Tag: organic mechanic

Prepping Pots

Soooooo close. So close. The tomato and cucumber seedlings are itching to be planted, but the Philadelphia overnight lows for the next week or so appear to be in the upper 40s. This may be going out on a limb here, but that’s just too nippy for POD’s tomatoes. Not only that, but today’s gusts of up to 25 mph put a damper on plans for a day-long hardening session. Grrr.

Instead of despairing, pots (most of them) have been prepped.  What does that mean, you ask? Well, they’ve been washed with soapy water, rinsed well, and their drainage holes have been inspected. A 2-3″ layer of Styrofoam drainage nuggets were placed in the bottom of each container (ask your office computer geek to save the nasty stuff for you — they always seem to have a stockpile somewhere) and then the yummy-smelling, full-of-promise dirt was dumped in.

Alas, to the long-suffering husband’s dismay, we’re about 2 cubic feet and one 14-lb bag of Organic Mechanic (blast those stupid tiny bags) shy of a full deck.

Pots On Deck
Pots On Deck
Drainage Holes
Drainage Holes
Evil Styrofoam
Evil Styrofoam
Organic Mechanic Dirt
Dirt

(Next year, POD will require 8 cubic feet of dirt.)

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Dirt Bags

Dirtbags

Dirt’s here! Over 5 cubic feet of organic potting soil, 5 lbs. of worm casings, and one cubic foot of seaweed enriched mulch have made their way to South Philly. Although POD desperately wanted to try the local Organic Mechanic soil, nothing larger than a wee 14 lb. bag could be procured. So, the D. Landreth black cherry tomatoes will enjoy that while the rest of the deck will have to settle for the less expensive Coast of Maine potting soil.

And, for those of you keeping track: $100 for seeds, peat pots, and seaweed fertilizer and $65 for dirt, mulch, and worm poop. Here’s hoping for a fruitful harvest. (4/24 next year buy more like 8 or 9 cu feet).