How is it the middle of May already?
I had great success with my citronella cuttings; much better than expected which makes me quite happy. I found that rooting them in soil was much better than plain water, but I don’t think there was much difference between the combination of rooting compound and regular soil and merely soil. Granted, I did notice more roots when I used the compound.
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Seeding
By using the Nursery Growing Bags for the cuttings I was able to monitor the root growth because I could see them poking through the sides of the bags rather than waiting for them to go down through the bottom of the pots. Either way, I still have over 50 citronella plants (aka lemon geranium/citrosa) in my greenhouse that are waiting for new homes.
As you may recall, I also tested the Pro-Hex Seed Starting Tray. I am impressed with how it performed regarding root development for the few plants that did germinate. The lack of germination was of no fault of the tray’s, rather than the viability (or lack thereof) of the seeds I used. For those who didn’t watch the video, I made reference to several of the seeds being at least two decades old.
My spare room was overrun with seedlings of peppers, tomatoes, watermelon, loofah, pumpkins, echinacea, morning glory, arugula, mimosa (Sensitive plant), and the aforementioned citronella. I know I missed a few plants but it’s all I can think of off the top of my head at the moment.
Greenhouse
When the weather did finally warm up, I was able to move them out to my relocated little greenhouse. I ran the heater a few nights and covered the plants with row cover fleece just to keep them a little warmer. I don’t believe I lost any to the cold but I did lose a few because they dried out. (That’s what happens when one is short and you can’t see the top row of pots.)
I have since rearranged the greenhouse and added a row of shelving down the middle so I can see all of the pots. It’s now a tight fit for me because a 10-foot wide greenhouse doesn’t allow for much aisle space when there’s a bench on one side and shelving on the other.
I do have to take out the extra pots, buckets, and stakes which will give me a little more room to move around, especially since I have to transplant the peppers and tomatoes into bigger pots.
Yard Finds
I love doing a tour around my yard in the spring because I generally find little treasures; aka tree seedlings. About a week or so ago, I found a few wild saskatoon trees growing at the base of my weeping birch and dug them up and put them in pots. They will be added to my orchard by month-end, provided I get some major weeding/grass removal done.
I also found a tiny pine (or maybe it’s a spruce) growing in my saskatoon row I was weeding on the weekend. That too was put into a pot and is now in my greenhouse.
I have made mental notes of where there are several lilacs and cotoneasters growing as well. I will soon be digging them up and transplanting them to create some space dividers in my yard. After the wicked winds this past winter I have come to realize that adding shrubs to my space will not be a bad thing. The only real treeline I have is on the west side and it does nothing when the winds are directly from the north or the east.
I don’t want to plant tall trees because I don’t want to obscure my view. I figure if I plant trees or shrubs that can be kept trimmed, I’ll have a bit of a windbreak and still be able to enjoy the view. I haven’t quite decided if I want to plant raspberries along the fenceline or something else. I am seriously considering them along my driveway though, because they will keep my grandbabies in the front yard and provide snacks at the same time.
Growing Dome
This is my major project for this year. I received the kit just over a week ago and it sits in my shop just waiting to be put together. I have the spot picked out but still have to do the groundwork. My goal is to have it built and functional by the end of June. I’m giving myself that amount of time because I will be the one doing most of the work. It’s a big project to be undertaking but the rewards will be worth it.
When I’m enjoying fresh produce all winter long from my all-season greenhouse the hard work of building it will be all but forgotten. I’ve told several people about it and I know I’ll be kept busy all winter long growing food for myself, family, and future customers.
Conclusion
As you can see the spring has been a busy one. The list for this year is long but I know it will be worth it in the end. My yard will be more divided, I’ll have a spacious retreat, and I’ll be able to provide healthier food for myself, family, and others.
What are your plans for the current growing season? Let me know in the comments below.
All-In Gardening 