{"id":670,"date":"2012-04-24T09:33:00","date_gmt":"2012-04-24T13:33:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/ridiculousredhead.com\/?p=670"},"modified":"2014-09-03T22:04:27","modified_gmt":"2014-09-04T02:04:27","slug":"670","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/ridiculousredhead.com\/?p=670","title":{"rendered":"Starting with the leafy stuff"},"content":{"rendered":"

Even though our last frost date is April 12th, it’s been a moot point since there was barely a frost even in January. \u00a0And since it’s been shorts weather a few days already I figured it was safe to start planting things outside.<\/p>\n

I decided to start first with the leafy greens. Things like spinach and arugula like cool weather so usually these are good for early spring planting. \u00a0Because they do not like 90 degree weather (like we had last week), I started them in pots so I could move them to a shady spot if they get stressed.<\/p>\n

Planters are expensive. \u00a0It always amazes me that a large, crappy, plastic, planter costs so much money. \u00a0I think there is some kind of plot by the stores to see if we will spend that much while they sit back and laugh. \u00a0 It’s not like they are durable and worth spending the money on to last a long time. \u00a0There is also the problem of taking organic soil and seed and putting them into a pot made of petroleum and chemicals.<\/p>\n

If you walk away from the garden section at the big box store and look around you will find cheaper alternatives. \u00a0I chose galvanized steel which is used is outdoor things that you don’t want to rust. \u00a0Without getting technical, they dip the steel into hot zinc which protects it from rusting. \u00a0Go to the paint or plumbing section and look for buckets. \u00a0These are good for planting (or holding beer on ice). \u00a0Make sure to drill some drainage holes in the bottom and start planting.<\/p>\n

Here I have started seeds in two buckets. \u00a0On the left will be arugula and on the right will be spinach. \u00a0The front is more of a ice chest than bucket, not as deep, where I have transplanted the strawberries that were in the garden beds. \u00a0They are now very happy and already have lots of flowers on them.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Not only are these cheaper that official planters but they come with handles! \u00a0When it gets too hot here in the full sun part of the yard I can then carry them over to where they will get morning sun without cooking in the afternoon.<\/p>\n

Everything above was done on April 8th and now we already have little seedlings! \u00a0(Please don’t mind the peeling trim paint. \u00a0I am still working on that part of the house painting)
\n\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

The nice thing about leafy greens vs. heads of lettuce is here we can pick some of the leaves and leave the rest to keep growing. In a few weeks I can also spread a few more seeds around so as I eat these leaves, more will be on the way. \u00a0I’m so excited since last year I tried arugula but the pot was only 5 inches or so deep and it dried out too fast. \u00a0Literally never ate a leaf. \u00a0Hey, live and learn!<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Even though our last frost date is April 12th, it’s been a moot point since there was barely a frost even in January. \u00a0And since it’s been shorts weather a few days already I figured it was safe to start…
Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":671,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[19,20],"tags":[112,113,82,114],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"http:\/\/ridiculousredhead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/04\/IMG_1048.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/s1J4KT-670","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":2776,"url":"http:\/\/ridiculousredhead.com\/?p=2776","url_meta":{"origin":670,"position":0},"title":"Plant Now for Fall","date":"August 8, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"Fall planting time is now!! \u00a0If you didn't get around to spring planting there is still time to grow delicious food this year. \u00a0If you had big plans for a big garden that didn't quite get finished, get some pots, organic potting soil and some seeds. \u00a0You can do this!\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Garden"","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ridiculousredhead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Ridiculous-Redhead-Fall-Planting-Pin.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":1116,"url":"http:\/\/ridiculousredhead.com\/?p=1116","url_meta":{"origin":670,"position":1},"title":"A little seed update","date":"March 8, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"I have been so excited to see something start growing from the seeds I have planted. \u00a0As I speak it is snowing outside but the seeds are marching on to becoming plants in spite of it! Let's start with the inside seeds. \u00a0As you might recall, they were planted on\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Garden"","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ridiculousredhead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/03\/Ridiculous-Redhead-seeds-030813.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":707,"url":"http:\/\/ridiculousredhead.com\/?p=707","url_meta":{"origin":670,"position":2},"title":"The seedlings have moved out!","date":"May 7, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"It's a big day around here! \u00a0The gardens have been planted and the seedlings have moved outside to their new homes. Just like high school, there are cliques or groups that stick together. \u00a0Some plants do not want to sit with certain other plants at lunch. \u00a0 Other plants like\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Garden"","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ridiculousredhead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/05\/small-garden-day-1.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":748,"url":"http:\/\/ridiculousredhead.com\/?p=748","url_meta":{"origin":670,"position":3},"title":"Our first harvest","date":"May 22, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"Everything is starting to really grow around here. \u00a0I think we have been transplanted to Seattle like we are in the new NBC Wednesday night drama. \u00a0It feels like it has been raining for months. \u00a0Granted it was beautiful and sunny this weekend and don't think that I didn't enjoy\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Garden"","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ridiculousredhead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/05\/first-harvest-1288.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":2237,"url":"http:\/\/ridiculousredhead.com\/?p=2237","url_meta":{"origin":670,"position":4},"title":"Early September Garden Update","date":"September 9, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"We are in a really weird place as far as the garden is concerned. \u00a0After Labor Day, the entire world posts on Facebook that summer is over so your brain starts thinking it's fall. \u00a0But in real life summer isn't over for weeks. \u00a0And it was 90 something degrees on\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Garden"","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ridiculousredhead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/09\/Ridiculous-Redhead-asparagus-8.27.14.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":1387,"url":"http:\/\/ridiculousredhead.com\/?p=1387","url_meta":{"origin":670,"position":5},"title":"Vegetable Garden Roundup","date":"September 26, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"I just realized I have been really quiet about the garden this year. \u00a0I have been excited about the garden and all it's goings on but I haven't written much. \u00a0It's been hard to have enough energy to do much with this pregnancy and I guess it's fallen by the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Garden"","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ridiculousredhead.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/08\/2817-c.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/ridiculousredhead.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/670"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/ridiculousredhead.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/ridiculousredhead.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/ridiculousredhead.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/ridiculousredhead.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=670"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"http:\/\/ridiculousredhead.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/670\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":698,"href":"http:\/\/ridiculousredhead.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/670\/revisions\/698"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/ridiculousredhead.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/671"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/ridiculousredhead.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=670"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/ridiculousredhead.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=670"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/ridiculousredhead.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=670"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}