Fall garden

This is the first year that I'm attempting a fall garden and it's a little hodgepodge, so it's hard to say how it will turn out. Of course, I'm hopeful, but not overly so.

We went to Hastings Garden Center to set up. She (Kate, who I think is the owner) recommended starting some seeds indoors.

We bought two types of lettuces (little gem and red sails, which is a red-tinged leaf), kale (lacinto/dinosaur which is our favorite), two types of spinach (bordeaux, a red-striped one, and laverna, which ended up not sprouting at all), and a colorful swiss chard, which I'm mostly afraid of because I've never made it before.

It was several weeks later than I expected to begin my seeds, of course, but I kept them covered as instructed until they broke the soil. It was only a few days later that they sprouted.

I also planted a pot of "spicy" microgreen mix on the windowsill in its own pot. By day three, they were well on their way. I did finally remember to use the sprouts in a salad. I'm not sure if I'm supposed to replant or if they resprout. Right now, I'm in a holding pattern.

We went back to Hastings last weekend to buy fall seedlings -- those things that Kate recommended we not try to start from seed. Even as we checked out, I learned my eyes were bigger than my pots! Each pack of seedlings had six plants. We bought two packs of broccoli, two of brussel sprouts, one of cauliflower, and one of onions. When you can only plant three plants to a pot, that's a lot of pots!

Some of the plants I planted last weekend. Those are the ones that are closer in the picture. Their leaves are bigger. The others were stuck in their packs.

I had intended to put the plants over closer to the carport, but it turns out that the sun has already moved for fall (duh) and so the place I picked is shady most of the day. I've moved them next to the screened porch which had full sun all yesterday.

The pots that look like they are empty are the ones with my seedlings from seed.

My seed sprouts were getting a little out of control, but also kind of droopy. I don't know how I should have avoided that. I planted them in separate pots as space allowed. For the most part, I planted all the lettuces and kale and most of the spinach. Only one swiss chard survived. I thinned the sprouts as I planted them (as they say on the package!) but sometimes I was a little rough as a I planted them and the sprout broke.

Still, it makes me nervous to have that plant just one little sprout, but we will see how it turns out.

Kate said to water every day until the plants are established and then a deep watering once every three days. The soil for all the plants seem pretty wet, so I'm hesitant on if I should water them or not.

I bought some soaker hoses and played with my hose set up a bit so that the plants will have consistent watering and not be subject to my memory or action. I need to finish that today.

Morning sun on the plants next to the sun room. I had to move all the herbs and flowers that were over next to the screened porch so that I had a home for the rest of the plants. The area I expected the veg to be in is mostly empty now, though if it ends up being as shady as I saw, I probably should move everything out.

I'm sitting on the screened porch right now, and I see good morning sun on the deck. Too bad there is no water source over there. And I would forget about it, probably. Out of sight, out of mind.

Well, we will see how it goes. I will keep you posted.

Ran out of pots for sowing the laverna spinach and two types of carrots directly into the ground. I will need more pots and soil...