Often the effects of nature arrive in lumps or large batches. This was more than the case this week with my beds of seedlings and the foot plus of snow sprouting up and falling down, respectively. I planted three trays last week thinking that perhaps I was a bit late. But upon checking my past records, the first week of March is often when I start planting. And after one week, the two trays of greens have sprouted; a single tray of monarda, rudbeckia, celery and lupines are only beginning to show signs of life. Within a few weeks, with luck and warmth I should be able to start transplanting.
Less than a week from the equinox it’s hard to consider planting with over a foot of snow on the ground. A few days ago, the soil was was warm and thawed out. Some early weeds had started to grow in the beds and kale I had planted last September was starting to emerge. With a storm on the way, I put up my cold frame windows so that at the very least the snow would not cover the beds I use for early greens and peas. And once I shoved off the windows after the storm, the soil would warm without the chilling effect of snow and ice on top.
My seed table sitting in my office is a stark contrast to the outdoors. With heating mats going, the musty smell of warm soil and growing greens fills the room. The arugula is standing fairly erect getting the best of both worlds: light from a nearby window and from the grow lamp above it. The Swiss chard is straining to get some of that light. The trays should be turned in a few days to give both an equal chance. Juana hovers over the beds with a grin on her face telling me that they pretty good for eating right now. I shoo her out as I would a curious rabbit.
A stinkbug moves like a little tank between the initial stalks before I grab it and send it out for a snowy stroll. Both the stinkbugs and Mexican bean beetles have emerged since our return forcing me to be an attentive user of our vacuum cleaner. Outdoors, the birds look for shelter in the nearby forsythia bushes, who’s budding branches are being placed on a chilly hold for a few weeks more.
