That does seem cool, more like our winter temperatures, but we’re in a very different heat zone, of course. Does La Niña make your area cooler?
I lost my last broccoli seedling that I was hardening off. Between the freeze and the sun, I don’t think I’ll have many brassicas this spring. There is one cabbage holding on in the garden, but I’m not optimistic. I’m more pleased with the Chinese cabbage that I put in a planter a while back. (They were getting root bound, but the night temperatures were still too cool, so I had to put them in something I could move inside.) I did plant daikon seeds as well in hopes of making some kimchi. So far only two have sprouted.
I did successfully plant out tomatoes today. Thunder woke me this morning, and it continued until after noon. (Lots of thunder but only a quarter inch of rain.) That changed the schedule for the day, but the soil was still workable (even dry), and I wanted to get those tomatoes out. Some were getting quite large.
Here’s an example of one plant that I put in using the “trench method.” I took off the lower leaves, buried the roots deeply, and then buried the stripped stem on an upward angle and let the top come out near where I want the plant to grow. Some of the smaller plants got the more traditional deep burying, but I thought that if I could encourage more roots near the ollas, it would help with giving the plant moisture. We’ll see how they do.
These two beds hold about half of my tomatoes. It’s nice having more room to plant more plants, but I may be regretting it when it heats up, and I’m watering all this space, especially if our drought continues or worsens. (I know it’s still a very small garden compared to many of you.)
I also put some pole bean seeds in the ground and transplanted some mint, roselle, and artichokes. I’ve still got peppers, cucumbers, zucchini, and sweet potatoes waiting in the wings. I’m waiting for a bit more heat for them. This week may provide it.