I’m still working on a plan of action for this year’s garden, but the last frost date was moved up by almost a month this year – last weekend in January! So I feel like I’m behind already.

I am going to try starting some seeds using a soil blocker I just got from Amazon. I spent some time this morning making blocks and planting seeds. Now there are 8 blocks each seeded with black cherry tomatoes, sweet basil, black beauty zucchini, and red marietta marigolds. Once planted, I put the trays on my newly acquired heating mat.

<img src=https://photos.app.goo.gl/65D536GPHp7o8Ga69
alt="new 10x10 trays and soil blocking tool">

<img src=https://photos.app.goo.gl/LNz7Fdfi9aYjAzn26 alt="freshly made blocks of soil">

<img src=https://photos.app.goo.gl/xDiPsWY1UjKEuUdu8 alt="seeded blocks in window, on top of heating mat">

The Super Sioux tomatoes I planted a couple weeks ago all died out – lack of light. I was isolated for 10 days (went to the dentist), and by the end, they were goners. The California Wonder peppers are still doing ok, they sprouted 5 or 6 days after the tomatoes.

I got a small grow light setup from Amazon, so going forward seed starting should be ok.

Tonight, I planted some Mortgage Lifter seeds I got in the mail yesterday. I also planted seeds from the Komatsuna/Mustard Spinach that I harvested from my garden last year. Those were some good greens, I used the large leaves to make wraps instead of tortillas.