The garden is planted!!!

[NJCher]

2. congrats

I'm doing pepper plants today, too.

Because of the mild winter, I had more time to work on soil amendments, plus I do watering more regularly now. Last night I was--excuse me--drumroll here, astonished at how good my gardens look. They are flourishing. Maybe I will get some pics and post them.

I also go to way more trouble than most people when I put in new plants. People like my community gardeners, who act like I'm nuts for going to all this trouble.

I first fill the hole for the soil with soaked organic matter (chopped leaves, compost), then water it, epsom salts if appropriate, put in the plant, and top it with a corrugated cardboard box that has ample air circulation but which covers it from the sun for three-four days. Then I put mulch or straw around the base to keep the water from evaporating.

I say to the gardeners: would you just take a baby and put him on the bus to school? Hell no. Gotta' get 'em acclimated.

That they sorta' understand.