Several Sweet Potatoes Later

Once upon a time in the fourth grade, I grew a huge sweet potato plant that I sustained through several years. I think that was an accomplishment for a nine year old and probably represents the first green thing I ever tended. No doubt the idea came from a Science column in a Highlights or Scholastic magazine. Remembering that plant with its lush greenery and probable tolerance of neglect, I wanted another. Despite two false starts, I have triumphed

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Fifty-one years after the first plant, I began the project from memory with a potato from the produce department of the local grocery store. To the best of my recollection, all I had to do was use toothpicks to support the potato butt-end in a glass of water and wait. I watched for six weeks and saw absolutely no change in the potato, not even rot. I added research to my remembering and discovered today's commercial potatoes are sprayed in order to prevent the eyes from sprouting and therefore have a longer shelf life. Next logical step, I bought a four dollar organic sweet potato from the Blue Hill Coop, stuck the toothpicks in, and perched the new subject in a new glass of water. One month later: nada. I put this notion back on the shelf inside my head until three weeks ago I spied a sweet potato with a hint of sprout in the John Edwards Market in Ellsworth. This potato too claimed to be organic. Again with the toothpicks and again with the water  but this time I met with success. I watched with delight as a lovely set of roots spread through the bottom of the glass and tiny deep purple leaves unfurled at the top. Yesterday, I transplanted the potato into soil and today I stare at it for many moments at a time as it will be three weeks until I plant seeds under my new EnviroGro light. Thank you, Potato, for growing.

Containers and Questions

First, I admit this post is a reflexive response to the blizzard forecast for tomorrow. Also, I fully expect Spring to arrive on Thursday. This is the price I pay for all the glorious days in July and August when it is non-humid and in the 70s and 80s (NOT the 90s or, Garden Gods forbid, the 100s). And my long, long photoperiod which is already extending from 6:28 am to 6:53 pm. Other people, other gardens have warmth. I have light.

Here are my latest containers. One is copper, which deters slugs and oxidizes to a lovely light green patina. Think Statue of Liberty. Copper is also famously inert, as are gold and silver. However, I do not intend to collect planters composed of gold and silver. I have had excellent fortune gardening within copper planters but I have also heard of copper inhibiting root growth. What does the rest of the gardening world think? Then there is my Portuguese mussel basket. I think "excellent drainage." But I am uncertain as to what to plant into either. Possibly I should choose ornamental grasses "providing a vertical, classic look." And, yes, I am addicted to gardening verbage from other websites and blogs. At this very moment, I would be happy with wet, unfrozen potting soil and a hint of plant life.

Elusive Spring

Although I have accrued yet more seeds, including milkweed from a shop in Newcastle, the weather continues to be uncooperative. The ice is almost gone from the garden paths, the dogs and I can walk the tenth of a mile from the house to the road on something akin to mud. I may snip and saw tomorrow as I just need to be OUT, even if it is in rain. The only flowers are indoors. The geraniums in my classroom continue to be spectacular, the African violet and orchid in my kitchen soldier on. I have a window sill full of blooms which are actually kelp holdfasts and above them I watch the deer that I feed. I'm uncertain which disorder this identifies with - why feed the creatures that are foes to the garden? Why, because they, too, are beautiful to see.

Ice and Rusty Metal, and Snow in the Forecast

Temperatures broke enough this weekend to be outdoors on Saturday without a heavy jacket, mittens and hat. The snowbanks had not melted enough to give me access to use my newly arrived Felco tools (pruners AND loppers AND pruning saw), so instead we chopped a hole through the eighteen inch thick ice in order to create a swimming hole for the Compost Aides. They just loved it. Then we followed an Uncle Henry's ad to Clifton and brought home a lovely metal gate. It may suffice to block the geese from the garden area or it may become a vine support. My grow light is still in the box, my portulaca seeds are still in the packet. The snow predicted for Tuesday through Thursday may change those circumstances, I may absolutely need to plant something.

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Cages for Flowers

I had an Urban Adventure Day in which I visited Portland with my gardens foremost on my shopping list. I found a wire wastebasket at the Architectural Salvage store which I will upend to create a support for vines. This will be a flower cage in addition to the skirt around the metal chicken which is already assembled and waiting for May. In my fantasies, soil temperatures have risen, frost is past and I concoct the perfect blend of seaweed mulch and compost underpinnings and add to that nicked and soaked seeds. Morning glory, moonflower and nasturtiums should give me something to admire 24-7. The wire mesh will protect the seedlings from the deer and also from the slugs. The vines will flourish within their cages, climb and emerge, climb more and twine more and re-emerge, and, of course, blossom profusely. This is a dream and one is allowed to orchestrate those from beginning to end.

End of February, Many Plans Ahead

February 21, 2014
This blog is a place to put my gardening thoughts.

At the moment, my gardens lie beneath two feet of snow, a layer which has either been added to or melting depending on the day this past week. I have my Johnny's seed order fulfilled and sitting in my desk, and I have bought an odd packet or two in the drug store and hardware store. Pink alyssum, nasturtiums, and moonflowers (which I hope to germinate in baggies). My notebook has a list of plants and/or seeds to ferret out in nurseries in the Spring: Dutchman's pipe, goatsbeard, sea holly, false Queen Anne's lace, rosebay rhododendron, winterberry, agastache and speedwell. I also have a list begun for next Fall since I discovered too late that I would like to try alliums.

Let's call the geese official Compost Aides. I can't be sorry about resupplying straw and layer pellets every week when the soiled bedding and kitchen waste continues to heap into ever-larger piles adjacent to their Palace. Seeds and rotting compost comprise my hopes for 2014.