![1 gallon lettuce plant](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlrOZnH7D6hZ9CL3T0qJ0tutJIoAFlPglZILs1-AUXJ_LTRMWwXH3urnkBeLT6BuCpg3ez53eslsztdq0bOBpQsuMwQqdgl2uYqPyKnD7S79OvHiKgim19_5FpESdirumo8XQ0tF9Rsw0/s1600/lettuce-growing-up.JPG) |
Rebuilding the lettuce empire, 1 plant at a time |
I have returned from spring break and
soap making to find my garden still alive (thanks to my housemate). There were a few chard plants looking like death (wilting), but they recovered after I applied copious amounts of water. The sky has also given quite a bit of moisture too; it has been raining really hard the last two days.
DOWNSTAIRS
I left the hydroponic system running while I was gone. That's the thing I like about it, I hardly need to watch it and the plants grow fine without any care. Unfortunately the turnaround time (planting, removing plants) takes a little longer than normal soil grown plants. Regardless, the lettuce I planted is growing its first true leaves. I occasionally need to top off the water, especially since the roots haven't grown outside the netpots yet.
![Hydroponic Lettuce Seedlings](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTvxhHS4i35wtdPS-jJaysl27vG4bUrrw6Y-hBTeR_Wta11uL6D0Cs6DqpsHOUBhhecPj0lIBPP3qUTioef1uIKGM5iPF9dgbmCWGIctRqBy50iCEdKpSyMwK9zaNg6Iyki0efXbsEvWI/s400/lettuce-hydro-closeup.JPG) |
Little lettuce seedlings |
![Lettuce Hydroponics](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsgbQeyHbYifyopnSehAahQpakzGWuddYnyXS6ziMYfHMvLwsO84JlcNexmtQgqgZBdZHI2XYLugqr81lgJUbFafsHIXp2eiBrInI4Syyy-DE_TAE4AAnpiwf1lG6ZX1ab2TBJyGjaWAA/s400/lettuce-hydro-spring-1.JPG) |
The bin |
![Hydroponics Overview April 2](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMdFFng-OwixxYajuuiDJCsaFv6Ohw45yoRXbxm4u3QbFi08FnD_qfu83GWVa0N0flfFLt4lQcKTij-PPLPAOzICRssIxDkMhqiGQNPh1Np4xUjDcq4TKb374TW0PBBkRiImqvtFIuHGU/s1600/lettuce-hydro-spring-all.JPG) |
Overview of hydroponic system |
One of the things that didn't make it though were the cucumber and lettuce seeds I started. The lettuce seedlings wilted out and the cucumbers never germinated. Surprisingly, a few of the chard and basil seedlings survived. I planted some of the chard seedlings on the downstairs balcony to replace all the old lettuce plants.
![Chard starts](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEORiz7TtjcRnVaPF3ASy7rQBlkqv36v6CQx2H27dJAqmmmeLrRgvIUac5Q5dglCs1BjzoF_F1uPZL32AL9vo2dLHpfNcnWlEAVqsjzZWMxxJk27zvRBhJH9Ljrsd4MXNg7AfrypHlKqY/s400/chard-seedlings.JPG) |
Chard recovering thanks to rain |
![Basil Seedling](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiewzOX1FLwLNRtPK7y7SRt5OxDEFwZ-C2KShanlyNUUBTUR0DrQRkXyJq8DOIhXEQXLWIGdTLyyOZDssdiJJXtHyFwd9aSnz79PCJMSbeCNebjocC9rwtjKCNHCmhQk_wobwbhTV7etUs/s400/basil-germinating.JPG) |
Is it basil time yet? |
I resowed some lettuce and basil seedlings in an effort to replace the cucumbers. If those don't germinate, I'll find a solution.
![Downstairs balcony soil pots](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6VO4FZjz7NTZLLAlOtZYvVrvIQa215HyNsn0SIwvZBLT2Gv9TyZG0CXzPqwzCi1qSXI78-GGQnvbNvHpMi4lNMM9zbKSBj1sL6MegxEfS48g-faWzQnilY2j1jS9tNQ80cSuEBu74GUA/s1600/new-downstairs-planting.JPG) |
New seedlings everywhere! |
![Chard 1 gallon](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUpdxbyJSoLbw7iUay2y3MtMTPCLd5qtGUQHrdgUSLrwByowpKujn7yzCI4gYaAqsAWVEYOI4wrUKOs4FzAWIlBf4Gh9eBkEnr22-B5oWjOH0MSaEZMrpTkT-KhyQx_sxblECBBQXHY6o/s1600/chard-planted.JPG) |
Chard replacing the old cut and come again lettuce container |
![Salad Bowl lettuce](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmJ5lHB8k4JAff5cm6R2hc5TvK4b5-5o-d1Hzh5u2an5rGoUhkzieKw3LqOra5btuoLfnzGeYnEU5CZNQxdueQOKEpYe_mH9pb3zx-PE7hE8bwuLv6foe0ZIzPJkLwarVn96oJnPZvTjY/s1600/downstairs-lettuce-seedlings.JPG) |
More leaf lettuce replacing the old |
UPSTAIRS
![Left side balcony garden](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUvNGrBmk2rrvgNV_vIcw6eFsLjZ7TcOD3MqQB1uvWZbKeybEe0TtdJK2kE1BVVy9QRKlMNY5cL5PDmSygKr98okugWg_48J90qScU3XI4KX2b7uIJQaztInczwMc-qvgMrSVWhFYFSHo/s1600/left-side-balcony-april-2.JPG) |
Left side balcony |
![Right side balcony garden](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvt_vc19cV4dcEsVP5mciqAGoeyvSNo7IdxT9YSRq_hcNFKJ9HXrthnJgvntnkIrHodJ5zplzKWgxQGQc29sl8aYZAlB2aTJclUqv1z0MvNY3vbpsrgtQjX4oW5BYPjLlw9ZV5YViuTek/s1600/right-side-balcony.JPG) |
Right side of the balcony |
The upstairs garden will see some changes in the next few weeks, but none immediately. The cabbages are finishing up soon. I plan to plant some bush beans as I did last year in those bins as they grow fast and have a low profile.
![New Lettuce seedlings](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwGT67d0Q4qqp8KMpDuKC9bZKKrXs16YAoLFIFTD-7PpiDOBY8Nu8IbfFq-eE9FIiAaysbB-6eFGWPNzdwv_3l-rLvUVcr7R8NUAJtPMLnGfqb_S9lRj2VXYaZ8w1nQyEhGZvfRZmZv-g/s1600/lettuce-seedlings-bin.JPG) |
Replacement lettuce growing |
![Cilantro flowers](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuW4bcNZK_JjFAfjKImB_JLVwjHAww_CI5icTNzdchJLYmXf1A-u6RLsZe_n9DR3zDEmaRoXdMp__-p__bKNE0fn5kiJefxmNeta04QiUUdGnRxRVLeGAsggzpQ6neGFygG1_hleZLkNo/s1600/cilantro-flowers.JPG) |
Cilantro flowers |
Once the cilantro outgrow their usefulness, I'll replace those with lettuce. There are so many cilantro flowers around my balcony now.
![Wow Kale](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9sB6DCStB2mTkP5CeBgo4AwfWsaMtv8qtL4bYsA7PYtnL9xNyPPzM1gv72iFClmj2VFefJSzdOo4SR649EF0tOF057fwQUszcmn9wLG5nUYjmk3ZpJ_bjckMUz0BfYUMuX73dW_Q6884/s1600/kale-in-corner.JPG) |
Kale |
![Wow Swiss Chard](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDP8zToRuFjCpHW0mEtsJpcuh0KG-Hp5YaEPEhifWyFu8JSeDceYY1rtgdENvQfipE6yCm4P2EwqSFREr_Wu0zxKbzMLZ6h2Y7ghgfXzclo_DcxjNoQZEFAAsLJOUHkl8yCX2IWIgD9SY/s1600/recovered-leafy-greens.JPG) |
Chard |
As the leafy greens recover, I'll harvest more of them to make more vegetable chips. Although I think I like the
kale chips more than the
Swiss Chard chips, you can never grow too many Swiss Chard plants. Especially different colored chard. The red chard is taking root in its new container.
To finish off today's update, we'll look at the subirrigated bin. Although many of the pea plants aren't doing too well, there is one plant that is really big compared to the others. One of the plants (not the biggest one) looks to be growing flowers. Aside from that, the carrots and onions are doing well, along with the abandoned spinach plants.
![Subirrigated planter](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0_KVDeo4S3aqOSXN15lTftaUtVQyNq02AbF23_45t20EheRU6gagOOt8j2BeehZp1T3r5htuA_9OhlLO7gi60jsXC56cJk-XM9KbOBSFy-VUV9QVxpvVoB1J5jhrwzmm8cPoEjebwhXI/s1600/sub-irrigated-bin.JPG) |
Only 1 pea plant is doing well |
Next week I'll have more seeds started. Spring is here, but I do not know what the weather has in store for this season.
Last Update (3/21)
![Pea plants](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiyxjLBEqgQnPkFllYXBCm5qp_gQlsHyyG-arOWv9uq87sRYDguvCX5hHXLJZ-My8NBYCTilFgCeptcwbuobz4ckq21gUgu_zZribXF-CaCE1UtvyCORmiwVxsIXLUO490yFITawADlb8/s400/peas-on-trellis.JPG) |
Let the strongest plant survive |
![Spinach](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_bK5Bp5rVckTSb9l7mMQj3rqWrtNHGOtjUhBd0usZWPSARajgPG_upPN54yrMPyGRLJKarrvTArpWOqci84qEYlb3f1AWDDHPJnHOmKvCnbf0-EONALPqFxgXohwDiWQEWb5nBw18Kb4/s400/bloomsdale-spinach-growing.JPG) |
And then there was this one spinach plant that did well. |
No comments:
Post a Comment
Hi folks, please only leave comments relative to the blog post. All spam will be removed and spammers will be blocked.
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.