Larkspur, Cornflower, and Poppies Started in Elegant Back of Garage Cutting Garden

It's time to sow seeds in my garden like a sailor on shore leave with just days to live. But, when exactly? The backs of seed packets are vague and often offer little guidance, so below is a bit more guidance gleaned from the internet.

With afternoon temperatures near 48, a new garden bed behind the garage was prepared. Gone are a bunch of hostas that were mere placeholders last season until a better idea was hatched. That idea now is a cutting garden. Larkspur, poppies, and cornflower were sown today as soil temperatures were around 38, but, at that temperature, germination could still be weeks away.

Cleome
When: After last frost when ground is warm, although one site from Virginia Tech suggested late fall or early spring.
That's Neat: Needs oscillating temperatures of at least ten degrees. Germination is best with 80 degree days and 70 degree nights. Light is necessary for germination.
Sources: Garden Guide, Floridata, Plant Files, Virginia Tech, How Stuff Works, Goldsmith Seeds

Bachelor Button / Cornflower
When: 1 to 2 weeks before last frost.
Sources: Dave's Garden, Garden Guide, Virginia Tech Weed ID Guide

Corn Poppy "American Legion" Papaver rhoeas
When: As soon as soil can be worked.
Light: Full sun to partial shade.
Sources: Ovm-Seed, Dave's Garden, Taunton, Gardening Tips, Suite 101, Texas A & M, Michigan State,Iowa State, Purdue University (fantastic guide to all sorts of flowers), UC Riverside

Celosia Cristata / Celosia argentea "Pampas Plume"
When: Outdoors, when soil temp is about 60 F and all risk of frost has passed.
Sources: Texas A & M, Purdue University, U. of Md., Yankee Harvest, UVM

Larkspur Consolida ajacis
When: As soon as soil can be worked.
Light: Sun to partial shade
That's interesting: Poisonous if ingested, yet the genus, consolida, is a reference to its medicinal ability to heal wounds.
Sources: Garden Guide, U. Maryland, Texas A & M, U. Maryland, Colorado St., Brooklyn Botanic, Calendula and Concrete, Gardener's Network

Zinnia Zinnia elegans
When: After the danger of frost has passed and soil sufficiently warmed.
Sources: Virginia Tech, University of Kentucky, Iowa State, U. Wisconsin, U. Florida

Nasturtium Trapaeolum majus
When: After all danger of frost has passed.
That's neat: An aphid magnet, it's a good decoy to plant in vegetable gardens. Fully edible with a taste akin to watercress.
Sources: U. Kentucky, U. Wisconsin, Garden Guide, Texas A&M

General Sources
Seeds of Change, Seed Database from Hort Net

Useful Freeze Outlook Maps

Ignoring the snow flurries, frozen lakes, and little dogs swaddled in ridiculous sweaters, northern gardeners have been known to push the boundaries of spring. For those eager folks, here's a useful map from Intellicast that identifies areas subject to freezing and frosty temperatures.

Super Sugar Snap Peas Planted (GDD 6)

Super Sugar Snap Peas, originally uploaded by tpl108.

The soil in the raised bed warmed to 40 degrees, prompting me to plant the first crop of the season - Burpee's Super Sugar Snap Peas. Having great success with plain sugar snaps last year, a full 8' row of peas were planted. Following Jim Crockett's advice -- if you're stingy with your peas, they'll be stingy with you -- seeds were liberally spread. Wise words. Wise man.

Righting last year's improper citing of the raised bed, the bed was moved 30 feet east a bit south to take better advantage of the sun. During the height of summer last year, the bed received as few as four hours of direct sunlight, which lead to less-than-impressive yields.

Also, a quick soil test showed that my soil is slightly alcaline and depleted of nutrients.

Sources: Deirdre's Garden Diary, Growing and Caring for Peas, Capital District Community Gardens

Creating a Trellis for Raised Bed

Skip Jute. Choose Mason's Twine.

Your trellis will only be as good as the string that holds it together. Skip twine, jute, or anything made of natural fibers. They'll quickly rot and will have to be replaced quickly. Mason's twine, 50-lbs test, and made of some sort of polypropylene works very well. The same twine strung last year and subjected to the heat of summer and the cold of winter has shown few signs of deterioration.

Place Eye Hooks at 6 to 9 Inch Intervals Across Top, Bottom, and Sides

This allows all sorts of flexibility when it comes to creating designs, be it diagonal, vertical, horizontal, or perhaps a trendy European basketweave or houndstooth. My first go 'round was at 12 inch intervals. This was a bit too far for the peas for their liking as it took some coaxing to get them to grab hold of the string.

Anchor Your Line with Two Half-Hitches
Say what? This should help. See picture.

String Your Line Through the Eye Hooks

Working side to side and then top to bottom, string the line through the hooks. Double up the line and make an extra pass on the lower levels. They'll be the first levels of support, so give yourself a bit of insurance. Line is cheap. Your time isn't.

Create a Cleat to Tie Off Your Line & Adjust Tension

Anyone who's spent time around a boat knows how to tie a cleat knot. (Video and instructions here.) This allows you to place tension on the lines as needed and quickly and securely tie off your line. To create the cleat, drive two nails about an inch apart into the wood -- one at an angle down and the other at an angle up. See the picture for details. Alternatively, they sell cleats in hardware stores that are meant to be used with blinds.

Tip: Peas Cling Most to Horizontal Supports, Pole Beans Cling to Vertical Supports
Consequently, provide more vertical support for beans and closer horizontal supports for peas.

Crocus Blooms (GDD 6)

The first bloom of the 2008 season. Last year, the first crocus bloom didn't appear until March 21st.

Crocuses and Daylillies (GDD 6)

Daffodils Emerge (GDD 6)

Poking a few centimeters above the soggy soil, the first tulip shoots emerged today. Way back in September, dozens of bulbs were planted in beds across the front of the house. Not suprisingly, the first bulbs to show are planted closest to the house and in the sunniest bed. Compared to last year, these tulips emerged about 10 days earlier and 11 growing degree days sooner.

Daffodils Emerge in Early March, originally uploaded by tpl108.

Hi, I'd Like to Buy Some Flood Insurance . . .

Charles River - Hemlock Gorge Dam, originally uploaded by tpl108.

February's record-setting rainfall firmly pushed eastern Massachusetts out of a mild drought that had persisted since the end of last summer. In all, about eight inches of precipitation fell over the past month. This should help my rhododendrons, which were ravaged by cold and dry conditions last winter.