Today was one of those rainy garden days where I still managed to get a lot done, but I also caught a little mistake before it became a bigger problem.
I had mixed up a fresh soil blend with Dr. Earth tomato fertilizer to refresh some of my larger plants that were looking yellow and stressed. That blend was meant for established plants — things like my curly willow, peach tree, chasteberry, lemon tree, and basil.
Then I realized something: I had also started some of my seeds in that same fertilized soil blend.
That gave me pause.
Seeds are tiny, but they already carry what they need to begin germinating. In the very beginning, they don’t really need fertilizer. They need moisture, warmth, air, and the right planting depth. Once they sprout, those brand-new roots are tender. If the soil is too rich or has too much fertilizer mixed in, it can sometimes stress or burn those young roots before the seedling has a chance to get strong.
That doesn’t mean every seed tray I planted is ruined. Dr. Earth is a gentler fertilizer, so I’m going to watch the first tray and see what happens. But I decided not to take chances. I started another round using a simpler mix so I could compare and give myself a backup.
In trays, I planted:
- Tomatoes
- Okra
- Kale
- Spinach
- Sage
I also direct sowed into pots:
- Zucchini
- Turnips
- Pumpkin
- Onion
- Squash
- Swiss chard
I was out of lemongrass seeds, so that one will have to wait.
The reason I direct sowed some of these into pots instead of trays is because certain plants don’t love being moved once they get growing. Squash, zucchini, pumpkin, and turnips usually do better when they can start right where they’re going to grow. With the storms coming through, I held off until I felt like the timing made more sense.
This season has really been teaching me about timing. The heat has been intense, the rain has been heavy, and my watering system wasn’t fully in place early enough. Growing in pots and grow bags means the garden dries out faster, heats up faster, and reacts quickly when watering is inconsistent.
So today was about adjusting.
Not perfect. Just learning.
I’m proud of what I got done on a rainy day. I caught the mistake, made a backup plan, planted more seeds, and kept moving forward. That’s what this garden keeps reminding me: every mishap can turn into a note, and every note can help the next round grow better.
This is my learning garden — one seed, one pot, one rainy day at a time.
Rooted in Nature. Crafted With Intention.
House of Flava Garden Notes
