Growing Challenge update

Well the expriment worked with the Aerogarden. No need to buy more grow plugs, just trim a piece off a piece of sea sponge you have lying around, drop a few seeds in and let the process begin anew. The Hyssop, Lemon balm and chamomile are all sprouted (in that order). So there is no concern about the larger texture of the sponge not providing sufficient capilary action to reach some very...very...annoyingly tiny seeds.

I'm still using the nutrient tablets that originally came with the kit but when that runs out I may try wastewater from the fishtank. Then maybe I can feel a little less guilty about still keeping a fishtank. The effectiveness of the water remains to be seen. N is easy to measure, but I haven't really looked for P and K test kits. There's no harm in topping the garden off with a little tank water and seeing how it does I suppose. Since most of the seedlings will barely have more than a taproot before I start moving them to flats and weather cooperating begin hardening them off I don't think a nutrient deficit will show. Once summer is in full swing I will try to grow a full lifecycle of an annual or two just to see the results...stay tuned.

The valerian, lavender, and mint are doing well in their new soil "apartments" a little too well in fact, The valerian is going to take over the counter. Its pretty obvious the light from the hood spills out in very sufficient quantities to keep adjacent plants growing well in a dim kitchen on the north side of a NY home. I may end up bringing the valerian and the mint to work and put them in my office window until spring.

Compost pile is still frozen...grrr. Wrapped a tarp around the lattice box frame, hopefully the slight thaw we had will be enough to trap some heat and restart the biological activity. Why is it you always end up with the best rinds, peels, "lettuce butts" etc, when the pile is running slow?

I guess phil saw his shadow so we have six more weeks of winter...or rather people a little further south have six more weeks of winter, I'd love to have only six weeks left....sigh.