Seed Grow Project July Update

          I am supposed to post an update the first Sunday of every month. July was a big OOPS for me. We didnt get back from vacation until the 30th, and I forgot. Anyway, I am going to catch up today. My nasturtium "Spitfire" is planted at the corner of the potager, in full sun. It is only partially shaded by the plants in the border in front of it.  We have in the middle of a heat wave and a very dry spell. I dug into my flower bed to try and find where I planted garlic bulbs, and found absolutely nothing. Almost like they dried up and withered away. Those two weeks that I was gone was hard on things without water. I dug down about 6" inches and found nothing but bone dry hard dirt. Since I have been back, I have been watering things as best I can, but the flower garden is only getting a light watering since we have a limited amount of well water, and the potager is getting water about every other day this week. Most of the extra I am reserving for the veggie garden. I have only grown Nasturtiums one other time in my life, and that was a very long time ago. I know I have seen pics of beautiful, full blooming nasturtiums so I figure its something with my growing conditions. Mine look healthy, nice bright green, but I have very few blooms at once. Usually only 1 or 2 at a time. I love the bright, vibrant orange color, and the white veining in the leaves though. As you may remember from my potager post, it is growing in several inches of composted horse manure.

"I'm growing Nasturtium "Spitfire" for the GROW project, thanks to Renee's Garden for the seeds."

The Grow Project update

       This is an update for the Seed Grow Project for the month of June. it is a little late however, since it was supposed to be posted this past Sunday. I have the first Climbing Nasturtium Spitfire planted in the potager. However, I forgot about a plants tendency to grow facing the sun, so this gal is growing facing the fence of the potager. It still may look pretty nice once it gets more mature and blooms, I am hoping it climbs around the rails as it is growing up. It is about 18" tall and looking very lush and green. No blooms as yet. This one was winter sown in a milk jug, so it is my largest plant. I have done no fertilizing , but it is growing in soil topped with about 6" of aged horse manure. It is in full sun as well. So far I havent had to water. It seems when things are starting to get a little parched, it rains.

This Spitfire Nasturtium is growing in my raised bed in the backyard. It was spring sown then transplanted. Right now it is about a foot tall, and looks very green and pretty as well. I cant wait to see this one bloom. Where it is planted, instead of climbing, I want it to drape down my 30" stone wall that supports my raised bed. I think this will look very attractive. This one is also growing in full sun in my natural clay soil but with only a top dressing of composted horse manure.I have watered this bed a few times when it got dry, but thats only because its close to the hose, and I have a load of winter sown seedlings growing in this 60 foot long bed.

 
"I'm growing Nasturtium "Spitfire" for the GROW project, thanks to Renee's Garden for the seeds."

Grow Project

 My Climbing Nasturtium Spitfire's that I winter sowed one month ago, are doing very well. They are about 4" tall now.Leaves are bright green and very healthy looking. I just took these from their winter home (milk jug) and planted them in the potager under a small 3 ft bamboo tri-pod a couple of days ago. Our last frost date isnt offically until May 15, so I am taking a chance removing these from their protective home so soon. But I am hopefull our frost are done. Either way, my backyard is surrounded by my house and hills, so it doesnt get frosted very easily. As soon as we get some good weather again I will direct sow the remainder of my seeds with more details added to this post, on where and how they are planted.

Here is a pic taken moments ago of the Spitfires in their new home in the potager.

I forgot to mention, when I created the beds for the potager, they are made up of about 1/2 aged horse manure, and the rest my poor clay soil. Everything was till together very well. In this bed I also have my strawberries and a few winter sown seedlings (one of which can be seen growing right in front), and some lettuce, and a nice layer of mulch layed over.

 "I'm growing Nasturtium "Spitfire" for the GROW project, thanks to Renee's Garden for the seeds."

Grow Project

This Sunday ( the first Sunday of the month) officially starts the Grow Project using  Renee's seeds. As you might remember from my first post, she generously donated seeds from Nasturtium "Spitfire" for a sort of online online community growing project. Each month we are to document our progress. Since it's too early yet for me to direct sow, so I put  6 seeds in a container for wintersowing as shown below.

This container will now sit outside and take what weather conditions mother nature throws at it. Then when all dangers of frost are past, they will be planted out in their permanent location.I will also direct sow the remaining seeds after dangers of frost. We shall see how each fares. I also wintersowed the beautiful Cosmos "Rose Bon Bon" she sent as a bonus.

 "I'm growing Nasturtium "Spitfire" for the GROW project, thanks to Renee's Garden for the seeds."

GROW Project

    I just received my seeds from Renee's Garden in the mail yesterday. I am so excited to be a part of this gardening project. Thank you Renee for the wonderful seeds that makes this possible. The project is kind of a communal effort among garden bloggers to grow the same plant from seeds as one large group. We are to document the entire process by blogging about how we are growing the plant, our experience with it, tips, photo's and more. Renee generously provided Nasturtium "Spitfire" for participating bloggers. I also received some gorgeous bonus seed, Double Cosmos  "Rose Bon Bon". These look beautiful on the seed packet. I cant wait to try these as well. You can find out more about the GROW Project at this link. 
   I plan to wintersow most of these seeds, and I will hold a few back to also direct sow in the spring. I live in zone 6. We usually don't go below 0° in the winter. So far this year we have gotten down to 8°. My soil has a great deal of clay and rock, but I plan to amend my beds with compost and horse manure from a local trainer. Our summers are probably fairly mild. The average summer temp is probably around 80° to 85°, with occasional highs pushing 100°. Occasional periods of dry weather, but I usually only have to water established plants a couple of times during the growing season. Knowing my gardening habits, these guys most definitely won't be babied,lol. I plan on sowing these out in the wintersown containers around mid March, but couldn't wait to write about receiving these wonderful seeds. I plan to document with pictures further beginning with the actual wintersowing containers as we go. This is going to be a very fun, and informative project.

           "I'm growing Nasturtium "Spitfire" for the GROW project, thanks to Renee's Garden for the seeds."