A Time to Sow...

Well that's the rest of them out the door then. Pretty much the last of the transplanted starter stock is in the ground now, out at the church garden plots on the edge of town.

(I also participate -- a founding planner, in fact -- in the 3rd annual Rice Lake community gardens, a loosely organic ground in a residential neighborhood the city is leasing us for the next five years, under signed contact. We had to prove our worth the first two years, but got unanimous support from the city council and our youthful mayor.)

But back to the plants:
These were my best that went in today. The four-packs that were getting rootbound went in first, two weeks ago before all the rain we've had around here lately. They've seized upon the sunny days, and are taking off.

Today, their bigger brothers and sisters, which had been transplanted into slightly larger containers about a month ago, went out the warehouse door. For good this time, not just to rest in sunny fields atop a trailer, only to ride out the storms and nightime goings-on under a tin roof.

So, sorry for the excessive language, but you get attached. I pulled off lower leaves and buried them deep, confident that the strong stalks and root balls will anchor them come what may...

But what once looked so big, compared to the size and condition they came out of the flats in, looks dwarfed once again when you put it out in such a large empty plot. Still, they'll do fine.

No shovels needed, the rain was just letting up a bit after sunrise this morning, when I pulled an arrow-headed hoe through the saturated hills banking the plow tire furrows in the spots they assigned me this year. (I signed up for two, to spread out a bit.) It's the most beautiful soil -- sandy in spots, strewn with straw cornstalks in some places from last year's occupants.

The cucumber vines went in (some people say they root better started outside from seed, but I'm chomping at the bit.) Broccoli, Romas, dill. Rows and rows of sugar peas and onions, dropped from above every 6 inches. (I know I know, you're supposed to start them closer and thin them out, but why waste a seedling; it's not in me. Not much of a pruner either, for the same reason: it's hard to take out healthy, just to maximize the bigger.)

To wrap it up, pictures hopefully in the morning.
You know I'll be out there early, checking on how they did their first night out.