January 20th in Paine Falls, I think, as the days are starting to run together. Our first big snow was November 29th and the storms just keep rolling through northeastern Ohio. I am thankful for the ever green pines and bright red berries on the deciduous holly; where the robins are gobbling at a rate that would make me choke. Garden flowers are a forgotten memory but the finches are grateful for the seed heads on the echinacea, hydrangeas and salvias. Small birds on black plump seed heads swaying in the cold north wind, a wind that takes my breath away. It has been a winter of memories as kid in my red rubber mid calf boots slapped against frozen bare skin on the way to school, leaving red chaffing marks that lasted until Spring. Striped off at the coat rack in the school hallway and changing into white Keds. My beet red legs returned to normal around lunch but then it was time to go outside on the playground. And me all the time wondering why boys got to wear pants?! It was a different time and we didn't question any of this, neither did our parents; "It's good for you!" And honestly, looking back, it probably was.....
The last 3 or 4 winters lulled us into thinking we were turning into the new Miami of the north. This has been quite a wake up call! There has been time to finish old projects, start new projects, catch up on reading, trying to keep the bird feeder filled and the always behind paperwork organization. Plan the 2025 garden, order seeds, plant seeds, review last years crops, make decisions about will be carried forward and what to try new. Yes, hope springs eternal in a garden, even in the dead of winter.
This thing arrived on my doorstep for Christmas. I wrestled it into the house and kind of knew what it was. I walked around it for a week debating on sending it back. The gift of a high tech (there's that word again!) hydroponic growing system! Thank you Rachael💚 I am intrigued by growing plants in water and fertilizer. I had intended to use a small bucket tower and still intend to try that method and then stumbled across a rain gutter system that might find it's way to the testing grounds too. Life is short, try all the things!
The system is called Mygardyn and it is pretty bougie; I'm more of a bucket and small pump girl.
Assembly required....
The system actually went together pretty easily however tethering it to my smart phone was a bit daunting but we soldiered through and at the end of the day everything was working. Lilly at customer service talked me off the ledge of packing it up and sending it back. This thing waters itself, fertilizer is only added once a month and it's on a light timer so no need to turn it on and off. It was up and working on Dec. 26th. and it has a large presence. I have decided to call her Ursula, she is that audacious!
The seeds are already sown in a little cup filled with rockwool. Then the growing cup is inserted into a sleeve and that is inserted into the watering column.
This came as a kit so I did not pick out any of what I am growing. So what am I growing?
Butterhead lettuce, pink celery, red sorel, purple basil, breen, yellow swiss chard, bulls blood lettuce, green salanova, lemon balm, white petunias, fuchia snapdragons, stock flowers, celosia and sunflowers. It's a lot!
The breen and purple basil germinated in a couple days.
I started lettuce on the grow rack in potting medium and they germinated in 48 hours.
The germination does seem to take a bit longer in the hydroponic system but it's winter and we have nothing but time.
So here we are today and there is greenery! I have had to prune seedlings back to one and sometimes two plants per cup.
This where water is added.
All in all I think it's a good system if you want something to pop out of a box, plug in and wait for greens. I did get online and check out buying new plugs filled with lettuces and kales but my jaw dropped when I saw the price! I will be hacking this system and using my own seeds for the next round of planting. I have checked on craigslist and facebook marketplace and they do come up for sale. I don't intend to use it in the summer but think it's great for late Fall and into Early Spring, known as the hungry gap from our grandparents era. The other thing I'm on the fence about; I like tending plants, being in touch with my plants. This system is a more or less, walk away and forget it system. To be fair, it is in the kitchen and I enjoy being greeted by blinding white light every morning. Kirby has run into it a couple times and can't figure out what it is but now takes a wide berth.
It has plunged me down the youtube hole of hydroponics and I am thankful it's winter because there is a ton of information! As soon as I can work in the studio with out freezing to death I plan to put the bucket system together. My goal is to grow greens throughout the winter months and this has been a winter to test all the systems. The hoop house I had high hopes for is frozen solid. In this part of Ohio we don't see the sun very often. There is not enough solar energy to warm the hoop house. Most of what was planted in the hoop is frozen. The kale is the only thing thriving and curly kale varieties are winning hands down. Lacinato kales are not fairing quite as well. Radishes are on hold as are turnips and spinach. I think it will be great to extend the seasons and during those warm winters it will be good for growing some greens.
As we brace for a week of arctic temperatures, -20 by Wednesday, microgreens seem be the way to grow.
Fern is enjoying warm breakfasts of oatmeal and a scrambled bit of protein. She has a touch of frostbite on her head but she'll recover by Spring.
A few pictures of why I love winter.......
