Winter Farmers Market

The official end of the Wisconsin winter might have been last weekend?


While we might still have some cold days here in Milwaukee, this year's "Milwaukee County Winter Farmers' Market" ended on Saturday April 14th 2012. This farmers market runs from Nov 5th - April 14th, every Saturday from 8am-Noon. It's indoors, which is great for snowy days. When I went on April 14th, there was green vegetables, root crops, honey, wine, meat, fish, mushrooms, local coffee, jarred pickles, and some cool dog treats. Out side there was a tent selling seedling plants; peppers, tomatoes (so many varieties...), lettuces, herb, etc..

So what did I buy. Rushing Waters Fisheries located in Kettle Moraine had a deal on two fresh trout, smoke salmon, and salmon burgers that I couldn't pass up. While talking to Springdale Farm I bought some potatoes. My wife loves the pickled mushrooms over at River Valley and I really like their mixed mushroom deal. We just last night ate the incredible tasting lamb chops from Pinn-Oak Ridge Farms, Watch Steph's Snack Shack for the a blog about dish. 


Still not impressed, well visit the links bellow and see what else they had there. Remember just 7 more months before it starts again... that reminds me, I better start working on my vegetable garden before it winters comes back! ;)




Resources:
Official Milwaukee County Winter Farmers' Market


List of Producers at the Winters Farmers Market

More pictures from my visit 

Starting Seeds: Cubes

It's Soil, in 3D...

In one of my previous blogs is mentioned the soil cube. Normally don't buy 'new innovate garden tools' as they are more marketing then quality. After some research, I bought one. I still think it is a great item for starting seeds and will still use it, but maybe not a convenient as soil pellets. Here is what I learned.

The Marketing:

• Save Money! The soil cube system is less expensive.  It serves as both a container and the soil for starting and growing seedlings, eliminating the need for plastic pots and trays for transplanted seedlings
• Seedlings grown in soil cubes form stronger root systems than those grown in containers due to increased oxygen to the roots and the soil cube's natural tendency to"air-prune" roots. This creates a substantial advantage when seedlings are transplanted into the field, because plants establish themselves more quickly and, because of lessened root disruption, they are less prone to transplant shock.

Actual Pros:

• Plants don't have transplant shock
• Plants (after being transplanted) grow faster, have less issue
• No root issues, like root balling.
• less seed starting issues when they sprout
• very cheep to do a lot of seed starting

Actual Cons:

• little more work get soil ready to plant seeds
• little more messy to make cubes
• harder to keep moist (might do better with self water system...)
• if you water too much the cube become a puddle of mud

Summary:
Will I use this again? Yes.
It might be a little more dirtier and little more hime to make the cubes. The plants do so much better in the long term. Tomato plants last year did better then direct sow or seed tray methods. My only real worry is watering the cubes. Too little water and the seeds won't grow. Too much water and the cube falls apart. Then again, it might be good for beginner gardeners to teach how much water seeds need.

Future improvements: self watering would be great.



soil cube

Episode 600 interview with soil cube creator clayton jacobs

TSP Gardening Advice

Learning from the mistakes of other...

Thinking about getting head of the garden game by starting seeds? Then this podcast might be for you. I would skip the 1st five minutes of advertising and the last 5min of personal rant. But great content about starting seeds and common issues.

TSP EPISODE-831- SEED STARTING PRIMER FOR 2012

• Understanding how seeds germinate in the wild
• Starting seeds: Cubes vs. Pots vs. Paper vs. peat
• Why starting indoors is a good idea
• Light and not all light is equal
• Building a simple grow light
• Mist watering and watering from the bottom
• Creating constant temperatures
• Culling and “pricking out”
• Starting seeds in pots that are generally considered “direct sow”
• Seeds that should almost always be direct sowed
• Hardening off seeds
• Potting up the why and how
• Holding back in ground planting until you are sure
• Mulch is your friend

Starting Seeds: Scheduling

A garden man with a plan

I know it just snowed just last week, but know is the time to plan what you are going to be growing. Your local hardware and garden stores know it is time, and they already have seeds ready to sell. Maybe you just need to plan what and where you are planting. maybe it it time to get some seeds started. Maybe you are going to start buying supplies for that green house.

First some basic (Zone 5):

Average Last Freeze: May 30th

Average First Freeze: Oct 1st

Schedule for seed starting/planting (Zone 5):

Starting Seeds:

Remember that if you are starting seeds you need to think about extra light, extra heat, extra water. Those poor little seeds need constant attention to get started.

Planting Seeds/Plants:

I would keep an eye on the weather. A frost or night temps at 32F could kill your plant or stunt its growth where you won't get any fruit that year.  You might what to look at a cold frame or hot box. I am going wait till May 20th for my hot box, and June 10th for regular planting.

References:

www.veggieharvest.com

www.squidoo.com