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March 12, 2026 Updates
Can you find the four deer?
March 12, 2026
It's still March
A 30º drop in temperature over the last few hours suggests that we are still a long way from Spring and filling the garden with seedlings.
As I took Maggie out for her early morning grass visit, I was in my shorts, no jacket, but could feel the wind picking up. After a 3 mile walk, where the wind continued to increase, I knew what was coming.
I had already brought most of the seedlings back into the sunroom, under the lights, when I decided it was time to also bring in the last of the onions, still in pots.
My second trip outside required a jacket and sweat pants, as the temperature had now dropped from 72º to 43º and the rain was starting to come down. In fact, weather reports indicate we may see some snow tonight.
I am hoping the onions and lettuce seedlings I put into the raised beds yesterday will withstand the latest weather conditions.
Looking further ahead to early next week, temperatures might drop down into the high 20's before coming back up into the 50's.
Let's see how this rollercoaster ride ends up and how much damage might result from this new weather pattern.
While on my walk this morning, I did come across a group of 4 young deer, grazing in a neighbor's backyard, enjoying some left over grass from the fall. They saw me coming 100 yards away, but didn't seem to be intimidated by me, as I took a quick photo and went about my walk. A few minutes later, they had disappeared back into the woods.
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March 10, 2026 News
Onion Fields
These are 70 Alisa Craig Onions that can grow 8 inches across and are sweet, but only store for up to one month.
Salad Bar
Transplanted Nevada and Cherokee lettuce in raised bed, probably for it’s final season
Onions, Lettuce, Broccoli, Collards and Cabbage
I have been keeping these seedlings outside for the past few days, as temperatures have been up to mid-80’s.
Broccoli and Cabbage
Some more cold crop seedlings looking good.March 10, 2026
Prepping the garden and hardening the seedlings
As temperatures soared over 83º today, I spent the morning walking 5 miles with my brother up at Lum's State Park. It was quiet, snow all gone and only a few other individuals making use of this beauitful state park.
After lunch and a nap, I took out the big tiller and worked on the area I will use to grow broccoli, collards and lettuce. I also tilled the area where I will plant peas and finally, I cleared the area where potatoes will be planted.
In a few days, the weather will go back to normal with lows in the 30's and there is a possibility of temperatures even hitting the 20's next week. I am uncertain as to well to put the seedlngs into the ground, but I will keep a careful eye on the weather.
I went to Lowe's in Middletown, as their site indicated they had some cow manure and soil mix. It was posted at $1.98, the same price it has been for about 7 years. This stuff is ok, nothing special coming from Georgia. It has some wood chips in it and a little cow manure. However, when I went to get 5 bags, I saw the price was marked at $4.89, more than double of that listed on the web page. It took well over a half an hour to get this all fixed, where I paid the $1.98 price, but I doubt I am going back to any time soon.
Tomorrow will be the last day of nice, warm weather and I will fill in the raised bed boxes and prep them for the onions and lettuce. I also want to rearrange some landscape stones into a fireplace, so I can burn last falls tree cuttings.
Quick update on March 11, 2026: I transplanted Craig onion seedlings I started in January into Nancy's raised bed. I put in 70 of them, in rows, about 6 inches apart. I also transplanted some Nevada (6) and Cherokee (6) lettuce that have already been cut once. I am hoping they will grow another round of leaf cuttings.
I did some more calculating, using AI and I am told I only will need about 50 wheelbarrows to move 10 yards of mushroom soil. At a price of $1.33 a cubic foot, vs $3.27 at Home Depot, I think that is a pretty good deal. I am not sure Lowe's or Home Depot will sell mulch at $2.00 per 2 cubic feet this year.
Time will tell.
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Walking Log
I started keeping track of my daily walking miles since May 2, 2021. The spreadsheet provides a list of the miles by week, month and year.Daily Updates:
03-12-2026
John B. Lindale house, “peach baron” of Magnolia, Delaware. The farmhouse is of a Victorian design built in 1886. Magnolia is called the “Center of the Universe”.
