woofie said:I threw away one seedling this morning. Now I have to go wash some more pots...

Awwwwww..... Po lil seedlin'!!!

Well, it was a barely sprouted seed, and it had about 36 siblings, who are now all taking up space in one of my trays.

Oh, Rick, it was the 40 day variety.

Thanks, Woofie, Inquiring Minds Want To Know.

I got the 40 day Yu Choy from Tainong Seeds in 2012. So the seeds are 3-4 years old but still germinating rapidly. Cool!

I see they don't carry those any more, or else they've re-named them:

Extra-Early Yu Choy Sum ( 特 早 油 菜 心):

I'm curious to see (see? ) how they taste. I was astounded at how quickly they sprouted.

The "test babies" have graduated out into the cold frame. Of course, tonight it's supposed to be 43° so we shall see... Got a heavy moving blanket ready to cover up the cold frame.

The test subjects:


Lid propped up with a rock, until I discovered how cold it's going to be tonight. I removed the rock but the cold frame is still open a bit in front. It's 64°F right now.


Hubby headed to work on the garden! He's building the base of the "screen/green room" and already has the bases of the raised beds. Pics to come.


So when should I cover the cold frame? At dusk or before the sun is completely gone? Thanks y'all!!

woofie said:Well, it was a barely sprouted seed, and it had about 36 siblings, who are now all taking up space in one of my trays.

You have my empathy!

Hardening the babies...


When we bought our house there used to be a pool, which is what you see in the background. Dh has been re-purposing the wood from the pool for the garden.

What are you going to do with the space where the pool was/is Tori? Was just thinking that might make some more area for your vegetable garden, if you're going to fill it in. Not so many tree roots there, maybe? Is it sunny most of the day?

The prior owner of one house had removed the pool by our request, but he never mentioned that he had laid down some long-lasting herbicide under the pool. It took several years for a few weeds to venture into that No-Go Zone.

Gorgeous cold frames and seedling trays, Tori!

dyzzypyxxy said:What are you going to do with the space where the pool was/is Tori? Was just thinking that might make some more area for your vegetable garden, if you're going to fill it in. Not so many tree roots there, maybe? Is it sunny most of the day?

There are actually trees growing out of the bottom of it now. lol. We are planning to add a master bath onto the back of the house and then a smaller pool and sunroom. I originally wanted to add the sunroom to have greens growing all year, but since that is the North side of the house, I don't know how well that will work.

We purchased this property as a foreclosure and the only thing wrong with it was the pool. The house was in move-in condition. We got a great deal and it's our "empty nest" - small enough so none of the chitlins can come home to roost but cozy and roomy enough for us ole love birds. lol.

Eventually, I want to terrace the hill along the back yard and make garden beds since the sun shines on it all day.


However, this is my only concern:

RickCorey said:Gorgeous cold frames and seedling trays, Tori!

Thanks Rick! We'll see how that cold frame works tonight and those seedlings survive. I don't know when to cover the cold frame. The temp is up to 68° now and cloudy but is supposed to go down to 44° tonight.

I would close the frame early enough to build up some heat. If you are there and can watch it, you can always crack it open again if it gets too hot.

I would cover the frame around or shortly before dusk, to catch the maximum amount of heat.

I agree with Rick (as usual! ).
And the best cure for those visitors is deer fencing at least 8 ft high! Where we used to live in Oregon, the Fish and Wildlife Dept would provide the materials for free. Couldn't hurt to ask. We were only fencing an area about 50 ft by 30 ft and they gave us the posts and fence material. All we had to do was go pick it up. Of course, that was in another country far away...

RickCorey said:I would close the frame early enough to build up some heat. If you are there and can watch it, you can always crack it open again if it gets too hot.

I would cover the frame around or shortly before dusk, to catch the maximum amount of heat.

Okay, I covered it since the sun is down and the temps will start dropping soon. Thank you. =)

woofie said:I agree with Rick (as usual! ).
And the best cure for those visitors is deer fencing at least 8 ft high! Where we used to live in Oregon, the Fish and Wildlife Dept would provide the materials for free. Couldn't hurt to ask. We were only fencing an area about 50 ft by 30 ft and they gave us the posts and fence material. All we had to do was go pick it up. Of course, that was in another country far away...

That's why we are building the screen/green room around the garden, but terraced beds might be a little difficult to fence in. We do plan to fence in all of the back 1.5 acres so the dogs have room to roam and that may deter the deer from coming into our yard. We have enough irons in the fire right now, so the terraced beds are on the back burner. That's a project for later on down the line, like when the back yard is done.

We're also considering fencing in the front 1.5 acres some day. If we find that the back fencing keeps the deer out, that's one wildlife issue solved.

I will have to look up the GA Fish and Wildlife Dept to see if they will provide materials for free. That would be nice even though the materials so far have been free (from the pool deck.)

By the way Woofie, I love your signature quote. That is SOOOo true!!! LOL!!

Tori, you may have said and I missed it, but do you have a remote thermometer thing in the cold frame so you can keep track of the temp? If not, I would highly recommend one And at any rate, if your temp goes to 43 or so I think your plants will be okay (that's about where I make sure my GH stays when I start moving stuff out there and use the propane heater...)

Those remote thermometers are great; although I haven't found one with enough range to work between the house and my greenhouse. Any recommendations?

Weedwhacker said:Tori, you may have said and I missed it, but do you have a remote thermometer thing in the cold frame so you can keep track of the temp? If not, I would highly recommend one And at any rate, if your temp goes to 43 or so I think your plants will be okay (that's about where I make sure my GH stays when I start moving stuff out there and use the propane heater...)

I tried the remote thermometer but the receiver in the house is out of range from the cold frame. I have one that used to hang in the window of our camper that showed lows and highs. I'm going to replace the battery and see if that one still works.

woofie said:Those remote thermometers are great; although I haven't found one with enough range to work between the house and my greenhouse. Any recommendations?

Same problem here. I really want to buy one of those automatic vent openers but having a difficult time finding one that will lift the shower door ... unless I pay $140.

Woofie and Tori -- how far apart are you talking about for the two parts?