How the plants are coming in.

The first plants I planted were Texas Bluebonnets. I believe I have planted them too late in the year for them to be blooming at the time they typically do in Texas. I started them off at the beginning of February in a Jiffy Seed Starter Greenhouse which has 72 pellets in it. 

I bought Ferry Morse bluebonnet seeds from Lowes and scarified them. I scarified them by using my wife's drimmel and nicking the case of each seed off just a little. I then planted two seeds per pellet. 

After about a week the first seeds started to sprout. I am getting about two thirds of the pellets showing sprouts now. The first one's to sprout are starting to grow their true leaves instead of the seedling leaves, which look like two elephant ears. 

The other plants I have started in a jiffy starter kit are cardinal climbers. These plants I planted around the last week of February. I am having almost all of these seeds sprouting now. They look a little weak. The plants look a little yellow, and for some of them, the stalks seemed to "snap" and now the plant is leaning on the side. The weird thing though is that they seem to be staying alive. 

Thats all for now, stay in touch for more of my experience. 

The Beginning of the Military Gardener

This is the first post of a blog chronicling the life of a military guy and his garden.


So where to begin? I am a beginning gardener trying to bring a little hobby into my life. I am originally from Texas, but the military decided to move me out here to Edwards AFB. (Ag Zone 7B)


Obviously Edwards is a little different gardening-wise than what I am used to back home. Since this is a desert environment I am going to try and grow shrubs and flowers that are drought and heat resistant. 


Since I am from Texas, naturally the first flowers I'm going to attempt to cultivate is the Texas Bluebonnet. Apparently these flowers are very drought tolerant. The second plant I am going to attempt to grow is called Autumn Sage (Salvia Greggii). The reason why is because I like seeing hummingbirds in my garden, which is what is going to drive the main theme of the plants I'll be growing. The third plant is called Cardinal Climber which apparently hummingbirds go nuts over. 


To get ahead of the spring planting season, I am going to attempt to plant indoors in Jiffy planters and let the seeds sprout and get a hold before I transplant them. 


So stay tuned for updates on my cultivation of the various plants, and pictures from the garden. 


Take it easy,


The Military Gardener