Freezing Rain and Tomato Seeds

Sure enough, the rain turned to freezing rain this week, transforming the trees into crystal windchimes. I suppose it's rough on the plants, but I find freezing rain so beautiful, and now that I'm off work, I don't have to commute in it, which makes it even more cozy. I love standing at the window watching the sunlight dance on the ice, a book and a hot cuppa being my only goals for the day. (Meanwhile my son's area has been without power and water for three days. We offered to let him stay at the church, but he's standing his ground. An opportunity to be creative and resourceful!)

While the weather outside is frightful, and today it sounds like the wind is trying to tear off the solar panels, indoors it's spring. I've started my tomato starts---optimistically---as well as a tray of marigolds. I tested some older seeds for germination and they all came up, 100%, which is stunning. And now I find I don't have the heart to kill them, but really, it's TOO early to be starting zucchini. But the plucky thing is three inches tall and scrambling toward the light, and I might have to let it just keep going. I could transplant it into bigger and bigger pots, I suppose...

Every year we grow a few things hydroponically indoors, trying various systems. Right now I have trays of spinach growing in the kitchen in net pots of clay pellets, just sitting in containers of nutrient solution. It works. But hubby wants to try buckets this year, with pumps and spray nozzles and aeroponics, so I've started the tomatoes and cucumbers to transfer into that. Maybe I could sneak the zucchini into that without him noticing...?

Finally, I tiptoed outside between downpours and moved some of the soil from a flowerbed we're removing (to improve drainage away from the house) to the garden. I let the squirrels play with the fresh earth for a few days to get it out of their systems and then planted sugar snap peas. I've sprinkled chili powder over the peas to keep the critters out, but the rain will soon wash that away. What I'd really like is a physical barrier, wire, to give the peas a fighting chance this year. Between the squirrels and the rabbits, I rarely get peas. But ultimately, the peas might play decoy to draw the animals away from the real prize, the green beans.