More Fertilizer...

I gave another round of half-strength fish emulsion fertilizer this morning. Approx 4ml for each of the marigolds, which are about 1-2" and starting to get their true leaves. I gave around 1ml for the others, which are still fairly small. I use a small syringe to avoid getting the fertilizer on the tender leaves.

Fertilizer for seedlings

This morning I mixed 1 tsp of fish emulsion fertilizer with a quart of warm water. The seedlings soil was getting dry, and I thought it was okay to give them a shot of weakened fertilizer (5-1-1). I fed all of the marigolds, and a couple of the Black Eyed Susans. The marigolds are about 1.5"; the BES are less than .25" and a few of the snapdragons have emerged. As of today, 30 marigolds are up, with nothing in 6 of the cells yet.

Vegetable Garden Prep II

A big day as we pulled the majority of the leaves off the remaining rows. We filled up the wagon with the leaves, putting a quarter of them on the shrub bed, and half on the raspberry patch.

Raspberry patch work

Today being an exceptionally warm afternoon, I hewed the raspberry canes to about 12". Several had some buds, so I hope it's not too late. I left a dozen canes for early berries.

I also mixed 2 wheelbarrow loads of leaf mold and aged chicken manure, and spread it around several of the cane clumps. We'll see what happens. On top of everything then I forked some chopped and wintered leaves, to a depth of maybe 4".

Last spring, Liz and I cleaned and weeded the entire bed, and the weeds took over completely. The boys picked maybe 2 or 3 dozen berries. This year I'm determined to keep it weeded, with the help of a thick layer of leaf mulch.

Flower Bed Prep

This afternoon I shoveled 2 wheelbarrow loads of aged chicken manure and leaf mold into the front of the flower bed near the road. I'd like to have the marigolds, as well as black eyed susans and snapdragons here. We also prepped the back part of the bed where Liz had zinnias planted last year. We pulled up dozens of day lilies there last year.

Marigolds germinated already!

Remarkably the marigolds are starting to break through, after only 3 days.

March 2009 Temps