It has been a good week to be a gardener. I got busy indoors last weekend sowing my seeds indoors and the sprouts are coming up. Cabbage, lettuce, and radicchio have sprouted and as soon as the first set of true leaves pop, I will transplant them into larger cells so I can put plants into the garden later. The basement greenhouse got a big overhaul also. I made cuttings and dumped out a number of stock pots to make room for the seeding. I also put up my shelves and light in my kitchen window for expanded growing space.
We have had a change in weather in Milwaukee. The sun has been showing up on a regular basis and the snow is nearly melted even in the shady parts of my yard. I took a walk around the garden this afternoon and picked up a bit of soil in the garden. It is a bit wet for working yet, but it has warmed up quite a bit, even in the bed not covered with clear plastic. I think that I will have to get the garden peas and radishes in this weekend. If all goes well, the onion plants can make it in soon. I have to start hardening them off by giving them a few hours of outdoor exposure each day until they are ready to stay out all the time.
Even though I haven't gotten in early plants this year, I have done more indoor gardening. I bought micro-greens mixes from Pinetree Gardens last year. The germination is still very good, so I have been sowing 4" pots for fresh cut greens. I add them to the top of a lettuce salad for a bit of flavor beyond romaine lettuce. I also brought out the sprouting seeds and have done several batches of mung bean and alfalfa sprouts to salads and sandwiches. Every little bit of homegrown makes such a difference. Once you have put out the initial expense of seed, soil, and containers, it becomes more affordable to do yourself. It is also fun to pop the little extras into the lunchbox for a bit of summer during the cold months.
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