September 6, 2018
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| What my girls do at 6am. |
I have always been an early riser. Those first hours in the morning are my most productive. It's when I can write, read and think without phone calls, texts or distractions. I never thought that you could pass on an early rising gene, but apparently I passed it on to Abby and Maddy. We tell them every night, no lights on until 6:30, 'Don't come out until 7.' It doesn't make a difference. By 6:15 - 6:30 they are awake, making their beds and starting some project. The other morning they were being particularly loud so I left my office to see what the ruckus was for. I reminded them about the time (it was just before 6:30), the importance of sleep (can't imagine that means much to little kids) and how we need to be quiet until 7. I said directly to Maddy - 'You know it's only 6:30 right?' And she looks me square in the eye and says 'P.M.?'. She is our little jokester and she said it with a twinkle in her eye. As if somehow her confusion about it being morning or night would make me sympathetic to their reasons for noise-making. I couldn't help but laugh and left them with instructions to try to be a little quieter when they wake up in the morning.
Anyone else love the morning? It's a great time for getting things done. Plus, if you have the energy, it's perfect for getting a few garden chores done before the world wakes up. It's cool, the sun isn't beating down on you and sometimes you get a really pretty sunrise. In our yard we'll even see a few bats heading off to their day-time lairs. I know the morning isn't for everyone, but for me, it is one of the best times of the day.
If you are going to head out to the garden, start thinking about veggie season. This week our first fall shipment of veggies arrived, and we also have all of our certified gmo-free seeds in stock. (See below for some tips on starting veggies from seed.) It's a great way to get lots of cool varieties and especially practical if you are planting large beds of lettuce or spinach. In a few weeks, all of your new seedlings will be ready for the garden, just in time for fall.
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Happy Gardening, The Kerby's Nursery Family 
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| It's time to start fall seeds. |
Starting Veggies from Seed
1) Plant at the correct depth - This is the most important part of planting seeds. A general rule of thumb is that small seeds should be planted shallow (a quarter of an inch under the soil) and large seeds should be planted deep (around an inch under the soil). Each seed packet will tell you the depth that particular seed variety should be planted at. Follow it. Seeds that want to be shallow won't have the energy to reach sunlight if they are planted too deep. Seeds that want to be deeper will emerge too quickly and won't be strong enough to stay upright if they are planted too shallow.
2) Start Seeds in Pots or Trays - Some seeds, like lettuce, spinach, radishes and carrots are easier to start right in garden beds. But some veggies like collards, broccoli, tomatoes and peppers are easier to start in individual pots or trays. We like to use old egg cartons with holes poked in them as our seed-starting trays. This allows you to start a number of seeds and then select the strongest plants for your garden. When starting seeds in pots or trays, use a very light soil. Mix a little perlite or vermiculite into your garden soil to lighten it, or use a mix designed specifically for seeds. A dense, heavy soil can be tough for a little seedling to push through.
3) Water seeds properly - Seeds don't need a whole lot to get started. A little sunlight and moderate moisture is all that they require. Avoid over-saturating the soil that you are starting seeds in, as this can lead to disease issues and poor growth of seedlings. As seedlings grow larger, increase the amount of water they receive.
4) Transplant - The first set of leaves that emerge are called seed-leaves. The second set will be the true leaves. Once the true leaves have emerged, your new seedlings should be ready for transplant. Don't let them stay in little trays too long or they will get rootbound.
5) Have Fun - Seeds are a great way to start heirloom varieties that are hard to find as starter plants and it is the best way to start large beds of lettuce, spinach and other greens. So experiment a little, find a variety and challenge yourself to have your best harvests ever.
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Seeds, Veggies and Camellias |
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GMO Free Seeds Fall seeds are in. |
Veggie Starts are here Lots of varieties to choose from. 6" Pot - $5.99 4-Pack - $3.99 |
Camellias
New Shipment 10" Pot - $29.99 |