Just when things looked like Spring has sprung, we get another dose of winter temperatures. It is not quite as bad as up north, where we had hoped to visit, only to decide that spending time in sub 20 degree weather wasn't going to be much fun.

Down here in Delaware, it won't get quite that cold, rather it will drop down into the low 30's at night. Having plastic over the broccoli plants, I think, will protect them. I may have to do the same with the lettuce in the raised bed, along with the onions in the other raised bed. I need to find some small, flexible hoops to stick into the beds and then drape over some greenhouse plastic.

I did start my tomato and pepper plants today, along with some pansies. I am using tomato seeds from Holmes for the tomatoes and peppers, but was disappointed by the small number os seeds that came in each packet. I was lucky to get 8-10 seeds per pack. I surely hope they all germinate..

All of my cold season seedlings are outside, getting cold hardy, but I will continue to take them in during the evenings, as no need to stress them any more than I have to, keeping them out of the ground. The collards, cabbage and a few more broccoli are all getting quite big and need to go into the ground, as the roots are extensive at the bottom of the dixie cups.

All this will have to wait another week, though as this cold front moves through.

I have a third Campari tomato picked off my indoor tomato crop. The first two tasted very nice, like real tomatoes grown out in the garden. I was pleasantly surprised.

Later today, I would like to set up my fencing for the peas (keeping out wildlife) and plant a few more rows of peas, as well. The first 70 or so peas were soaked in water and placed on paper towels for a few days, allowing the roots to quickly develop. I put them in a single row and it looks like they are coming up.

March 21, 2026

Getting warmer

I think the weather is finally becoming more favorable, as temperatures are heading into the 60's, almost on a daily basis. I just finished putting in 12 broccoli plants from Holmes Seeds. They are good sized with lots of roots. I am going to buy some more 1/2 inch pvc think piping and make a second bed where I can put in hoops to protect the plants from the white moths that end up producing green catepillars that love the brassica plants (broccoli, cabbage and collards).

I also need to dethatch the front yard, particularly the area to the left of our front door. Lots of wire grass, so first cleaning out the dead stuff and then trying some sprays to kill this nasty, invasive weed. I took out my Honda lawnmower and it started up on the second pull, thus, enabling me to cut down the grass that is starting to grow and the weeds tha seem to always grow.

My walking continues with two good weeks, while I lost two days this week due to the weather. Still, I am staying pretty consistent and finding that I am getting more tired than I used to get in the past.

I planted about 100 peas that I presoaked to see if they will come up a bit faster than just dropping dry seeds into the ground. I still have to prep the potato field area before putting the 4 varieties into the ground and get them going.

Lots of fun stuff to do, will still keeping house and also taking a trip north to visit family, soon.