At my homestead, on a regular basis, there is gardening. Lots! One particular gardening endeavor for me this year, has been growing a cut-flower garden. Albeit a newbie wanting to grow flowers from seeds, I thought best to begin with a small garden plot.
So, the initial stages began in late winter. Written in my garden journal I'd made a to-do-list featuring twelve essential requirements. Accordingly, steps are completed except 11 & 12 which are ongoing until fall. Here they are:
MY TO-DO LIST (Winter - Spring - Summer)
1) purchase flower seedlings
2) choose garden plot site (furthest area in back yard behind the pine trees)
3) build raised beds (use recycled wood from previous projects)
4) amend clay soil with organic matter
5) for the sweet peas - build trellis using bamboo canes and twine
6) sow seeds indoors
7) acclimate successful seedling plants outdoors
8) after last frost, transplant plants into beds (aka - planting out)
9) feed transplants with liquid sea kelp fertilizer
10) mulch with pine bark
11) maintaining: water, watch for pests, feed and stake if needed, weed beds, deadhead
12) most rewarding: snip flowers and gather for arranging!
Note: for tall growing plants such as sweet pea, sunflower, cosmos, zinnia, etc., they need staking.
THE SEEDLINGS
Early Spring The photograph above features a partial view of seedlings growing in my garden shed. More seedlings in pots were located on the opposite side of the room. Actually, the seed sowing began in my art studio in late March. Then around late April, they were transported to the garden shed. When ready, they were acclimated outdoors for about two weeks before planted out in garden beds.
Seen close to the window growing tallest, are the sweet peas. In addition are sunflowers, zinnias, bells of Ireland, alyssum; cosmos, viola, coleus (for gazebo area), daisies, delphinium, catmint, and too many more to list. Some survived. Sadly, in time, many did not germinate or died from a fungal disease. These were promptly disposed.
PLANTING OUT
After acclimating, above are some plants ready for transplanting into the prepared garden beds. Here, I was preparing to stake the sunflowers (Italian White). Meanwhile, some that were still too young and tender, I was skeptical about planting direct into the beds. Perhaps transplant into larger containers as the rest beforehand. Wait to grow stronger? No. By this time, my patience was running thin. Live or die, I was more than ready to move onward with this garden. Yet still, there is that guilt if they didn't survive. After all, weak or strong, small or large, these were my babies since seeds!
PLANTING OUT THE SWEET PEAS
Early May. After last frost had surpassed, the young sweet pea plants were ready to be planted. To prevent transplant shock, they had been acclimated outdoors almost two weeks prior. Note: for preparing pre-existing clay soil, I mixed in organic compost matter. This was accomplished around early March. On the day before planting, both bed soil and seedlings had been thoroughly watered to provide semi-moisten planting conditions.
To avoid disturbing the roots, each plant is gently removed from their containers. Next, they're eased into a freshly dug hole near base of cane.
Sweet pea settled into the dug hole. After firming soil with my hands, each plant was supplied with a mixture of one-gallon water and two tablespoons organic fish/kelp emulsion liquid fertilizer.
From here on it's all about watching weather conditions. Protect from high wind, and extreme heat. Treat and protect from pests using organic treatments. NO pesticides in my garden!
Upcoming Posts: photos of the sweet pea patch growing and flourishing. In addition, other flowers.
Keep Gardening!
~ June
