow!
I'm still not sure what I am going to plant, but I've been drooling over the seed savers catalog, online. I'm thinking of planting some purple potatoes, to get an early start on my gardening. Looking forward to seeing you all soon!; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Donna on February 12, 2010 at 8:01pm: Thank you both for responding! :)

Craig, I have never heard of D3 capsules and I have been curious about the lights, if they work and which ones to buy. Do you put the bulbs in lighting fixtures around your house?

Does Iowa have termite problems? I would never use pretreated lumber and I've become anti railroad ties despite the homey feel.

How are you able to plant Peas? Can you dig in the ground? I have about 20 Milk Jugs cut and filled with dirt to practice Wintersowing. I read in a book to do Pea Starts, I was planning on trying Scarlet Runner Bean starts too.

Sandy, I am wanting to plant some potatoes this year too. I was hoping to plant two different varieties for New Potatoes and then another two different varieties for storage. I have been considering building two potato boxes for the storage potatoes.

One big item I am wanting to construct is a Cold Frame, at least one. But most of the instructions I find act as though everyone has an old window laying around! And I have a terrible time finding Plexiglass in DIY stores. I was also thinking I would line the perimeter of the box with Bubble Wrap but I don't know which way the wrap is suppose to face. I have several trellises to buy material for and I have dreams of some kind of poly rippled plastic aframe roof design to put over my bed at home.

I would like to grow some Horseradish ... I have found two good/cheap sources but they sell the roots in quantities of 5 or more. I only want one, maybe two. Does anyone want to go in with me on Horseradish? I am also concerned about my ability to preserve the root, I've read they oxidize quickly.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Jennie on February 18, 2010 at 12:03pm: The method of planting peas I've heard of for this far north says just bury the peas in the snow as close to the ground as you can. The snow doesn't harm most of the seeds, and as it melts it triggers the peas to sprout, the ground is nice and soft with the melting so the roots find purchase and there you have it.
I'd be interested to know how well it works. I'm kind of a chicken, I've planted them in the soggy-melting beginning of spring snow, but never this early.

Potatoes are great to plant!!! I planted them in my plot this year and had great results. Things I learned: the new potatoes will form ABOVE the potato slip that you planted. Thus the hilling that's required. I vowed that if I grew them again this year I would dig a trench, roughly 6 inches wide and at least 6 inches down and pile the dirt on the side of the trench. Plant the slips with just enough dirt to cover them, but then as the time to hill up approached I could just hoe dirt DOWN into the trench instead of the time/labor intensive hilling dirt UP that I had to do last season. They need to be well watered, especially during their flowering and after, as flowering is when the tubers are being set.

Cold frames are also well worth the effort, I refuse to grow lettuce in Iowa without one. I can have greens from March through December with a good cold frame. Tips for finding windows: architectural salvage stores like the Restore, that's where I got my first one. Or, call up a window company, one of those that specializes in tearing out old windows and putting in more insulated versions. My friend had her windows replaced and they literally take them to the dump when they take the old windows, I had her keep a couple for me. If you call the company and tell them you'll come to the job site or wherever to pick up a couple, it might save them a dump fee.
I made mine out of bricks, half scavenged and half bought from Lowes. I don't even mortor the bricks, that way I can pack it up and move it with me, which I seem to do every year. :-P The bricks get arranged in a square, the windows just get laid on top, no added insulation, sometimes I use some mud to fill in the larger cracks. And, voila, greens for 10 months of the year. If you have your heart set on bubble wrap, it doesn't matter at all which side is in or out. But, you really shouldn't need it, and eventually you might want something more sustainable as the bubble wrap will only last a season or two.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Craig Dean Anderson on February 18, 2010 at 12:22pm: I was joking about planting peas in snow. Even if they could grow, the rabbits and deer would devour them quickly. The bulbs can be put in any light fixture, but are most effective in overhead lamps.

Donna said:
Thank you both for responding! :)

Craig, I have never heard of D3 capsules and I have been curious about the lights, if they work and which ones to buy. Do you put the bulbs in lighting fixtures around your house?

Does Iowa have termite problems? I would never use pretreated lumber and I've become anti railroad ties despite the homey feel.

How are you able to plant Peas? Can you dig in the ground? I have about 20 Milk Jugs cut and filled with dirt to practice Wintersowing. I read in a book to do Pea Starts, I was planning on trying Scarlet Runner Bean starts too.

Sandy, I am wanting to plant some potatoes this year too. I was hoping to plant two different varieties for New Potatoes and then another two different varieties for storage. I have been considering building two potato boxes for the storage potatoes.

One big item I am wanting to construct is a Cold Frame, at least one. But most of the instructions I find act as though everyone has an old window laying around! And I have a terrible time finding Plexiglass in DIY stores. I was also thinking I would line the perimeter of the box with Bubble Wrap but I don't know which way the wrap is suppose to face. I have several trellises to buy material for and I have dreams of some kind of poly rippled plastic aframe roof design to put over my bed at home.

I would like to grow some Horseradish ... I have found two good/cheap sources but they sell the roots in quantities of 5 or more. I only want one, maybe two. Does anyone want to go in with me on Horseradish? I am also concerned about my ability to preserve the root, I've read they oxidize quickly.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Donna on February 19, 2010 at 8:22am: I got that it was a joke the day after ... :( Snow ... Peas. But then I was thinking like Jennie and remembering an idea I heard about scattering Poppy seeds on top of snow. You shouldn't mess with Gardeners during Winter. I, for one, am super eager to plant something! :) I was thinking desk lamps but I have never seen anyone use them, I am from the Sunshine State ... and again :(

Craig Dean Anderson said:
I was joking about planting peas in snow. Even if they could grow, the rabbits and deer would devour them quickly. The bulbs can be put in any light fixture, but are most effective in overhead lamps.

Donna said:
Thank you both for responding! :)

Craig, I have never heard of D3 capsules and I have been curious about the lights, if they work and which ones to buy. Do you put the bulbs in lighting fixtures around your house?

Does Iowa have termite problems? I would never use pretreated lumber and I've become anti railroad ties despite the homey feel.

How are you able to plant Peas? Can you dig in the ground? I have about 20 Milk Jugs cut and filled with dirt to practice Wintersowing. I read in a book to do Pea Starts, I was planning on trying Scarlet Runner Bean starts too.

Sandy, I am wanting to plant some potatoes this year too. I was hoping to plant two different varieties for New Potatoes and then another two different varieties for storage. I have been considering building two potato boxes for the storage potatoes.

One big item I am wanting to construct is a Cold Frame, at least one. But most of the instructions I find act as though everyone has an old window laying around! And I have a terrible time finding Plexiglass in DIY stores. I was also thinking I would line the perimeter of the box with Bubble Wrap but I don't know which way the wrap is suppose to face. I have several trellises to buy material for and I have dreams of some kind of poly rippled plastic aframe roof design to put over my bed at home.

I would like to grow some Horseradish ... I have found two good/cheap sources but they sell the roots in quantities of 5 or more. I only want one, maybe two. Does anyone want to go in with me on Horseradish? I am also concerned about my ability to preserve the root, I've read they oxidize quickly.; ▶ Reply to This