The Adickes allowed me to use one of their greenhouses to pot up my plants. I started a lot of them. A silly amount perhaps, but being that physically I am getting back to where I used to be, I am hoping to get back to, and surpass, how many plants I used to give away.
Total, over two weekends, is about 1800 plants.
Though, I suppose I should back up a bit. Last weekend is when I started really, and that start was a stop near Melrose at a friend’s dad’s farm, where we put in about 600 hills of potatoes.
I had some interesting ones in there. I had an Irish Cobbler that kept fantastic all winter just at room temperature in the kitchen, which was the first 4 hills I put in.
Fingerling potatoes were the next 15 hills. Have to admit, they were our favorite potatoes.
This is Bella, who was a huge help planting, being she is a lot closer to the ground than I am. She put in 60 hills of Northland Reds for me.
On top of those there was about another 130 long keeping russet yellows that stored well over the winter.
Then it was on to their farm in Buffalo where I potted up 200 cabbages and 100 kale before I headed home to pick up the family and head down to my parent’s for Easter.
Saturday morning Nell got up early and went along with me. For the most part she played with the kids, but they did get all of the rest of the corn from last year shelled, and then she potted up a few flats of peppers.
Trying growing potatoes from seeds again this year. Have not done this in a long time. Every plant give you a unique new potato. Would be nice to come up with reliable varieties that are my own creation. From seeds from various friends I have about 85 of them potted up. They need to wait a few more weeks before they get set out in gardens.
Today Patti and Violet came along and Violet had a blast running around the farm. Oftentimes chasing chickens with an old dried sunflower stalk. The chickens are faster than she is.
So, that is what it looked like when I was mostly done.
Patti chased Violet all day, and Violet had a blast playing with all of the animals. Except the pigs. She visited the pigs but did not play with them.
It was really windy. All day. Sustained winds over 30 miles an hour was a bit wearing.
So, by the end, everything was potted up. I brought about a dozen flats home and left about 30 there. Weather has planting seasons moved up, which bodes well. Last year the long season tomatoes did not do well due to how short and cold the summer was. We are about 4 weeks ahead of last year right now in general weather, and if it holds, it could be a great growing season. For the moment though, I am just tired and a bit sore.
