Lettuce sprouts

My lettuce has sprouted. The package said 10-14 days germination so I felt that the conditions in the shed must be pretty good. I went to take a picture to post, but my camera ran out of batteries. What luck! Anyway, I got new batteries at Wal-Mart today, so I will get some to post.
Now I just need to see how transplanting them goes.

Indoor lettuce

I am trying some indoor lettuce this winter in the potting shed. I planted 4 varieties of which I cannot remember right now. I will have to get the names to write down. I know that one is romaine and one is black seeded simpson. The seed is old, so if it germinates great, if not, no loss.
I have a set up of lights that I use to start my seeds in late winter for outdoors that I am using. We will see how it goes. I would also like to try some other seeds depending on how well these do. The heat and fans are on in there and the temp is about 64 degrees.

First snow

We are getting our first snow today. It seems early. We actually have a winter storm warning for 5-7 inches with the wind picking up later in the day.
So far the snow in not sticking under the trees and on the roads. I don't think that we are going to get that much. I think it is actually going north of here...darn!
The birds are well cared for though. The feeders are full and the heater is in the bird bath. No gardening means switching to a new focus for the winter months. I am researching how to do some winter gardening in the shed though...

I fired up the heater in the potting shed today. I have thought about trying to grow some lettuces under lights, but I'm not sure.
It certainly needs cleaned. It was somewhat neglected this summer.

Happy Halloween!

Raspberries

I picked a large yogurt container of red raspberries tonight. I was surprised to see that there are still a lot of green berries coming. We are supposed to have temps into the 30's the next couple of nights though. We will see how they do and if it frosts.

End of summer...lessons learned

Well, summer is officially over. The garden is looking worn out and neglected.
There are some things that I will do differently next year:

1. Put my cucumbers and other vining plants in the middle or on one end of my raised beds. This year I put them on the edge and they took over everything on either side.
2. Plant cucumber and other vining plants less intensively. I planted them every 6 inches as was suggested in a book that I read, and that was just too much for me. I could not tell what was what!
3. Cage and stake my tomatoes early!! Bad mistake to do this late. I know better!
4. My raspberry bushes went crazy this year. They were unable to be contained no matter what. I think that I need to move them out of the veggie garden.
5. Plant more flowers in the garden. I missed my zinnias!
6. More companion planting.

I am already getting the itch to plan for next year and this year's garden isn't even frosted yet. That is the beauty of gardening. Always another chance to improve next year.