Time of the Season......

It is that time again...the motivation is there. This year we have decided to have our own pumpkin patch....no room in the yard of course, so we will be heading over the the New Baltimore Community Garden again - but this time not just to watch the other plots flourish, but ours as well.  Hoping to yield enough carving pumpkins for all the kids on the block. A big undertaking, but starting small. It was amazing to watch, within 3 short days, those pumpkin seeds pop out of the little peat pots- at first just spindly little tubes of whitish-green, with one or two lone, sad looking little leaves. And the empty, split shell of the seed still inevitably stuck to one of them (how DOES that happen!?). It was amazing, yes, but sort of pitiful and doubtful that much could ever come of it. Then, we gave them what they needed: fresh outdoor air and SUN! There is definiely a miracle in each little seed - just waiting to show itself. 3 seeds per pot, according to the directions (I do not claim to know what I am doing when it comes to growing) and now those spindly tubes have flourished with more and more leaves; a bright, cheerful, full of hope green bouquet puffing out of each peat pot. Little babies all tucked together in our Radio Flier wagon: put it out in the sun during the day, wheel it back under the safety of the awning at night. Now, the challenge...when are they ready? Not too soon - they won't be happy pulled from their haven and stuck into rough earthy soil....not too late - they will become too root-bound and will never find their way out, struggle, wilt, and....ugh. We had better get some back-ups from Krow Acres and SharKar Farms at the Early Season Farmers Market this Sunday in New Baltimore....just in case. And of course cucumbers...lots of cucumbers.