We just had another small storm, drop even more snow outside. BUT, my mind has been squarely on Starting My 2021 Garden.
Planning, and planning and waiting. Right now, it's low 20's ºF (minus 5 or 6 ºC). but inside, it is about 55 in my basement. Underneath the black plastic watering trays, are flat, electric heat mats, bringing soil to about 20 degrees F (about 8-10 ºC) warmer than ambient.
Ideal temperatures for planting outside mean 50ºF soil (about 10ºC) and that won't happen for a about 90 more days. Our last average frost date, of May 1st, is the rough guideline I use for counting backwards to estimate my seed starting.
Some seeds start about 12 weeks before transplanting outside(peppers) so I start them Feb 15th. Some, like tomato, start seeds about 8 to 10 weeks, so I won't start them indoors until March 1st-15th. I probably won't plant that many tomato and pepper, I will select the healthiest starts and transplant those. Most herbs, I start from seed about March 1st.
Here's a snapshot of the type of plants I am starting from seed. Still haven't decided how many of each, but, when I do, I will break it down for you. For now, count on about 6 started of each tomato type, 6 of each pepper. Carrots directly seed start outdoors, so I will fill grow bags with them, later, probably End of April. The lettuce? I will probably rotate, as I do each year... with some seeds starting soon and grown for cutting, indoors, until it is warm enough to plant outdoors, too. Cukes, Zucchini, I will start indoors March 15th. The peas, will probably go outdoors directly mid April.
Probably in a couple, maybe three weeks, I will put the Potato Starts outside, in Grow Bags. In fact, everything will be potted into grow bags... Oh, yeah, forgot to mention the BIGGEST challenge for me this year! I am moving. We're prepping our current house for sale. AND, we're looking for a new house top buy. We're moving Full time to the shore: Cape Cod, Here I come! So, gardening in grow bags so that the entire garden is portable when it comes time for moving!
2020... a wild and woolly year, if ever there was one. My entire industry (Special Events) was shut down on 13 March and hasn't been back yet. Personally, I am ok, but so many of my colleagues and friends are struggling with bills, paying for food and rent, medical and health insurance. I am hearing from clients, probably no work until about 4th quarter 2021.
