Greens, herbs and flowers in the snow

     After predictions of 7 to 12 inches of snow, winter storm Xerxes left us with just a little over 2 inches last night.  Last week when I wrote "One last taste of winter,"  I guess I was premature.  Now they're talking about winter storm Yogi coming.  Nevertheless, I planted the spinach and lettuce in the greenhouse last Saturday, and started flowers and herbs in the house today.

Lettuce and Spinach in these boxes

     The planting boxes pictured above are 2x6 pine boards nailed together with chicken wire stapled to the bottom.  A layer of dry grass on top of the chicken wire  holds in the soil above it, while cardboard dividers separate different types of plants.


Snow slides of the steep roof as planned

     The greens listed below were planted in the greenhouse on Saturday, April 13.
                                                       Days to            Days to
Brand     Plant name               Germination       Harvest       Comments
                Lettuce
Burpee    Black seeded Simpson     7-14                   45             seed bought 2007
NK          Black seeded Simpson     7-14                   45             seed bought 2012
Amer seed  Grand Rapids                10-14              40-60          seed bought 2010
Burpee     Green Ice                         7-10                   45             seed bought 2010
                 Spinach
NK           Correnta Hybrid              7-14                   45             seed bought 2010

        Today, Monday, I started the following flowers and herbs in the house.

                  Flowers
Burpee      Phlox                               11-21          spring bloom
Burpee      impatiens (hybrid)           18-28         summer bloom
Amer Ch  babys breath                        10              quick bloom
Am Seed  petunia                                  ?                                       mixed colors
Am Seed  zinnia                                 6-10           continu bloom  dwarf, mixed color
saved seed  marigold                                                                      seed saved 2010
Am Seed   marigold, lemondrop         7-10
Am Seed   marigold, crackerjack        7-10                                    mixed color
Am Seed   daisy, Alaska Shasta         15-21                                   white, perennial
Am Seed   cosmos, mixed color         10-15
                  Herbs
saved seed  basil                                                                             seed saved in 2010
Am Seed    parsley, moss curled            14               70-75
NK             dill, ducat                          21-25     
Burpee       Fennel, Florence                                      60-90
Burpee       Rosemary                          14-21             90-400
Burpee       oregano                             10-21             90-200

      As I continue to prepare for the time when the soil is warm, I will keep looking for spring's first greening, as she bravely struggles up through the snow.  If you see her before I do, tell her I'm here waiting.