#19 Still Waiting to Plant
The madman is still waiting to plant. As usual, it takes a few days to readjust after an adventure. This is a good thing because the temperature in the soil has not budged over 50˚-no matter how many times the madman looks at it, it is still 50˚. Instead of rushing around planting, the madman can focus on some important tasks that NEED to be done.
Soil Temperature Stuck at 50˚
The soil temperature hasn’t moved, and the air temperature has been rather cool – in fact we had a frost on April 10. One of the things the madman likes to keep up to date on is growing degree days. He headed on over to the Connecticut CAES website to check on the total accumulation for this year – Yikes! Only 22.19 total GDD on April 5 (the most recent update).
Watering the pea seeds. 
Covering the pea seeds.
As we said last week, he started his peas, but not out in their garden patch. He took a baking pan and put a paper towel on the bottom, then put seeds on the paper towel, covered the whole thing with another paper towel and added enough water to keep it moist. Four days later, the peas had sprouted. He is very careful not to let them dry out until he feels comfortable putting them in the ground. “Still a bit too cold,” he says. Maybe by the end of the week. Besides, the forsythia hasn’t bloomed.
Planting Cold Weather Crops
According to the madman there are two ways to know when to plant cool weather crops. The first is scientific: when the soil temperature rises above 50˚ and stays that way, it is safe to plant. A more anecdotal way, but no less incorrect, is to wait for the forsythia to bloom. By the first marker, it is almost time; by the second, not quite yet. Peas are not going in yet.
The other crops are still in flats, patiently waiting for the madman to see the sign. They have been moved out of the greenhouse to be hardened off (a fancy term for getting used to life outside). Among these are onions, kale, Asian greens, and beets. At one time we would have had broccoli ready to go, but he is trying something new this year – a much later start.
Soil Test
Since the snow left the garden while the madman was hiking in Death Valley, he could get his soil samples ready and sent off to UConn for testing. We do this once a year. Soil can be tested at any time throughout the year, but the madman prefers to wait until just before planting season begins.
Many of the testing facilities (UConn included) recommend fall testing. But the madman was once told that a lot of things can happen under the snow so it is best to wait until spring. He agrees with this philosophy even though he will have less time to amend the soil if something went really wrong in the planting beds.
Why bother testing the soil? After all, the madman takes good care of his soil and uses plenty of compost in the beds. Despite his meticulous care, the madman really doesn’t know what is going on below the surface of the garden. Because soil consists of living matter, it is constantly changing. To get plants to grow their best, the madman wants to make sure their nutritional needs are met. He always orders the standard nutrient analysis from the UConn Lab.
What’s in Soil?
Everyone talks about NPK (those numbers on the side of a bag of fertilizer). But, not everyone knows what the letters stand for. N is for Nitrogen which contributes to green leafy growth. P is for Phosphorus which promotes growth and seed production. And K stands for potassium which helps plants fight off disease to encourage strong growth. Collectively, these represent the macro-nutrients in the soil. In addition, soil contains micronutrients which are too numerous to mention but nevertheless as important as the macros to plant growth.
PH is Key
Just having these nutrients in the soil is not enough. The madman also has to consider the pH of the soil. The soil pH affects how plants absorb nutrients. For you non-chemists out there, pH is a measure of the hydrogen ion content of a substance. It is displayed on a scale of 1-14, with 7 considered neutral. Below 7 is acidic; above is alkaline. Each plant has its optimal pH; without this the plant will grow poorly if at all. And the optimal pH varies from crop to crop. Blueberries thrive with a pH between 4.5-5.5; while most vegetables prefer a pH of 6.5-7.0.
At one time farmers determined what their soil needed by tasting it, but that has become a lost art. Now, soil testing is done in the lab. The beauty of the report the madman will receive from UConn is that it will tell him exactly what amendments his soil needs for the best production.
Turning the Compost
While waiting for soil warmth and test results, the madman decided to do some major compost work. We have a three bin system that has been neglected because life got in the way and maintaining the compost was not high on the list of priorities. Finished compost was moved to a pile waiting to get worked into the garden. The other two bins were sifted to separate compost from material that is not yet ready. The madman swears to be better at turning the piles this year. We’ll see.
Spring Peepers
Since he has not been spending a lot of time in the garden, the madman has been hunting for our friends, the spring peepers (Pseudacris crucifer). Every evening, starting at dusk, since we have been home we have been entertained with the melodious chirping.
The males peep during mating season; the faster and louder they sing, the better the chances of attracting a mate. Interestingly, they tend to sing in trios. The male with the deepest voice starts the song and the others follow in turn. A female can lay up to 1200 eggs which may take two weeks to hatch if they survive. I catch the madman trying to sneak up on them, but they always sense his presence and stop the music.
Looking for the Frogs
These small frogs (1-1/2”) usually live in moist woodlands near ponds or streams. Because of their small size and camouflage coloring, they are rarely seen. But, they can be quite loud when mating season is in high gear. The madman has always been concerned that they would not return after exceptionally cold winters. But, these little guys have built-in anti-freeze in their systems and can withstand subzero temperatures.
Cactus and Succulent Show
When he is not looking for the peepers or tending his baby vegetable seedlings, the madman has been gathering his plants for the Connecticut Cactus and Succulent Society Show. The show is April 13-14 at the Bristol Senior Center on Stafford Avenue and there are some amazing plants that you should see. The madman joined the society years ago when he was installing his first cactus bed. The Cactus and Succulent Society is a gathering of cacti and succulent enthusiasts who freely share their knowledge of how to grow these interesting plants. Over the years, the madman has picked up numerous pearls and helpful cultivation tips. Hope to see you at the show.
First a cup of cocoa.
