Mesclun on porch with PAR bulb
On Thursday morning I was up at 4:45AM. It’s been a long time since I woke up early. I got my post up and got the kitchen cleaned up. I’d put the long boxes of plant light bulbs on the counter and decided to change out 1 bulb in each fixture.
The new bulbs I got are AgroMax 4 Foot T5 Pure PAR Veg Bulbs. From the website:
““PAR” is comprised of lighting wavelengths between 400-700 nanometers (“nm”). Plants primarily utilize only a small portion of the visible light spectrum; primarily the red and blue spectrums, or 420-470nm (blue) and 620-670nm (red). By observing the spectral graph provided with most grow lamps, you will see that much of the output of nearly every MH and HPS lamp is outside of the blue and red spectrums, this is “wasted light” as far as plants are concerned.”
I only got 16 to try as they were sold in lots of 8, so not quite enough for every fixture. Three fixtures would not have one.
Celery seedlings
Next I checked all the seedlings, thinning or transplanting as needed.
I was closely supervised through these jobs.
Next I finally got the laundry folded and put away and then got a shower and sat down for a while.
My #2 intern was coming to set up lights so I had also prepped for this. The next seed starting is on the 31st, Monday, and there are 12 trays.
She arrived about 9:30AM and began bringing up all the stuff we would need from the cellar. We would do the office first as we had to move the armoire to set up.
We did that first and then started setting up the base shelf. That takes a while as we have to make sure it is level. We got the 4’ long x 2’ wide bottom lights hung, and then did the upper shelves. I would be using the new lights and they had a hanging wire vs. the hooks and chains of all the others.
We soon discovered the wire was useless for being able to adjust the lights. So for this year the lights are fixed. Next year, I will get clamping sleeves and adapt the wires to be adjustable.
We finished in the office about noon and she started bringing up the stuff we’d need to set up the roundtop window in the living room. She had to go at 12:30PM.
I’ve had a lot of pain in my left foot lately, not sure why. It comes and goes, but it was in full force on Thursday. My helper friend had arrived at noon and he had done some chores and watered seedlings. We were supposed to inventory the cellars, but standing on concrete for 5 hours just wasn’t going to happen.
Little trees II – 6. Reliance peach
I had put spray peaches trees on the list to remind us to do them soon. But he felt that it was a good day to get that job done. So while he was bringing the spraying stuff upstairs after restocking it, and making the peach spray, I went out and got the cage off the little peach tree and brought the ladder over to the big peach tree.
Little trees – 10. York elderberry sprouts
So we did the little peach and got its cage back on and then went over and did the big peach tree. Next to it, he noticed the York elderberry had sprouts.
Little Trees – 9.Contender peach being sprayed
We finished this job and put the ladder away while he washed out the sprayer. I couldn’t wait to sit down.
Back inside, we discussed pruning the peach tree. He brought up some pruning videos on his phone and we watched those. We decided to go out to the 1.North Star cherry tree to check out the root stock problem.
In the left photo, the large tree trunk is the root stock that sprouted. The fruit tree is on the left. My helper friend cut off the root stock and we will see if the little cherry tree does better this year.
Saw in hand he was on a mission. So we went over to look at the peach tree. Using what we saw in this video, he went to work on the peach tree.
It had leaned far to the southeast and had not been pruned since 2021. He mostly cut off the big branches because neither one of us wanted to get the pruners and loppers or clean up a big mess.
Then we shifted our attention the poor 6.Lapins cherry. This tree had done poorly from the start but really needed pruning. So based on the 2 videos we’d seen, we gave it a severe pruning.
I’d had to dress warmly to be outside but it was a lovely day.
West garden – coltsfoot flowers
Once back in the house for good, we discussed what we’d be doing on Friday morning. The first thing was to get the roundtop set up. Then if it had warmed up, we’d go out and finish the pruning of the 3 we’d done, and then try to shape the Little trees II 6.Reliance peach tree.
He made me a ham and pear supper before leaving.
Once he had gone, I sat down and started editing the 100 or so photos I had taken. I noticed at 6:45PM the setting sun was coming directly in the west window and down the length of the house.
I got the photos mostly edited, the fires going and the shades pulled and was in bed by 9PM.
On Friday, in the afternoon I have an event, Maple Sugaring in History, at the Senior Center and go directly from there to PT, so another long busy day.