Planting Mode

Here at the garden, we have been in full planting mode. All of our seeds and tubers are in the ground and now we wait. I think that is the hardest part of gardening, the waiting and watching to see if your seeds are going to sprout or if tubers are actually going to send up new shoots.

As part of the cut flower garden, we planted 7 rows of dahlias. Most of tubers were new for this year but I also had two baskets that we dug up stored over winter. I don’t think that was as successful as I had hoped. They were dry and shriveled and I had to throw at least 12 away. I did have enough that were showing signs of new growth and that filled up a 1 row.

In one part of the garden, I call it my experiment garden, I had planted Dahlias from seed. Some of the seeds I got from Floret. They were beautiful all last season but I didn’t think to dig those. Even with all the rain we had, those Dahlias came back and are already blooming. I may try protecting all my this winter in the ground, if only to have them blooming in may instead of July.

My zinnia rows on the other hand are giving me a bit of grief. At least 60% of the rows had to be reseeded just to ensure that we will have enough for our first succession. The celosia and amaranth is planted and doing well and sunflower plants are bursting forth in all the rows they were planted in. We have Basil and Gomphrena as well as marigolds. All of these flowers will put on an amazing show, once they are in full bloom.

As a first year flower farmer, the hardest part has been getting all the seedlings and seeds in the ground on time. I’m fairly certain I should have had everything in the ground about a month ago, when in fact I just finished planting on May 12th. I am already trying to figure out next year so I can have flowers earlier. Not having flowers for Mother’s Day weekend I feel was and epic fail. A poly tunnel may be in our future.

On top of all the farm work, the Six Mile Farmer’s Depot started. This is our first year participatIng and I feel it has been a success. We have met some great people and have enjoyed sharing our story with our community. While we are only offering handmade soaps and candles at the moment, I look forward to arriving with fresh bouquets of flowers.

I can not wait to share pictures with you of all the flowers once they are in bloom.

We have exciting days ahead. My your growing season be blessed beyond measure.