[WaitPatientlyOnTheLord]

Im late chiming in. My goal this year was to start my seeds early enough to avoid having to buy seedlings. And I did that. I think I started some of them TOO early because they died before I could transplant them. I started some March 1 and some March 15.

Surviving I have:
6 bush bean plants.
1 zucchini
4 kale
1 pumpkin
1 cilantro
2 tomatoes

Thats all I can remember right now. So out last frost date was April 15th. DH built me and amazing elevated bed. That way I can move it as needed- since we live in a rental. I'll try to post photos of it later. I'd hoped to get everything transplanted April 15th but...life.... So my seedlings are still sitting in the starter trays.

Im using the square-foot gardening method this year for the first time. This past week I purchased the compost, vermiculite and peat moss. Today DD and I mixed it up. DH has to repair something on my planting box but once that is done I will be able to get the "soil" mix into the bed and transplant!!! I will say, the mix for the soil was fairly expensive but part of the reason we went with this method is because we can use the same mix from year to year on a container and just throw in a little compost each year. In the past, Ive been using potting soil each season and have to dump it at the end of the season and that has really added up over the years but since I live in apartments, I have to grow in containers.

I also have two kiddie pools to do. Im not sure what Im going to plant in there yet.

I will say, I planted a bunch of seeds that I bought 2 or 3 seasons ago at costco- organic mix of some kind. And their germination rate was EXTREMELY high and I have been very very impressed with how hearty the seedlings are. I also purchased a ton of Burpees organic seeds and the germination rate on those was DISMAL. Like Im angry I paid for those seeds. Most plant varieties didnt even shoot up at all. Of like 6 varieties of stuff I planted with several seeds per plant variety I only got one single pumpkin seedling. I want to write to the company or return them to Home Depot or something. Maybe they will do better with dirrect sewing???

DD has been helping me with all of my gardening. Its really wonderful how involved she is. Last year she wanted me to plant purple pansies in the kiddie pool gardens. It was the only thing that grew. And, they returned this year! So yesterday we transplanted those that lived to the pot that DD painted for me for mothers day. I really really wanted to grow a bunch of sunflowers with DD but they shot up and died really quickly. I think They needed to be directly sewn. I hope its not too late in the season to start them.