We are over the hump with a majority of winter behind us.  Last week, we experienced a few nice days, with one day even breaking mid 70s. With days like that in February, there is hope that Spring is coming and green will be popping up everywhere soon!

Deb and I started two low tunnels this week next to the greenhouse. Before covering the rows, we raked dirt out of walkways, piled into loose tall rows. They are like raised beds, but without the wooden frames. The hoops are slightly flimsy, and the 50mph wind tested them significantly. The goal is to warm up the soil under the covers, using the greenhouse effect. We planted some of the cool weather crops underneath, pretty much all the brassicas. We also planted some herbs (fennel, celery, dill, parsley, and basil). The perennial herbs are at our house, not the big garden. We hope to be uncovering the low tunnels in a matter of weeks. The hoops will remain, and row cover material may be used after the plastic to shut out the bugs. Deb looked at the new low tunnels and said "The greenhouse had babies". 

We decided to start some more seedlings this week. After the damping off disease that claimed over half of our last seedlings, We decided against a top watering system. After a little research, We decided We could use our current seed starting trays as a wicking self bottom watering system.  With each tray there are 5 holes on the bottom. I ran four cotton strings about 8 inches long through each hole. About 2-3 inches were below the hole, to wick the water upward. The rest of each string was laid on the tray bottom in a star pattern. On top of the strings was laid a paper towel. On top of the paper towel lies the seedlings. The goal of this wicking system: The string pulls water up from the reservoir below, spreads it out so that the paper towel can evenly suck it up, and the seedlings will absorb the water from the paper towel. It appears to be working, since this morning some lettuce had sprouted.  At the moment I do not have pictures; look for them in the next post. In the self watering trays we started every veggie and herb we have in small quantities, except for the direct sow/taproot plants. It's the first wave of the Summer crops. If the plants get to big before the last frost date we will just squeeze them into the greenhouse after we've harvested the Spring greens and such. 

This self bottom watering system got me thinking. Could I do it on a larger scale?  I have found websites where people have connected 10 or more 5 gallon bucket containers that are self watering.  Deb and I decided that we would like to play with this idea since we have about a dozen or so buckets that aren't being used. It won't be "self" watering, but it will be easy watering. The system is going to use the rain barrel at the big garden/greenhouse. When the flow valve is opened from the barrel, the water will flow by gravitational pressure to a hose entering the lower bucket of a 2 bucket system. As that water chamber fills, the water will flow into another water chamber in another 2 bucket system.. and so on until all the chambers on each bucket system are filled. The key to this working is a wicking system for the soil. Many folks use a dirt-filled funnel inserted into a hole in the top bucket. My system is going to use a cheaper material: red plastic cups. They are tapered, and they are cheap. A few holes punched into them should be all thats needed for the water to wick up the soil to the plant's root system. I was going to try and build the system today, but the flu got me and I'm stuck in bed. 

We've put a small space heater in the greenhouse. With some seedlings starting to sprout, it wasn't worth risking a frost inside. The heater is set to low, keeping the temperature at least 50 degrees. And man o man are the seedlings coming up. Even though i'm sick, I had to get over to the gh and see what was coming up. Cabbage, lettuce, spinach, kale, miner's lettuce,  radishes, kohlrabi, peas; they are all sprouting.