Raised Beds
The snow has finally melted and the temperature is staying between 40° - 55° F during the day. It is the perfect time to rake out any leaves from the flower beds and clean up any debris from last year's growth. While I was doing that I sent my husband off to a local horse farm to get a load of composted horse manure. I top all my vegetable beds with it every year in early spring. I like to have it down for at least 1 month before I begin planting.
Cleaning up
Spreading Manure
Does anyone else get excited seeing a fresh topping on their raised beds like I do? It won't be long now and the hoops will go on and the planting out of my plants will begin. Right now they are in the greenhouse as I started to bring them out this morning. The tomato seedlings are all up and can withstand the cool greenhouse. I have found that they really do prefer growing in cool temperatures. The stems are much thicker and the roots denser which is great in my opinion.
Hydroponic Lettuce Update
Below are photos of the lettuce I put into the floats on March 4th. It is now day 11 and they are really beginning to fill out. This has been an experiment for me this year. The greenhouse is only being kept around 40° F at night to keep the water from freezing. The lettuce is managing to stay alive in the cold water and is actually growing. I am happy with the results so far and will continue to update on their progress. 
Our weather is supposed to warm up a lot this week in Western N.Y. so I will be bringing a lot of my seedlings out to the greenhouse. It is time to fill it up with tray after tray of babies. I just love this time of year, don't you? That's all for today fellow gardeners, stay well.
Here is a link to the Hydroponic LettucePost if you are interested.
Until next time, this is Sunscape
Sun. Scape. Ing Your Day
Any time I work the garden, early spring to get it ready, it gets me excited for the coming planting season.
I love the little tomato seedlings and the Hydroponic Lettuce. I haven't done Hydroponics, yet. But yesterday, I posted about Planting Tomato Seeds. I ended up planting 58 cells (two seeds per) for 14 varietes of Tomato.
I forgot to ask, what type of Tomato are you planting this year?
Good for you @bluefinstudios that is a nice assortment of tomatoes. I have had all of the except Ukranium Plum and Black Sean Man. I did the white cherry and black plum cherry, San Marzano, Beefsteak, and Oxheart this year. I planted 60 cells of sweet peppers yesterday too. Not sure where I will put them all, lol. Happy Gardening.
I tend to sow many more seeds than I plant. I often give away a few plants of each type.
Wow that's a lot of tomatoes @bluefinstudios, you must be commercial farmer.
No... just make a lot of pasta sauce, do some canning for dried tomato, and feed neighbors, family, and friends
😊👍
I love the raised beds it reminds me of my plan to also raise higher the beds that I used to plant my squash. Good evening!
@afterglow you will be happy you did. The added height helps with saving the back. : )
so exciting!! new gardens are just so much fun and full or promise...
we are building 4 big garden beds for vegetables in the back of the property. Hopefully they are ready for our spring time :-)
sarah
Just this week I came across information about studies showing the use of animal products in the garden showed an increased incidence of disease and pests over the season. I've never used animal stuff for a variety of reasons, with the exception of bloodmeal for nitrogen. The main reason is the wormers and GMO foods the animals are fed. And I still have a bit of disease and pests as my soil isn't fully balanced yet. I'm wondering if you've ever not used manure and what the garden was like?
Hello @sunscape Great post timing.. I just started planting my seeds. but I have no green house.. What do you use to heat the green house at night? I will start them in the house then move them outside when it's warm and back in when cold.
Hi Mike, I use two milkhouse heaters at night when the temps drop. I keep it around 55° at night. The plants manage just fine. Sometimes the heaters run during the day depending on how much sun we get. The sun really helps to keep it warm in there. Have fun planting your seeds and share your photos with us
Looked up what a milk house heater is.. I have one store away in my garage. all I need now is a greenhouse. 😊🤣🙃
See, you are halfway there. I only use my greenhouse for six weeks on avg. then it is usually warm enough for everything to be planted outside. This year I will continue to grow lettuce in there with the floating trays as long as it stays fairly cool and shaded.
You are my green goddess 👸