North Jersey Garden 2024 Phase 1: Preparation

Not the prettiest setup, but it works! It is constructed from PVC pipe and PVC connectors, both of which are readily available at local hardware stores. The 36-inch shop lights are suspended by a chain, and I employ full spectrum fluorescent bulbs connected to a timer outlet. I configure the timer to provide approximately 10 hours of light to the seedlings. I do not use the light until the seedlings have sprouted. Not the prettiest setup, but it works!

I set a few containers out for winter sown Sunflowers. I reused a few containers from last year, I like the juice containers better than milk jugs as they are more rigid and easier to tape closed. I just leave these outside on my deck until they germinate and then plant in my garden. I use a variety of plastic containers for winter-sowing including juice bottles, soda bottles and milk jugs. I drill 1/4 inch holes in the tops and bottoms, and then cut the bottles in about 1/3 from the base. Then i fill the base with potting mix and add seeds, water and close with duct tape, then set outside and wait.

I have been winter-sowing for a few years.I tried vegetables such as broccoli, cauliflower and spinach which worked well using this method I tried various flowers including marigolds which turn out much hardier and fuller plants, but decided to just sow in the garden when the weather gets warmer as they are fast growing. i tried Mexican Sunflowers but I found they are cold sensitive and need hot weather to grow properly. I like starting Sunflowers this way because they bloom earlier.

Herbs and spices are easily grown indoors. I was gifted a tiered nested planter that I use to grow Basil and other herbs. Before i need to use my light setup for vegetables, I try to get basil established in these containers.

February 20, 2024 -Started Chives in some plastic containers.

I use a few methods to start seeds. First and simplist is use a small flower pot with some potting soil mix from the supermarket. I save old nursery trays and containers to plant a “flat” of seedlings.

More about starting seedlings

Another method is to use a tray/peat pellet system. These are plastic trays with transparent covers creating a small greenhouse. Inside the trays are small flat peat discs which are activated by adding water. The pellets absorb water and expand into small containers for the seed and seedlings.

Watermelon also sprouted, the seed pack gave no indication of germination period but I noticed this sprout today. Impatiently I reseeded the pots yesterday so I am hopeful that I will have plenty of watermelon to replant outside!

I was able to get outside today to check on my front yard flower garden. A Sunny day with temperatures in the higher 30s, I decided to rake out flower stems from last year. I uncovered daffodils sprouting! Early March is a great time to begin cleaning and raking the garden because of cool, comfortable temperatures without insects and before weeds start sprouting.

Raking dead grass and thatch is the first step to a carpet-like, luxurious green lawn. Thatch is a mix of dead and living plant material that forms at the base of grass plants. Although a small amount of thatch is not necessarily a problem, buildup of 1/2 inch or more prevents air, nutrients and water from reaching grass plant roots and increases vulnerability to insects and diseases.

The good news is raking is a low-tech, inexpensive way to manage this problem. Starting early in the spring, divide the work into small areas and work through the lawn methodically is a good strategy.

More Spring Lawn Cleanup

Seeded 72 cell Burpee Self-watering seed tray with Gardener-Basics Better Boy and some 2021 Burpee Super Beefsteak tomato seeds.

On March 7, 2024, planted Sow Right Large Cherry Tomatoes in a 72 cell burpee seed tray. These cherry tomatoes are perfect for snacking in the garden 🙂

Seeded Garden Basics Heirloom Black Beauty Eggplant in Jiffy self-watering seed tray. These eggplants do well in northern New Jersey but need to be planted early. New Jersey hot and humid summer weather seem to promote good yield.

Peat pots filled with supermarket potting soil seeded with watermelons and cucamelons.

Cucamelon Tycoon: read more about our cucamelon adventure here!

Better Boy Tomatoes peeking up out of Burpee seed starter tray. The Sow Right Large Cherry Tomatoes sprouting less than a week after seeding!

Seeded an old, used flat from last years nursery purchase with Marigolds. Marigolds grow quickly and should have flower buds in time for replanting outdoors.

Daffodils are growing well with many flower buds!

Taking advantage of a sunny, mild day to clean up an area used for root vegetables. This area is used for radishes and carrots. Carrots take months to mature while radishes are ready to pick in as little as 28 days.

After raking out loose material and leaves, cover the area with a tarp to stop weed growth.

Cleaned up Summer Squash garden and covered with a tarp. Had some luck last year in this area alongside the driveway.

Daffodils budding! These bulbs were planted about 5 years ago and flower every year since.

Planted more basil and marigolds using stackable plant containers.

I expanded my artificial light system to accommodate the newly sprouted marigold, eggplant, and tomato seedlings. I employed a spare fluorescent fixture and an old keyboard stand to create additional space for plant trays. I am using the same artificial light system that I used last year, but this year I added a second set of fluorescent lights to increase the area for growing plants.

Today was a mix of rain and wet snow, which made for a dreary day. The good news is that the daffodils are blooming, and there are lots more coming! The colder weather in the last few days has put a damper on outdoor work, but indoors the pumpkins have started to sprout, and the veggies and flowers are coming along. Thoughts turn to spring planting, which is just around the corner.

Another rainy, cold March day has arrived, and I am unable to garden outdoors today. I am pleased to report, however, that my cucamelons, mexican sunflowers, and pumpkins have sprouted while the tomatoes , eggplants, and marigolds are growing well.

I inspected my “winter-sown” containers today and discovered that the sunflowers have sprouted. I placed these containers outdoors on February 10th, and since then freezing temperatures and several snow storms have not prevented the seeds from germinating.

Filed under lessons learned: Do not plant saplings too close to stairs, patios, or walkways. I planted this a few years ago, and I did not expect it to survive. I was wrong. Not only did it survive, but it thrived next to my front steps! I thought it would be a nice addition to my garden, but unfortunately, it has since grown to an unwieldy size and must be removed. I intend to transplant it to a more suitable location where it can grow to its full potential.

I am attempting to relocate this arborvitae to a more suitable location. I began by digging a trench around the trunk and then twisting the tree to loosen the roots. The next steps involve severing some of the larger roots. I am concerned about damaging the tree, so I will proceed with caution.

UPDATE! Finished!

Rainy weather is greeted by forsythia blossoms. Forsythia are shrubs which bloom early in the spring. Forsythia was “discovered” by Europeans in China in the 19th century. The shrub is named after William Forsyth (1737–1804), a Scottish botanist who was a royal head gardener and a founding member of the Royal Horticultural Society.

These daffodils were a discount purchase from Walmart years ago. I planted them in the garden and they still bloom every year! They are a cheerful reminder of spring and a bright spot in the garden!

I removed the tree and loaded it on my wheelbarrow.

The roots look okay and I hope they will thrive in the new location.

I prepared a hole in the new location and planted the tree supplementing the soil with some top soil from the supermarket.

I’m taking advantage of the cool weather to get this strip alongside the driveway ready for planting vine plants like pumpkins and watermelon. I’m hoping the soil will be warm enough to plant the seeds by late April, and the plants will be ready to harvest by the end of July. If the weather cooperates, I’ll be able to enjoy fresh pumpkins and watermelon all summer long.

I’m marking the forsythia because the flowers are pretty, but when they die, the plants look like weeds. I want to remember where they are so I don’t cut them down by mistake. I’m also marking where I planted my daffodil bulbs so I don’t dig them up by accident when I’m planting the pumpkins and watermelons. It’s a good idea to mark your bulbs, especially if you plant them in a container. If you don’t, you might not remember where they are when they start to grow.

My pruning shears were not moving freely and showed signs of rust. I applied a lubricant, namely 3-in-1 oil, and a penetrating oil spray. The 3-in-1 oil will create a moisture barrier to prevent rust, and the penetrating oil will lubricate the mechanism. I chose these products because they are non-toxic and biodegradable.

I am cleaning up the area around my recently replanted tree. I am raking leaves, cutting vines, and gathering dead branches. My goal is to create a productive area for growing vine vegetables. I am excited to see how this project turns out.

I have some dead shrubs in this area that I am cutting down with a reciprocating saw equipped with a wood-cutting blade. I will now have to excavate the stumps, which is a task I’m not looking forward to.

Today I tilled my bean garden. It is too early to plant bush beans, but I use this garden for carrots and radishes also which I planted today. I will harvest the radishes in about 30 days and the carrots at the end of the summer. In between, I will be harvesting the garden beans.

I am using a wooden plank to plant carrots. I press the plank into the soil, tilt it back, and water the depression that is created. Then I sprinkle carrot seeds into the depression and replace the plank. This method secures the tiny carrot seeds in place until they germinate, at which time the plank is removed. The plank helps to keep the seeds in place, and the water helps the seeds to germinate.

Using a hoe, I created two furrows adjacent to the carrot row. I sowed radish seeds in each furrow, covered them with soil, and watered them. I covered the remainder of the garden with a tarp and will wait for warmer weather to plant bush beans in this plot.

Today I moved the tomato and marigold trays outside for acclimating. The temperature is 60° F with a light rain. I will probably bring these trays inside before sunset. My winter-sown sunflowers are also doing well.

I upgraded my indoor lighting today by adding a metal shelf and two 36-inch shop lights to my existing setup. I chose the shelf because it doesn’t take up a lot of floor space, and the lights because they provide the right amount of light for my needs. While the shelf is not large enough to hold all my plants, it does provide enough space for my immediate needs. Overall, I’m happy with this upgrade.

I relocated my stackable herb garden outdoors today. I am concerned that it may be too early in the season to do this, and I may have to move it indoors at night. The herbs are getting quite large, and I don’t want to risk damaging them by leaving them out overnight. I think I will need to monitor the temperature closely for the next few weeks and be prepared to move the garden back indoors if necessary.

Although the asparagus is growing, it is quite small. Therefore, I will not harvest it this year and instead allow it to grow to strengthen the crown and roots.

I am cleaning the tomato garden in preparation for spring. I have already started some tomato plants indoors, and I will soon be setting them out in the garden. I am also planning to expand this garden soon, so I am making room for more plants.

My radishes have sprouted, and I can see them poking through the soil. I also removed the plank from the carrots, as they too are starting to grow.