Happy growing in the basement

About ten days ago we had unusual spurt of very warm weather. I used that time to do a little potting in the greenhouse in 26 degree greenhouse, and by now, most things are up. I did a flat of tomatoes, but most of my other planting was flowers. Every year I buy about $200 in bedding plants of various flowers, and this year I am hoping to buy less than $100. As a result I had lots to plant.

I planted three Astible, a feathery pink shade plant. I am hoping to put them in three shade spots along the north fence. I also planted a variety of lilies and day lilies, which I will put in the front and back yards in various places. I have quite a few lilies in the front, but these are mostly orange. Now I have some reds and yellows, so I can round out my warms. I also planted a number of annuals, I am particularly excited about the impatients and pansies.

To my surprise, the plants I put into the greenhouse (spinach, cilantro and rocket) are living through temperatures as low as -11, which means Mike's insulation work went well. They aren't really growing, which means it really is to early to put them in there, but it is still an interesting experiment. I think they are living because they are in the ground.

First leaves

Well, the things planted last week are staring to sprout. In particular the tomatoes (which I thinned today) are as much as 4 cm. Also fast of the mark are rocket and spinach. Things like cilantro and basil are just green specks and there is no sign of pepper. View the album to see the progress.

It has been lovely, warm weather the winter retreat has started. Today I shovelled 35 cm of snow off of the deck and went out there to sit and imagine spring. I also popped into the greenhouse where it was tee-shirt weather. Too bad it doesn't stay warm at night. . .

I was throwing out the last of the sprout peas today. We need the room for the other things we are sprouting. Since it was so nice in the greenhouse I put the mat of peas in the ground level planting bed. I expect the shock of the sub freezing to kill them tonight, but thought it would be interesting to see what happens.

I always get excited as the weather warms and the melting starts.