What did you do in the garden today?

[Justagalwithchicks]

Its loaded with pfas (forever chemicals that hurt your soil). Along with some brands of organic fertilizers listed also that tested high with pfas. I've always used miracle grow when I've potted up my seedlings, but mix my own soil for beds and pots. I didn't know better but will change that practice in the future.

I always use plain sterile seed starting soil. Use the boiling water method then mix in worm castings. I fertilize will fish emulsion and bottom water. My seedlings seem pretty happy with that. So many soils now are contaminated with glysophate and miracle gro and the like have senthetic fertilizers . If you have miracle grow and don't want to waste it you could use it on houseplants.

 

[jerryse]

I'm sure we probably do somewhere but nowhere around my property or the surrounding ones unfortunately.

Here is a hack I have used. Cut a few branches in bloom, put in a bucket of water near your tree that needs pollinated. I have done this with wild plum to pollinate tame plums. Drove around and found wild plums blooming. They do not all bloom at the same time. Possibly different species.

 

[cj2024]

I am done with cheap 5-gallon buckets. I prefer the thick barrel planters at Home Depot. They cost $10 to $15 depending on their size; however, they last 10 times longer than the cheap plastic buckets.

 

[cj2024]

I have been experimenting with Home Depot's Steer manure compost. I mixed it with peat and perlite and my lettuce seem to like it.

I don't know what this strain of red lettuce is called, but it can handle direct sunlight and does well in my yard.

I have a hard time establishing young Manoa lettuce seedlings to handle direct sunlight.

 

[TJAnonymous]

Here is a hack I have used. Cut a few branches in bloom, put in a bucket of water near your tree that needs pollinated. I have done this with wild plum to pollinate tame plums. Drove around and found wild plums blooming. They do not all bloom at the same time. Possibly different species.

That might be an option for next year... Blooms are already gone on my plum trees. Plus, I don't think I could recognize a wild plum on blooms alone. We have too many Bradford pear and dogwood trees that can look really similar.

 

[TJAnonymous]

Weather Channel is predicting a hot spring with well above average temperatures for most of the country, except extreme upper northwest and northeast corners of the country.

If the rain spigot doesn't turn off, that means I'll be battling downy mildew into the summer.

 

[dirkandlorie]

I always use plain sterile seed starting soil. Use the boiling water method then mix in worm castings. I fertilize will fish emulsion and bottom water. My seedlings seem pretty happy with that. So many soils now are contaminated with glysophate and miracle gro and the like have senthetic fertilizers . If you have miracle grow and don't want to waste it you could use it on houseplants.

Thank you. I use sterile seed starting soil to start seeds also, its when I potted them up to little pots that I used the miracle grow. Never thought that little bit of soil could cause harm when I transplanted into my beds. Ill use your method of sterilizing my garden soil for potting them up from now on. Its too late for this year unfortunately. And yes, my plants love the fish emulsion too.

 

[Wee Farmer Sarah]

FYI all, including the organic folks.

I’m glad he mentioned Espoma is one of the safe brands. That’s what I have been using since I started gardening on this property. However, all in all I’m not shocked. Thanks @igorsMistress.

 

[BirdsBeesTrees]

That might be an option for next year... Blooms are already gone on my plum trees. Plus, I don't think I could recognize a wild plum on blooms alone. We have too many Bradford pear and dogwood trees that can look really similar.

Wild plum blossoms smell just heavenly. I'll just offer that.

 

[Wee Farmer Sarah]

I mixed old depleted soil to gardening soil to fill my first starter pots. I watered them all then covered so they can warm up and get ready for seeds. I’m checking to see if my last years baby bok choi seeds are still viable before I use the new ones. Tomorrow I will be planting all the tomato seeds and flowers. We got about 2 inches of rain from this storm and the ice piles are finally gone. Hallelujah!