Admittedly, the 11th seeding scheduled for April 15th was a bit late, occurring April 21st, but planting is back-logged due to frequent, heavy rains so there was no sense of rush. A seed tray now contains Clove Basil, Celosia “Temple Bells Orange,” Emilia “Irish Poet,” Amaranth “Copperhead,” Talinum “Kingwood Gold,” Cleome “Helen Campbell,” and a second planting of Madia since the first planting yielded only one seedling. All of these heat-loving annuals are destined for the decorative gardens except the Clove Basil, which will go into the potager, although excess plants will go to the garden club plant sale or the cutting garden. I love its foliage and fragrance in bouquets. Any extra of the celosia will also go into the Cutting Garden, because they are lovely fresh or dried. This flat went on the heating mat, which will improve germination of these heat-lovers.
A packet of “Sterling” onions was also seeded as part of a new strategy to stretch out the onion harvest and find a good storage onion. A few “Katarina” cabbage seeds were sown for my mother, who liked them best of all last year, to follow the well-grown “Fast Vantage” plants that she’ll plant this week in her raised beds. “Minuteman” cauliflower was also seeded in 4-packs to follow the “Majestic” variety that are already growing by leaps and bounds in their potager bed, and “Green Magic” broccoli to follow the “Blue Wind” that’s already 6″ tall in the potager. All of these went on the basement bench, but will be moved into the light stand as soon as germination happens.
In larger pots, “Butter Belly” summer squash were seeded, along with a few more “Minnesota Midget” melons, because some of the first planting (old seed) did not emerge, and because my mother has decided she wants a melon or two after all.
That’s it for this planting. With five more days of rain in the immediate forecast, outdoor work has been in a holding pattern because the soil (even in the raised beds!) has just been too soggy to work. Farmers are still unable to get into the fields, and we saw lots of river overflowing and flooded fields during the drive to a family gathering over the weekend.
The gooseberry bushes and strawberries are blooming, but I’m wondering with all the rain whether any major pollinating has been able to occur. However, the tulips are enjoying this stretch of cool, damp weather and I am certainly enjoying the tulips! Hope it’s a beautiful spring wherever you garden!
herbalblessingsblog 
Tulips close up at night to conserve energy for reopening the next morning and providing me a glorious show! But, oh my! how chilly all over again after a balmy Easter weekend. Is this period called a “post-Easter chill”? I’m watching and waiting for my columbine seeds you sent me to begin sprouting. It’s been only a week and two days, but I’m impatient. Maybe that’s why I usually buy plants from the garden nursery — instant gratification.
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Columbine seeds seem to be a bit slow to germinate, and then very slow to grow afterward. However, once they are settled in the garden they return the following year much more robust. Mine are only about 2″ tall, although they were planted long before yours, so just be patient!
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Rainy and cool in Maine. No planting until the end of May, but there is still plenty of yard work to do. I am happy to report we are making great progress.
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