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Backing off. I suppose what I mean when I say that is that I am not going to try and force a schedule. That does not mean I am going to simply sit by idly. I have a few things I might be able to do. Function is limited, of course. I seem hung up on some of the things I want and need to do, so... why not add something different and try to branch sideways rather than straight through? This brings me to a subject that might get something going. Indoor winter gardening. The notion arrived, possibly, just in the nick of time.
I was reading one of my wisdom sites when I happened upon something that did grab my interest. Indoor winter gardening. It seemed, at first take, like something a Floridian or Californian might do. Their winters are mild enough. But no, the author assures me she lives in the cold of Colorado, and mountains to boot if I read that right.
Her ideas seem sound. And, since we have not had our first frost, I might be able to salvage my tomato plants, and whatever else has survived. The rest, she suggests, would be best started from heirloom seeds, so I might be good. Of course, I have to examine what I would need to begin such an affair. The tomatoes and peppers would need to be stationed downstairs, near the big south window. The plants I could grow upstairs, as it is cooler but with plenty of south facing windows, could be started at any time. I considered building a trough or two, and that might work downstairs but due to the window wells, it might not be necessary upstairs. Then again, being too close to the windows might not work. A little trial and error there, however, might prove the best way to find out. I would need planters though, large ones for tomatoes, smaller ones of various sizes for the rest.
I need to go to the store for groceries, so I may investigate the price of planters while I am there. I think I have enough wood and nails simply left by the previous owner to build the planters and bits to use as stakes for the tomato plants. There would be no cost, other than planters. Actually, they left a rather large one of those too. So I would only need 3 planters, initially, for the tomatoes, and 3 smaller ones for the various peppers. I believe I purchased modified planting soil, though I am not sure it would be enough. Another bag or three of that too, would be good. Rocks for the bases of the planters I have aplenty. You know, that might be a project I could get done.
I will keep you informed. A shower, a drive, and I will know more. Groceries are calling anyway. By the way, as I shop, I have been picking up items for my short and long term food storage. Several gallon jugs of oils have been purchased, more cans of vegetables, more tuna, small cans of various other meats, and bits of this and that. I am trying to store these until I have a sufficient larder to add those into a solid rotation, though I did break into that during this falling out. I have replaced and more much of what I used the last time I shopped. The good news is, in my use of some of those items, I was able to weed out things I really do not like no matter how hungry I might happen to be. It is tough to keep up when I lose track. Considering all, I am going much more forward than backward.
Yes, I will tell you how my scouting trip went. If I calculate it to be less than $40 or maybe $50, I may jump on it right there. Besides, I have been craving plants in the house for some time. I really enjoy green growing things. Dealing with the felines might be a little tricky. Perhaps using a bit of spare 4x4 open (4"x4") wire fencing I have lying around might be needed? Is there a spray that is a strong enough disincentive to their investigations and mauling? I know ammonia, cut to about 1/3 to 1/5 with water, keeps dogs from urinating on tires and can be used to keep them at bay. Oh, and it being the time it is and since I will be out anyway, I will stop and pick up 5 gallon water jugs and some 5 gallon buckets and lids, I saw a place where they are on sale... if I have not missed the sale. It all gets blurry sometimes.
The dirt may prove to be an irresistible attraction to use as a litter box. Daisycat attached chicken wire screens across the top of some of our larger houseplant pots (cutout for the plant itself) to solve the problem. A layer of rocks, at least silver dollar size or larger can serve to deter the urge to dig and wee.
ReplyDeleteI didn't read the article you reference, just glanced at it, but from my experience of trying this, it could work but there are at least as many challenges as gardening outdoors in summer. One of the main challenges is getting enough light for plants like tomatoes. Feeble winter sun with shortened hours may not be enough to ripen regular tomato varieties. I *did* have ongoing good results with cherry tomato varieties indoors however.
Another solution is to suspend one of those 50 watt high pressure sodium fixtures meant to light up an outdoor area, over the plants. With the extra red spectrum those lights give off, tomatoes should ripen well. Or you could shop one of those "hydroponic", "indoor gardening" sites meant to set up an intrepid grower of herbs with everything necessary to produce his favorite recreational substances, to get a complete setup to grow whatever you wanted indoors. (ahem) By the time you're done with that route however, you could be looking at $100 tomatoes.
I'd stick with cherry tomatoes and natural winter sunlight.
It may not matter. I showered, dressed, and... crashed. Leaving home is like leaving the orbit, my engines just aren't cutting it. I am not going to push, as I said, but if something happens we will see.
ReplyDeleteWhat do do with the soil might work for some things though. I will, in time, bring in plants. Collecting several buckets of rocks might be something I could get done.