Des Moines Iowa Zone 5A Here . . .

Judge Kemp on 3/12/2011, 2:57 pm

I've had such a busy year there is no way I'm doing any seed starting this year for those early crops. Looks like I need to get my broccoli, lettuce, cauliflower and cabbage transplants in the ground this coming week, though, to keep up.

Anyone seen local stores starting to carry transplants yet? From big box to nurseries, it'd be good to know if anything has started carrying transplants yet. I'd love to get planting this week.

Thanks!

camprn on 3/12/2011, 3:04 pm

It's still early for the wee plants here in my neck of the woods. I am in a zone 5a and we still have a foot of snow on the garden. Good luck finding early starts!! sunny

Judge Kemp on 3/12/2011, 5:48 pm

No snow in Iowa! Been pretty nice over the last week or so. I was actually out smoking a pork shoulder today--quite warm!

Hoping to turn attention to the garden this next week.

BackyardBirdGardner on 3/12/2011, 8:47 pm

Honestly, I haven't even seen them down here yet, and I think we are a few weeks ahead of your frost date with ours. I'm sure you'll see them soon, though.

Judge Kemp on 3/14/2011, 6:03 pm

Just checked out Earl May Nurseries here in Iowa. The guy said he'd just ordered the cold weather starts, so they'll be there in the next few days. Should have some broccoli, cauliflower, cabbages and lettuce at the least.

Just prepped the beds tonight--adding a scoopful of compost for each square but also a "dash" of bone meal and blood meal. Needed some extra juice based on last year's results--I'd assume my compost mix left me lacking. It was mostly manure and humus.

BackyardBirdGardner on 3/14/2011, 9:41 pm

Judge Kemp wrote:Just checked out Earl May Nurseries here in Iowa. The guy said he'd just ordered the cold weather starts, so they'll be there in the next few days. Should have some broccoli, cauliflower, cabbages and lettuce at the least.

Just prepped the beds tonight--adding a scoopful of compost for each square but also a "dash" of bone meal and blood meal. Needed some extra juice based on last year's results--I'd assume my compost mix left me lacking. It was mostly manure and humus.

For even getting started! Playing in the dirt is much better than watching snow fall imo.

Judge Kemp on 3/15/2011, 11:24 am

Another nice day. I'm thinking about what else to do in the yard (home with the kids today), but can't think of anything left! I've got to empty out one of my SFG beds at some point that I lost a "bottom" 2x6 in last fall, so maybe I'll pull out a tarp and work on some repairs on the box. That one could be a challenge for me!

Other than that, mybe just do some raking and such in the front beds. Have to do something now that the bug caught me!

BackyardBirdGardner on 3/15/2011, 11:28 am

Funny how when I have nothing better to do I gravitate over to the forum.

But, I still need netting for my trellises, and I need bird netting for my hoophouse. Once the plastic comes off, I need to keep the ravaging critters out.....mainly my dog. Do you have those complete? Those are some nice time killers.

Also, when the time comes, I know we would love to see a picture of the setup.

Judge Kemp on 3/15/2011, 12:31 pm

I've got a fenced in yard, so no real critter control. Same with the birds--just in a place where it isn't a real problem.

My SFGs are very . . . "utilitarian." Nothing too special. Here are the pics from last year. Set up is the same with the boxes this year.

http://squarefoot.creatingforum.com/gallery/Personal-album-of-Judge-Kemp/Personal-album-of-Judge-Kemp-cat_u1321.htm

Judge Kemp on 3/16/2011, 2:10 pm

Just got the new transplants in!

OK, working with one 4x4 bed today and got 12 of the 16 squares in the ground in about 20 minutes. Smile

Got:

3 broccoli (pacman) transplants
3 cabbage (early) transplants
4 sugar snap pea (seeds)
2 spinach (seeds)

Should be about it for a couple of weeks. This is my "5 weeks before last frost" planting.

boffer on 3/16/2011, 2:21 pm

Thanks for the pictures in your personal album. I love this one-it should be included in every answer to: 'How to put a box on a slope'.

camprn on 3/16/2011, 2:31 pm

boffer wrote:Thanks for the pictures in your personal album. I love this one-it should be included in every answer to: 'How to put a box on a slope'.

+1

Judge Kemp on 3/16/2011, 4:52 pm

camprn wrote:
boffer wrote:Thanks for the pictures in your personal album. I love this one-it should be included in every answer to: 'How to put a box on a slope'.

+1

Thanks to the both of you. I have to pull that one on the slope here in the next couple of weeks. One of my "floor slats" gave way on me. I need to get a stronger bottom in. Thinking 3/4" treated plywood will do the trick. May get it out and find it just needs a new screw or something, but I know I want to do something with it before the plants go in.

camprn on 3/16/2011, 5:21 pm

could you run some metal strapping under it and secure to the sides?

Judge Kemp on 3/16/2011, 5:55 pm

camprn wrote:could you run some metal strapping under it and secure to the sides?

That would work!

Now that I've been thinking on it, I think I may have just used a nail gun to put in the slats, so it may be even easier--I may just have to sink a screw in instead. If not, the metal strap idea is a good one (use the metal straps they use to hang pipes). I could do the metal strap without even emptying it. Just push the dirt to the sides and reinforce it there in the middle. If a screw or two doesn't work, I'll pick up a roll of "pipe tape" to support it.

Excellent advice!

Des Moines Iowa Zone 5A Here . . .

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