Despite the harsh, cold weather outside (a bit of a surprise since we have had some decent temperatures), I have been able to grow lettuce, tomatoes and onions under the grow lights.
I have not used grow lights in many years, most recently in Mansfield down in the basement. I did not have good success back then, probably due to the cellar being too cold and the grow lights not as efficient as I now have.
I am amazed how well the plants look and how much they are growing, once they move from small seedlings to more mature plants. I have already provided Nancy with three meals of Nevada lettuce and more to come.
Today (January 27) I transplanted 12 lettuce seedlings (Nevada and Cherokee) into yogurt cups and 3 in grow cups. I added a small amount of liquid fertilizer (MiracleGro Quick Start). I am using a very limited amount so as to not burn the young seedlings.
It has been fun seeing all this growth and then providing some food for Nancy.
January 20, 2026 • Winter Gardening
Since we were no longer going to Florida for the winter, I thought that my gardening hobby would be taking a back seat to the much colder weather here in Delaware (going down into the teens the next few days).
Nancy likes to eat a lot of lettuce for dinner and I was very disappointed to find out that most lettuce (and tomatoes) take at least two weeks or more to go from harvesting out west or down in Mexico to reach our local grocery store.
I decided I would invest in some grow lights and see if I could grow some lettuce and tomatoes and also look towards growing seedlings for spring planting.
This “winter gardening” plan has worked out quite well, as the seedlings I have started are doing well, looking very healthy and almost mature enough to pick (the lettuce that is).
I now own 5 grow lights, have two staging areas for my seedlings and seeing some amazing growth taking place. Instead of the usual leggy plants that I have grown in the past, these seedlings are quite healthy and strong.
I planted some perennials flowers yesterday in honor of my mom’s birthday (January 19, 1920) and today I planted some spinach seeds.
Here are some photos on the progress I am making with my “winter garden”.
Since we were no longer going to Florida for the winter, I thought that my gardening hobby would be taking a back seat to the much colder weather here in Delaware (going down into the teens the next few days).
Nancy likes to eat a lot of lettuce for dinner and I was very disappointed to find out that most lettuce (and tomatoes) take at least two weeks or more to go from harvesting out west or down in Mexico to reach our local grocery store.
I decided I would invest in some grow lights and see if I could grow some lettuce and tomatoes and also look towards growing seedlings for spring planting.
This “winter gardening” plan has worked out quite well, as the seedlings I have started are doing well, looking very healthy and almost mature enough to pick (the lettuce that is).
I now own 5 grow lights, have two staging areas for my seedlings and seeing some amazing growth taking place. Instead of the usual leggy plants that I have grown in the past, these seedlings are quite healthy and strong.
I planted some perennials flowers yesterday in honor of my mom’s birthday (January 19, 1920) and today I planted some spinach seeds.
Here are some photos on the progress I am making with my “winter garden”.
January 9, 2026 • A path not often taken
Walking through the back woods on a warm January day (52º), maybe an early January thaw. This is the first winter we are spending here in Delaware after many Florida trips, so we are glad when a warm day or two comes along. Meanwhile, I am starting to acclimate to the colder weather and find my walks to be “refreshing”, unless there is a strong northwestern wind coming at me.
Although the garden is resting, I am growing lettuce and micro tomato plants under grow lights. I also have about 240 various varieties of onions on the heating mat, hoping they will pop in a few more days.
Walking through the back woods on a warm January day (52º), maybe an early January thaw. This is the first winter we are spending here in Delaware after many Florida trips, so we are glad when a warm day or two comes along. Meanwhile, I am starting to acclimate to the colder weather and find my walks to be “refreshing”, unless there is a strong northwestern wind coming at me.
Although the garden is resting, I am growing lettuce and micro tomato plants under grow lights. I also have about 240 various varieties of onions on the heating mat, hoping they will pop in a few more days.
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