Flowers in Vegetable Garden. Bulbs and Climbing Roses. 31 Mar 24.

 These are all in containers.  They overwintered in place.

The big bunch of red tulips have been there a couple of years.  They get no care at all, beyond weed removal and some mulch.  And removing dead tops in Summer.  The container height works for accessibility.  It's the same size as a half whiskey barrel.

The other red tulips share a container with strawberry plants.  The only care they get is for the strawberries.  Those started to bear last year.  We'll see this year.

Yesterday I tied up the climbing roses that flank the gate.  Originally, I was going to build or buy a trellis, and have them meet over the gate.  So far I have not done that.

This variety is Tropical Lightening.  It's a beautiful rose and strong scent.  Growth is vigorous.  This will be its second year.  For the time being, I've tied it to a tall post.

This is a red climbing rose.  I grew it from a cutting, I think 3 years ago.  I don't know the name.  There was one flower last year.  With so much growth, I bet there will be a lot this year.  I tied it vertically to the espalier trellis post, to prevent sprawling and drooping. It must be over ten feet tall now.

I also pruned skinny or non vigorous looking growth from both rose plants.  

Potato Soup With Egyptian Walking Onion Scallions. 31 Mar 24.

 Potato soup gets eaten a lot here.  The Egyptian Walking Onions are a nice addition from the garden.

I don't use an actual recipe.  My mother made this often.  It's simple.   About 2 cups of peeled, sliced red, white, or yellow potatoes.  One medium onion, diced.  One tbsp margarine.  Two big cloves of garlic, crushed.  One teaspoon onion powder.   One tsp salt.   1/2 cup of milk.  Enough water to cover and then an inch deeper.  Finely chopped scallion, one per bowl.  Pepper.

I sauté the onion in the margarine until clear, in a large pan.  Add about a cup of water, the potatoes, salt, milk, garlic, onion powder, then enough water to cover about an inch above the potatoes.  Bring to boil.  Simmer 15 minutes.

After cooking, I add the pepper to taste, and one finely sliced scallion.  The scallion will be tender (green parts) and tender-crunchy (white parts).

I use an induction burner set on power lever 5 for the sauté and cooking.  It has a self-limited power boost to get up to temperature.  Once the soup is lightly boiling, I reduce to a simmer, power level 2, for 15 min.

To reheat, it depends on how much soup there is.  Usually power level 3 or 4.

Lycoris In Containers. 31 Mar 24.

 I've never been successful growing Lycoris here.  Last fall I bought sone bulbs and planted in containers.  I stored those in the garage.  About a week ago, I saw they were growing.  I set them outside and started watering them.  Here they are now.

I don't really know what to expect.  I guess, so far, so good.  They might benefit from some fertilizer, maybe mix bone meal into the top inch of the soil.

Tomato Seedling Update. 31 Mar 24.

 Two days ago, when I checked the tomato seedlings in the morning, there was no growth.  In the evening, they had all germinated.  The hybrids were too leggy.  The dwarf open-pollinated ones were fine.

I put them under the LEDs.  I think they will all be fine with sone TLC.

Pepper Seedling Update. 31 Mar 24.

 The peppers are looking pretty good. I wonder if it's too cool to have peppers outside even during the day (mostly 60s F) but I think the sunshine and fresh air are good for them

They've been getting the same Liquid Schulz house plant food as other plants.  I'm considering switching to a higher nitrogen but diluted Miracle Grow to boost them some more.  I usually use 1/4 teaspoon per 2 quart watering can.  My water is rain water, so salts are not an issue.