Here is my 16 hole template that I painted to help protect it from the elements.
I decided to plant three sqft each of orange, purple and white carrots in this bed. I'll plant more in two weeks in another bed. I used a pencil to tap a small depression, put in one to two seeds per depression and topped it off with vermiculite to make it easier for the seedlings to sprout through.
You can see, now that I've finished my three rows, how nicely they're spaced out even without the grid!
Looks like I got a bit heavy handed with the vermiculite towards the end, but it will do. We seem to be in for a good 10 days so I figured to go ahead and get these in the ground now when there's only one day that looks rainy in the next 10, which is unheard of around here recently. My spring carrots didn't do anything for me much last year, but the fall ones did relatively well. I'm hopeful this spring's carrots will do a little better. I also planted two, three sqft each, rows of each french breakfast and a red radish. Tomorrow I'm putting in a row each of the black and German radishes. I'll do subsequent rows of these in two weeks as well.
It's just so good to have things in the ground again!
The morning comes early. Sweet gardening dreams.
Very nice! Those templates are a great idea.
ReplyDeleteNice! I can't wait to use mine some more. I'm going to do some direct sowing of bean seeds in beds 3 and 4.
ReplyDeleteI came across a photo on flickr that I had to share with you:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.flickr.com/photos/grrlscout224/4332955279/
Brilliant! The carrots are going to look so nice all lined up perfectly.
ReplyDeleteNifty little gadget. Soemthing I could do with this year as I will be growing mostly in my small garden plot and every bit of space will be valuable. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteThanks, The Mom. They worked incredibly well. Liisa and I both have a set.
ReplyDeleteDan, that's right. Just get the basics when you get snowed in. Just the basics. ;)
I am new to SFG (although, SFG was one of my giveaway's book). It'll be interesting to watch your progress. I need to look through your posts to see what type of compost you used. Good luck!
ReplyDeleteHi Tatyana! I started off with a mixture of compost, peat moss and vermiculite. I've been going to the landscape supply place and getting a compost mix by the bucket full to amend it ever since.
ReplyDeleteGood luck this year!
I've never used vermiculite before. Seeing you and Granny use it to sow your seeds makes we want to go out and get a bag. I'm guess it would be really useful with my soil blocks.
ReplyDeleteI'm planning on using soil mats for carrots this year (following Gran's lead). However, this does looks like a great option too.
I like your templates. I'm also jealous that you're gardening already! We're due for a snowstorm this week!
ReplyDeleteCan't wait to plant out my radishes. I've actually never eaten radishes but now, thanks to your pay-it-forward package, I'll be planting some soon :)
ReplyDelete