Garden Updates Week of 3/15/2026

3/18/2026 –

Started indoor seeds using cupcake containers left by my mom after my son’s graduation party. They make great indoor greenhouses. Used Burpee Eco-Friendly Growing Pellets. We planted:

• Renee’s Garden Organic Seeds Heirloom Eggplants Asian Mix packed for 2025
• Jung’s Seed Sweet Banana Peppers
  • packed for 2021
• Valley Greene Big Jim Chili Peppers
  • packed for 2025
• Jung’s Babies Triplet Hybrid Mix Cabbage
  • packed for 2024
• Burpee Sweet Pepper Carnival Blend
  • packed for 2025
• Valley Greene Marketmore 76 Cucumbers
  • packed for 2025
• Renee’s Garden Zinger Hibiscus
  • packed for 2025
• Baker Creek Jimmy Nardello Italian Peppers
  • packed for 2026
• Valley Greene Beefsteak Tomatoes
  • packed for 2025
• Baker Creek Mary Washington Asparagus
  • packed for 2026

This year we determined that the garden is mostly experimental. I have not had good luck growing plants indoors from seeds before for whatever of a thousand reasons. My intention was to only plant things outside that I had already been successful growing, but I had most of the seeds around and I had the growing pellets and the cupcake containers and a grow light…One thing led to another and we decided to plant on a random Wednesday night just about 7 weeks before the last frost date (May 11, 2026). We don’t have a heating mat for germination, so we put the containers into the warmest area of the house with a grow light. It now serves as a nightlight in the downstairs bathroom.

3/21/2026

Perfect weather outside meant that despite a snowstorm on Monday, the temperatures were warm enough that the soil in the raised beds and containers were able to be worked. After breakfast, we headed outside to start work. I had everyone gather all of the containers together and all of the soil we had in bags and pots. We amended this with compost, sand from the old sandbox, leaves, and mulch from the old yard waste site to create a decent potting mix for the containers. We planted:

• Baker Creek Seeds Parisienne Carrots
  • packed for 2026
• Baker Creek Seeds Merveille des Quartre Saisons Lettuc
  • Packed for 2026
• Plantation Products French Mesclun Salad Blend
  • Packed for 2021
• Baker Creek Seed Company New Kuroda Carrots
  • Packed for 2026
• Baker Creek Seed Company Green Beauty Peas
  • Packed for 2026
• Baker Creek Seed Company Strawberry Spinach
  • Packed for 2026
• Jung’s Seed Sugar Daddy Snap Peas
  • Packed for 2023
• Jung’s Seed Snak Hero Snap Peas
  • Packed for 2026
• Baker Creek Seeds Japanese Wasabi Radishes
  • Packed for 2026
• Jung’s Seed Spring Radish Rover Hybrid
  • Packed for 2026
• Burpee Seed Company Pink Lady Slipper Radishes
  • Packed for 2025
• Baker Creek Seeds French Breakfast Radishes
  • Packed for 2026
• Jung’s Seed New Red Fire Lettuce
  • Packed for 2026
• Baker Creek Seed Common Arugula
  • Packed for 2026
• Jung’s Seed Space Hybrid Spinach
  • Packed for 2026
• Valley Greene Seven Top Turnip
  • Packed for 2025
• Jung’s Seed Rainbow Candy Crush Hybrid Kale
  • Packed for 2026
• Baker Creek Seed Sahara Kale
  • Packed for 2026
• Baker Creek Seed Magnolia Blossom Tendril Peas
  • Packed for 2026
• Baker Creek Seed St. Valery Carrot
  • Packed for 2026
• Baker Creek Seed Hao Shan Red Lettuce
  • Packed for 2026
• Jung’s Seed Little Gem Lettuce
  • Packed for 2026
• Ferry-Morse Bibb Lettuce
  • Packed for 2026

Crops were determined by taking the Jung’s Catalog and the Baker Creek Catalog and comparing and contrasting the different types of each vegetable. John and I each took a catalog, reviewed the options and then advocated for our favorites. The Baker Creek seeds were ordered. We were gifted with free seeds for our order (Jimmy Nardello Peppers and others). We got the Jung’s seeds from their Stoughton location. Anything packed prior to 2026 was leftovers from the existing stash.

All seed packages were labeled with the container or area in the raised beds where they were planted. Containers were moved to places with the appropriate amount of light. Dates were added to the seed packets to allow for succession planting of crops where applicable. Trellises for peas will be added to containers at a later date. Sticks from pruning the fruit trees in late February will be used as trellises.

Indoor Planting update:

• Hibiscus seeds were the first to germinate.
  • 12 seeds were planted 12 have sprouted.
  • Moved out of direct light.
• Cucumbers have germinated.
  • Approximately 8 have beginner leaves.
• Cabbage have germinated, but look spindly.
• Asparagus have been moved directly into light.
• Peppers are beginning to germinate, but do not yet have leaves.
• Eggplants are beginning to germinate, but do not have leaves.

Outdoor Updates:

• Maple trees were tapped.
  • They are silver maple, not sugar maple which means they have a higher water to sugar ratio and therefore take longer to boil into syrup
• Spring bulbs are starting to show green through the ground.
• Fruit trees are in pre-bud mode.
• Perennial and self-seeding herbs are starting to come up/green
  • English Thyme
  • Chives
  • Cilantro (or maybe parsley, we shouldn’t have planted them in the same bed).

Plans for Next Week:

• Beets should be soaked for 24-48 hours prior to planting.
  • Soaking and planting will be done during week of 3/22.
  • Seeds should go into ground in ex-sandbox nearest the (Year one) yard waste pile
• Discuss placement of firepit
• Watch for rhubarb so it can be moved.