The Last of The Seedlings

It’s time to get the last of your seedlings started, the pumpkins or watermelons that you would like to try and get going ahead of time. We don’t have that long of a growing period in Alberta at all, so I try to give the squashes a little bit of a head start.

I must be out of my mind, I am trying two, TWO types of watermelon. My madness was a little bit re-affirmed after I went to my gardening class, which was titled Transform Your Yard – Creating a Natural, Sustainable and Edible Landscape run by a local urban farmer, in fact, that’s just what he calls himself, The Urban Farmer.

I digress. In the class we learned about microclimates, places that have a climate/zone all of their own in your yard. Mine would be a couple of ridiculous hotspots against my north fence that heat up so intensely in the summer that I just might be able to grow watermelon. But they definitely need a head start, because I cannot extend the growing season in Alberta, no matter how I try.

Pumpkins worked last year so we are trying the same variety and a new one this year. I put my slave labor to work writing on craft popsicle sticks the name of the plants in each pot.

So. Freaking. Cute. Pumkkins. We are growing Pumkkins according to my son.

He worked long and hard on those sticks and did such a cute job.

And of course my daughter was in there like a dirty shirt, any chance she gets to dig in dirt she’s there, just like mom.

So all in all we started :

Cucumbers

2 types of watermelon

2 types of pumpkins

parsley

Romaine Lettuce

mint

A note on mint, be sure NOT to get any of those seeds in the other pots, they are a weed. I will be planting mine in containers, but even while planting in these pots, make sure you don’t get any of the minute seeds in with the others. I planted it last to make sure.

Zucchini I haven’t started, it grows so fast, but in a week I will. Last year it got a little out of control in the house… I am going to have enough between watermelons and pumpkins!

Early starters that I did weeks ago are cherry tomatoes, Lupines, Delphiniums, Columbines, Cupids Dart. Gallardia, Canterbury Bells, Aquilegia, aaaaand more that I can’t remember.