By gisette
Outdoor Flowers 2011
Submitted on Sun, 2011/02/06 - 5:22pm
Last updated on Sun, 2011/02/06 - 5:39pm
Nothing outdoors yet, of course. But revved up the seedling lights this week. Using only 6500K fluorescent tubes this year (past 2 years have been 6500K + 4200K tubes). And my baby pansies just graduated to 6-packs. 
Three varieties this year - pandora's box, flambe terracotta, and antique shades. I've grown all of them before:
Sun, 2011/02/06 - 9:08pm
#2
Groundhog saw his shadow! Only 2 more weeks of winter! 
Today it actually warmed up here. 7 foot snowbanks sloughed down to mere 4 foot snowbanks. I'm awfully tired of those snowbanks blocking visibility at every intersection...
Of course, if the groundhog is right, my little pansies are kinda late. 
Are you starting any seeds yet, Beth?
Thu, 2011/03/03 - 1:10pm
#3
I think that in the past few years, even the groundhog is at loss regarding the limits of the year's seasons... I guess that's just an effect of global warming.
Mon, 2011/03/07 - 12:09am
#4
Turned the soil in the flower bed this weekend, and started my vinca and impatiens. 
Soon...
Sun, 2011/03/13 - 1:27pm
#5
First crocus blooms this week! Though it seems very early (by the crocus yardstick), started hardening pansies, because one's already about to bloom. We'll see. Was expecting the first to transplant outside in 2 weeks. Need the seedling shelf space soon, tho...
Planted my earliest seeds out yesterday. Peas, chinese cabbage, spinach, carrots. I've never tried carrots before. The others I've tried without notable success. 
Wish me luck.
Mon, 2011/03/14 - 12:33pm
#6
I've still got my old carrot seeds which came to nothing in my perlite grow, I'll be growing them outside but I'd not risk planting them here unless they are covered, still getting frosts!
Mon, 2011/03/14 - 8:00pm
#7
It does seem kinda early. I was bemused by the Old Farmer's Almanac saying they should be planted in early March. Oh, well. There are more seeds in the packet to use in a few weeks... We're still getting a few nights below 30 degrees, but they take a couple weeks to germinate at those temperatures, and they're frost-tolerant. It could work. 
Last frost here is sometime between mid-April and mid-May.
Sat, 2011/03/19 - 5:33pm
#8
Pansies want to go outside! 
Can't put them out yet, because there's another snowstorm in the forecast, but they're spending days outdoors hardening up. Pandora's box and antique pansies both starting to bloom. The other flower seedling flats aren't doing especially well. < shrug >
Sun, 2011/03/27 - 12:59pm
#9
Night-time lows continue in the 20's, and the pansies are still a bit young (started 'em late), so... it may be yet another week.
Wild turkeys visited this week - hadn't seen them up here before, but the local turkey population keeps growing. They were in my garden, but ran when I came out with a camera. Haven't seen any sprouts yet from my plantings a couple weeks ago. This may be bird-related...
Sun, 2011/04/03 - 3:50pm
#10
It snowed yet again this week... in April. Long winter... But I planted out all the pansies yesterday anyway. They were so root-bound... Put out a half dozen chard seedlings, too.
Out of all the early-spring seeds I planted 3 weeks ago, so far have 3 spinach seedlings and 1 pea plant. Started a few more spinach and carrots indoors. But essentially, with winter running so late, there isn't time for a spring crop before the summer crops go in. Really wanted to manage peas this year, too. 
Summer flower seedlings coming along, with mixed results... Lot of trouble germinating impatiens this year.
Woo Hoo! Spring must be around the corner - Gisette is starting seeds!