SPRING GARDEN – SEEDLINGS IN THE GREENHOUSE & OUR COMPOST
After delving into the topic of biodynamic gardening and hot-bed seedbeds in our January-February article (you can read it here: https://podereilcasale.com/it/la-vita-nellorto-biologico-di-podere-il-casale), we continue our journey exploring the growth of the seeds we planted in January and protected in the greenhouse. We also revisit the topic of our “leaf compost,” a 100% natural fertilizer carefully created by Benito to nourish our soil.
“In nature, love, respect, hard work, and a lot of patience are needed!”
Benito tells us as he carefully digs a strip of soil in our garden.
Growth in the Greenhouse
Thanks to our greenhouse and the use of nutrient-rich compost, we can start sowing aromatic plants and vegetables earlier than the natural season, ensuring them a protected and ideal environment for healthy and vigorous growth. This allows us to obtain strong and robust seedlings, ready to be transplanted into the garden at the right time.
Every day, Benito carefully monitors the seedlings growing lushly in the greenhouse. His work is essential in preparing them for their future life outdoors in our biodynamic garden.
The Spring Garden: What to Grow?
Spring is the perfect time to plant vegetables that, over the weeks, will yield abundant and genuine harvests. Here are some of the most common and appreciated crops:
- Zucchini: grow quickly and provide generous harvests.
- Carrots: ideal for direct sowing in the field.
- Radishes: mature quickly and add crunch to salads.
- Peas and green beans: perfect for an extended and abundant harvest.
- Aromatic herbs such as thyme, rosemary, and parsley, essential for enhancing the flavor of dishes.
From the Greenhouse to the Garden: The Transplanting Phase
When temperatures stabilize, and the risk of frost is eliminated, it is time to transplant the seedlings from the greenhouse to the garden. This phase is crucial and requires attention to several fundamental steps:
- Acclimatization: gradually expose the seedlings to the outdoor environment for a few days before transplanting to avoid thermal stress.
- Soil preparation: work the soil with our nutrient-rich compost to ensure a fertile and regenerated environment.
- Adequate spacing: each plant needs the right amount of space to develop healthily and harmoniously.
- Balanced irrigation: keep the soil moist, but avoid water stagnation, which could compromise plant growth.
The Compost of Podere Il Casale: A Year of Preparation for Maturity
One of the key elements of our agricultural philosophy is the compost that Benito passionately creates to nourish our garden. This process requires a year of constant work to obtain a natural fertilizer rich in essential nutrients for plant growth.
The compost is produced through a careful layering of dry leaves, yeasts, potato starch, and molds, regularly watered to stimulate the formation of fungal mycelium, an incredible network of plant connections that enhances soil fertility.
A healthy and thriving soil is the foundation for obtaining high-quality products, which go directly from our garden to the table, ready to be enjoyed at zero kilometers. Nature gives us its best fruits when we respect and nourish it with love and awareness. And at Podere Il Casale, we know this well!
