Tomatoes and Peppers Started Indoors

Joe's Round Hot Pepper. Seeded on March 5, 2018, photographed on March 24, 2018.

Peppers and tomatoes started in seed starting mix. Plastic wrap over the yogurt containers keeps the soil moist while the seeds germinate. Doesn't take long for the plants to get tall enough to brush the plastic wrap, at which time I remove it and start paying attention to the soil's moisture level, watering from the bottom as needed. (I poked holes in the yogurt containers prior to planting.) 

Federle tomato sprouts. Sown on March 15, 2018. Photographed on March 24, 2018.

Germination goes better with heating pads, set on low/medium, under the plastic trays, especially for the peppers. Lights are rigged on the shelving. I turn the lights and heating pads on about 7 a.m. and off at about 9 p.m.

Peppers and tomatoes under lights. March 24, 2018.

 

Lemon Balm

Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis), July 2016.

Lemon Balm makes the heart glad. I tincture it in 100 proof vodka and put 30 or so drops in 1/8 cup water before bed when I've had nervous insomnia. 

Creeping Charlie

Clip leaves and flowers at height of bloom (in June usually) and tincture in 100 proof vodka. Excellent for "glue ear," or otic catarrh (congestion in the ear). We take the tincture orally - 15 drops or so in 1/8 cup water.

Creeping Charlie, or Ground Ivy (Glechoma hederacea), July 2016

Anise Hyssop

Anise Hyssop grows in my rain garden in the transition (least wet) zone. It "self-sows readily" according to the back of the Seed Savers packet and according to my experience.

Anise Hyssop (Agastache foeniculum), July 2016

Herbal Uses

It is antiviral and a mucolytic that we have had much luck with in treating summer colds. Tear off a leaf, chew and swallow.

Anise Hyssop nestled among the other flowers in the rain garden. You can see it on the left among the ornamental onions, July 2016.

Strawberries

Good companions for strawberries include borage, garlic, onions, thyme, lettuce, spinach (mutually beneficial), beans, caraway, dill, fennel, coriander, mint and sage.

Strawberries blooms, summer 2017.

Culver's root, Veronicastrum virginicum,  (pictured with monarda/bee balm), July 2016.

Culver's root grows euphorically in a low spot along our fence line, happily spreading into the neighbor's flower bed. It has no scent, but attracts many insects including the Great Black Wasp.

Coleus

Coleus set in water to root.. March 5, 2018 

Roots! March 24, 2018.