Farmgirl Friday blog hop # 57 and Rhubarb

 

Welcome Friends and newcomers to the 57th  week of the Farmgirl Friday Blog Hop!

As always your entries were inspiring, providing bushels of food for thought...and recipes too!

My two faves from last week were for using Rhubarb which is in season from April - September.

Hickery Holler Farm featured Grandma Edna's Rhubarb Cake AND...Nancy from A Rural Journal shared a recipe for Rhubarb Streusel Cakes on her Rural Thursday Hop! I can't wait to try them both!!!

  Do you grow rhubarb? We have one plant that is in it's third year. This will be the first year that we harvest from it. I found a great site that tells all about how to harvest rhubarb here!

This is our plant from a few days ago... It won't be long before we'll be fork deep into some Rhubarb  pie...Did you know there is such a thing as Rhubarb Soda too? A face book friend of Dandelion House shared a link from Culinate for it! I'm definitely tucking this one away for a hot summer evening in the garden!

Now it's your turn to share! What have my farmgirl/guy friends been up to this week? 

Tell us on the hop!

1.) Write a post about your farmgirl lifestyle and brag a little about your farmgirl talents while your at it! Share what being a farmgirl means to you. Include lots of photos of your farm, crafts, animals, quilts, home decor projects and thrifty make overs, your backyard garden, chicken coop, recipes, studio or workshop. You get the idea!

2). Leave your entry in the Mr. Linky space to your Farmgirl Friday post.


3). Please include the Farmgirl Friday button ( or link back here ) in your post and remember to share this hop with all of your blogging friends!

Have a great week and don't forget to leave a note on the garden gate today!

Dandelion Wishes,
Deborah Jean

Tender Starts~ Beginners luck in the Greenhouse

Cosmos

As with most new beginnings there are always some nerves, a little nail biting, and small worries in hopes that all your hard work and sweat will pay off... I've been holding my breath as I waited for the seeds I planted on April 28th and 29th to sprout in the greenhouse. After a week of gray skies, off and on rain and cooler temps the Zinnias, Cosmos and Sunflowers have sprouted! WHEW! I'll admit I was obsessing about whether I should have started them on a heat mat instead, but, so far the seeds have sprouted within the proper germination time for each variety.  Thank goodness! I'm a newbie at growing from seed and my flower farm dreams hinge on those tender starts growing strong and tall!

Zinnias

The average temp inside the greenhouse last week was 50 degrees during the day but the prior week when it was quite a bit warmer it was as high as 90 one day.The greenhouse has two windows that can be opened ( plus a door ) to let out heat and allow fresh air to circulate.

Yesterday, I planted all of my tomatoes... It's a little late as we New Englanders go by Memorial Weekend as our last frost date but a few extra weeks won't hurt in the greenhouse and it'll allow me more time to figure out where I'm planting all of them! I chose two large varieties, Beefsteak and Brandywine Red and Yellow, as well as Ace for canning. I have to have cherry tomatoes too so I selected Gardner's delight. Don't you love to just pop'm in your mouth on a hot summer day for a tasty sweet and juicy fix?

Just for fun I also planted Pumpkin on a Stick. An ornamental cut flower for fall arrangements! I thought it would be cute mixed in with sunflowers and other late summer bloomers!

I also discovered Seed Savors Exchange . They are an organization dedicated to saving and sharing heirloom seeds.  If you don't already know about them click on the link and enjoy learning more!
 I have a few more flower varieties on order from Seed Savors. The soil is warm enough outside to plant cool weather loving plants such as bush beans, pole beans, sweet peas, lettuce, onions and Swiss chard.

Supplies List:
Greenhouse ( Shelter Logic ) 10x10x8
Two tall plastic shelving units for holding seeds
Seeds ( Botanical Interest )
Organic Seed Starter ( 8 bags)
Seed trays and inserts
Watering Can with a wide sprinkle tip
Plastic Wrap for covering seed trays ( you can also use plastic bags from the grocery store or bubble wrap )
Garden Gloves  ~ One waterproof and two all purpose garden gloves for doing light work in the yard.
One seed planter
Thermometer

I would love any tips for greenhouse growing from any of you experienced growers out there!

Do you heat your greenhouse or use heating mats?
What month do you begin planting seeds in your unheated greenhouse? 

One kind reader suggested I leave the watering can inside the greenhouse filled with water so it would stay warm for soaking dry potting soil. This has worked out great so thanks for that tip! 

That's all for today friends! The sun is out and I've got plenty to keep me busy outside today!
Thanks so much for stopping by.  I'm hopping over to the Homestead Barn Hop with this post and Heidi's Country Garden Showcase! Maybe I'll see ya there!

Saturday Scenes with Boz

 

 Robust Rhodie's

Saturdays Scenes with Boz

A Saturday scene for your enjoyment~ 

Happy Saturday Dandelion House friends. Here's a peek at whats' bloomin' in our neck of the woods. 

 Thanks for looking and have a great day.

Boz