The First Seeds have been planted!

Today is the day! Started the first seeds of the season. Below are the varieties and a description from the seed catalog. We’ll see how they do and get back to you.

Bloomsdale Long Spinach (Heirloom): An old standard. It’s a large, spreading spinach has dark green, savoyed curled leaves. The yield is good, and it is slow to bolt. For first crop, sow in spring. Plant again in late summer. In mild winter areas, fall planting’s yield in early spring. Days To Maturity 40-48 days Sun Full Sun, Part Sun
Spread 4 inches
Height 10-12 inches
Sow Direct Sow/Indoor Sow
Planting Time Fall, Spring

Eclipse Onion (Open Pollinated): The Eclipse onion’s sweet, mild white flesh complements the flavors of other ingredients. When sauteed to a dark brown shade, Eclipse onions bring out a sweet and sour flavor in other foods. A short-day onion that can be grown in long-day areas to produce mini or pearl onions.
Short Day, White Onion; Medium bulb
80+ Days to Harvest
Prefers full sun exposure

Buttercrunch Lettuce: All-America Selections winner. Extremely popular lettuce with luscious, buttery texture. This extremely popular lettuce has a luscious, buttery texture. The soft heads are creamy yellow inside and have some heat resistance. Best in cooler regions. Plant early in spring and repeat every 2 weeks into fall. Protect from heat with shade cloth. Likes fertile soil, ample water. Best when picked minutes before your meal. Space lettuce plants 8” apart.

Moss, it's lovely but not in the lawn

In the last few years the moss has encroached into the lawn. While moss is pretty, it really doesn’t look very good once the dry, hot weather begins and dries it out. Here is what can cause conditions for the moss to thrive and the solution for ridding moss from areas it’s not wanted.

Moss grows where grass cannot survive, such as nutrient poor soil, soil with high acidity, soil that is compacted or drains poorly or where there is excessive shade or thatch accumulation. Sulphate of iron, also known as iron sulphate or ferrous sulphate, applied in winter or early spring kills moss.

http://homeguides.sfgate.com/kill-moss-organic-iron-sulfate-25334.html

Blankets of moss may entice many to slip off their shoes and let their toes luxuriate in the velvety cushion provide by these lush, green byrophytes. Moss is commonly considered a beautiful addition to landscapes and is often introduced when growing conditions are unfavorable for grass. If patches of moss spring up in your lawn, however, it may indicate that the lawn is too moist, dark and lacking in nutrients. You can use organic iron sulphate to kill moss in grass, but you must also address the environmental concerns to prevent moss from recurring.

1

Mix 5 ounces of organic iron sulphate with 4 gallons of water for every 1,000 square feet of lawn to be treated. Add the organic iron sulphate solution to a garden sprayer.

2

Spray the organic iron sulphate mixture to saturate the entire lawn. Concentrate specifically on areas with existing moss, but spray the entire lawn to prevent future moss growth in all areas of the lawn.     Do not water the lawn after applying the iron sulphate treatment.

3

Allow the iron sulphate solution to work on killing the moss for several days. The moss will dry out and turn brown.

4

Rake the dead moss patches out of the lawn or pick them out by hand.

5

Spread 5 to 10 pounds of ground limestone per 1,000 square feet of lawn to neutralize the effects of the iron sulfate. A lawn spreader works well for treating large lawns, but you can simply dust the lawn with a cup of lime to treat small sections of lawn.

6

Add finished organic compost to the lawn to restore nutrients to the soil. Grass grows better in nutrient-rich soil. When soil lacks nutrients and grass growth is stunted, moss may easily take over the lawn.

7

Reseed any bare portions of the lawn with new grass seed. Over seeding the lawn promotes thick coverage, which helps to crowd out any future moss growth.

8

Trim large branches or remove other objects that create excess shade on the lawn. Shaded lawns dry out slowly. If you don't decrease the shade, conditions are still suitable for moss growth.

Things You Will Need

•      Garden sprayer
•      Garden rake
•      Ground limestone
•      Organic compost
•      Grass seed

Tip

•      While iron sulfate acts as a desiccant to dry out moss, it actually provides elements needed for turfgrass growth.

Keeping Deer & other Critters out of the Garden

It’s spring and many of us are getting ready or all ready working in our gardens. However, the deer, rabbits and other critters are enjoying our gardens as well! Here is the link to a product that may be just what you need to repel those critters without resorting to violence!

http://www.deerdefeat.com/frequently%20asked%20questions.htm