{ "meta": { "updated": "2026-06-25", "photos_processed": 18, "next_photo_id": 19, "region": "Parkville / Kansas City, MO", "usda_zone": "6b", "visit_date": "2026-06-14", "season_stage": "Early summer, warm-season transplant window open; ADHD-friendly succession pipeline running", "season_stage_kid": "Summer just started, time to plant warm-weather plants", "gardener_style": [ "Mix of fast crops (beans, cucumbers) + medium (okra, bush squash) + long (pumpkins, cantaloupe, corn)", "Succession planting visible: established transplants + mid-stage seedlings + freshly germinating trays", "ADHD-friendly garden — something is changing almost every week" ], "gardener_style_kid": [ "Fast plants and slow plants, all together", "Some plants are big, some are tiny, some are just starting", "Something new to see every week" ] }, "photos": [ { "id": "P-01", "file": "garden-01.jpg", "date": "2026-06-14", "summary": [ "Top half of tray: watermelon seedlings, rounded cotyledons and early true leaves", "Bottom half of tray: sweet corn starts, lime-green strap leaves with reddish stem bases" ], "summary_kid": [ "Top: baby watermelon plants", "Bottom: baby sweet corn with red stems" ] }, { "id": "P-02", "file": "garden-02.jpg", "date": "2026-06-14", "summary": [ "Tomato seedlings, ~15 plants in 3-inch pots, younger stage", "First true leaves emerging, some pots empty", "Bottom-watered in clamshell" ], "summary_kid": [ "Lots of baby tomato plants", "Just getting their first real leaves" ] }, { "id": "P-03", "file": "garden-03.jpg", "date": "2026-06-14", "summary": [ "Tomato seedlings, ~15 plants in 3-inch pots, older stage", "2-3 sets of classic compound tomato leaves", "Healthy green color" ], "summary_kid": [ "Bigger baby tomato plants", "Have a few real leaves each", "Look happy and green" ] }, { "id": "P-04", "file": "garden-04.jpg", "date": "2026-06-14", "summary": [ "Single lavender start in a teal scalloped square pot", "Nursery tag still attached", "Marigold blooming orange behind" ], "summary_kid": [ "One little lavender plant in a pretty teal pot", "Still has the store sticker on it" ] }, { "id": "P-05", "file": "garden-05.jpg", "date": "2026-06-14", "summary": [ "Hardening-off staging on the porch step", "Bean seedlings in 3-inch pots in a clear clamshell tray", "Stacked terracotta vertical strawberry tower, cells just seeded (two tags)", "Closed humidity-dome clamshells at the bottom" ], "summary_kid": [ "Baby plants resting on the porch step", "Bean plants in little pots", "A tall stack of pots for strawberries" ] }, { "id": "P-06", "file": "garden-06.jpg", "date": "2026-06-14", "summary": [ "Front foundation bed, brick-edged curve", "Yellow marigolds in full bloom, 3-4 open flowers", "Lavender flower spikes behind the marigolds", "Dense creeping groundcover crowding the left edge", "Bag of organic mulch staged beside the bed" ], "summary_kid": [ "The front flower bed", "Yellow marigold flowers are open", "Purple lavender flowers behind them" ] }, { "id": "P-07", "file": "garden-07.jpg", "date": "2026-06-14", "summary": [ "Side-of-house corn row", "Sweet corn ~8-10 young plants in 2 rows, 6-12 inch tall", "Daylilies established behind" ], "summary_kid": [ "A long skinny bed of baby corn", "Two short rows of corn", "Tall green daylily plants behind" ] }, { "id": "P-08", "file": "garden-08.jpg", "date": "2026-06-14", "summary": [ "Gardener in a pink cap tending the front foundation bed", "Established lavender, lemon balm, and rosemary growing in-ground", "Seedling trays (lemongrass, peppers, lavender plugs) staged on the concrete-block step", "Yellow rain boots by the black door" ], "summary_kid": [ "Someone is working in the front flower bed", "Lavender and lemon balm are planted in the dirt", "Baby plants wait on the step" ] }, { "id": "P-09", "file": "garden-09.jpg", "date": "2026-06-14", "summary": [ "Hardening-off staging block, overhead", "Robust bean seedlings with true trifoliate leaves, starting to vine, in 3-inch pots", "Corn seedlings in a tray behind the beans", "Closed humidity domes over cantaloupe/okra cells", "Lavender in the bed at left, a marigold bloom bottom-left" ], "summary_kid": [ "Lots of bean plants getting big", "Some are starting to climb", "Baby melons still under their clear lids" ] }, { "id": "P-10", "file": "garden-10.jpg", "date": "2026-06-14", "summary": [ "Wide front-bed view past the gardener's shoulder", "Herb bed: lavender, lemon balm, creeping groundcover behind a brick edge", "Seedling trays (lemongrass, peppers) on the concrete-block step", "Fresh-turned dark soil, bed recently weeded" ], "summary_kid": [ "A wide look at the front flower bed", "Herbs growing behind the bricks", "The dirt was just turned over" ] }, { "id": "P-11", "file": "garden-11.jpg", "date": "2026-06-14", "summary": [ "Sweet corn starts in plug tray, lime-green strap leaves", "Pepper seedlings in 4-inch pots", "Single lavender start in small purple pot", "More cucurbit seedlings on the side" ], "summary_kid": [ "Baby corn plants in little squares", "Baby pepper plants", "One baby lavender in a purple pot" ] }, { "id": "P-12", "file": "garden-12.jpg", "date": "2026-06-14", "summary": [ "Carbon Tomato closeup, ~12 inches tall, ready to upsize", "Variety tag clearly visible: CARBON TOMATO, plant 36 inches apart in ground or 18-24 inches raised bed", "Bright pink 5-gallon buckets visible in background (corn bucket experiment staged)" ], "summary_kid": [ "A big baby tomato plant called Carbon Tomato", "Pink buckets in the back for the corn experiment" ] }, { "id": "P-13", "file": "garden-13.jpg", "date": "2026-06-14", "summary": [ "Cucurbit tray held up, watermelon (confirmed ready to vine per gardener)", "Deeply palmate-lobed true leaves spreading", "Several plants per tray, vigorous growth" ], "summary_kid": [ "A tray of baby watermelons with big spreading leaves", "Ready to climb and vine" ] }, { "id": "P-14", "file": "garden-14.jpg", "date": "2026-06-14", "summary": [ "Hand-held tray of watermelon seedlings, deeply-lobed true leaves", "~12-cell tray, stems leggy and stretching toward light", "Roots filling the cells, ready to pot up or plant out", "Seed pots and humidity domes staged below" ], "summary_kid": [ "A tray of baby watermelon plants", "Their stems are getting long and floppy", "Time to give them more room" ] }, { "id": "P-15", "file": "garden-15.jpg", "date": "2026-06-14", "summary": [ "Overhead of the full hardening-off staging block", "Bean pots, pepper seedlings, and humidity-dome clamshells", "Stacked terracotta strawberry tower at right", "Marigold and lavender visible in the bed at top-left" ], "summary_kid": [ "All the baby plants lined up outside", "Beans, peppers, and melons under lids", "The strawberry tower on the right" ] }, { "id": "P-16", "file": "garden-16.jpg", "date": "2026-06-14", "summary": [ "Mixed staging: peat-pot tray + tomato + bean seedlings", "Cantaloupe and okra under clear humidity domes (still germinating)", "Empty cells in some trays (germination failures or already transplanted)", "Marigold + lavender in adjacent bed" ], "summary_kid": [ "Baby plants in different kinds of pots", "Baby cantaloupe and okra under clear lids", "Some pots empty" ] }, { "id": "P-17", "file": "garden-17.jpg", "date": "2026-06-14", "summary": [ "Marigolds blooming bright orange and yellow, edge of front bed", "Cucurbit tray with palmate leaves", "Several individual pots with newly germinating cucurbit cotyledons (some empty, some with tiny seedling)" ], "summary_kid": [ "Bright orange and yellow marigold flowers", "A tray of baby pumpkin or melon plants", "Some pots have tiny new sprouts, some are empty" ] }, { "id": "P-18", "file": "garden-18.jpg", "date": "2026-06-14", "summary": [ "Garden bean (Landreth's Stringless), trifoliate leaves spread, healthy green", "Pepper seedlings in 4-inch pots, glossy lanceolate leaves", "Empty peat-pot trays awaiting next seeding", "Bag of organic mulch top-left" ], "summary_kid": [ "Baby beans with big leaves looking happy", "Baby pepper plants", "Empty pots waiting for new seeds" ] } ], "plants": [ { "name": "Carbon Tomato (heirloom indeterminate, dark purple)", "name_kid": "🍅 Carbon Tomato", "emoji": "🍅", "photos": [ "P-12", "P-02", "P-03", "P-16" ], "location": [ "~30+ tomato plants in 3-inch pots across 2 trays", "Plus larger Carbon Tomato in 4-inch pot ready to size up", "Hardening off on the porch step" ], "condition": [ "Variety tag confirmed: Carbon Tomato", "Healthy stem and leaves", "The larger one is several times bigger than its pot, ROOT-BOUND likely" ], "next_action": [ "Move the largest Carbon Tomato into the greenhouse or larger container THIS WEEK", "Bury deep up to first true leaves, remove lower leaves first (buried stem grows new roots)", "Use 5-gallon final container or in-ground", "Indeterminate, will keep growing all season, give support early" ], "next_action_kid": [ "Plant the big Carbon Tomato in a much bigger pot or in the dirt", "Bury it deep so the bottom is under the dirt", "Give it a stick to lean on right away" ], "severity": 3, "source": "P-12, P-02, P-03" }, { "name": "Pepper", "name_kid": "🌶️ Pepper", "emoji": "🌶️", "photos": [ "P-11", "P-18", "P-15" ], "location": [ "~15-20 pepper seedlings in 4-inch pots", "Hardening off on the porch step" ], "condition": [ "Glossy lanceolate leaves", "Greener and sturdier than tomatoes in same staging", "No nutrient deficiency visible" ], "next_action": [ "Plant out only after soil reliably 65°F+ at 6 inches", "Greenhouse candidate alongside Carbon tomatoes" ], "next_action_kid": [ "Wait until the dirt is really warm before planting", "Greenhouse is a great home for them" ], "severity": 2, "source": "P-11, P-18" }, { "name": "Garden Bean (Landreth's Stringless, bush)", "name_kid": "🫘 Bean", "emoji": "🫘", "photos": [ "P-18", "P-16", "P-05", "P-09", "P-15" ], "location": [ "~20+ bean plants in 4-inch pots, hardening off" ], "condition": [ "Bush type, no trellis needed", "Trifoliate leaves larger and greener than earlier shots", "Healthy, looking like plants instead of seedlings", "Getting close to rootbound" ], "next_action": [ "Plant the strongest beans first THIS WEEK", "Space 6 inches apart in row, rows 18 inches apart", "No trellis (bush type)" ], "next_action_kid": [ "Plant the biggest, strongest baby beans first", "Space them a hand-width apart", "They stand up on their own" ], "severity": 3, "source": "P-18, P-16" }, { "name": "Watermelon (out of domes, ready to vine)", "name_kid": "🍉 Watermelon", "emoji": "🍉", "photos": [ "P-13", "P-01", "P-14" ], "location": [ "Held-up tray (P-13), NO LONGER under humidity domes", "Plus more watermelon starts in top half of mixed plug tray (P-01)", "Open-air on porch staging" ], "condition": [ "Vigorous, ready to vine per gardener confirmation", "Deeply palmate-lobed true leaves spreading over tray edge", "Out of domes, airflow is good" ], "next_action": [ "Plant out the strongest ones first, keep 1-2 backups", "Keep the peat pot intact, do not disturb roots", "Need 8-10 sq ft per vine", "Outside planting, not greenhouse" ], "next_action_kid": [ "Plant the biggest baby watermelons first", "Give each one a lot of space (like a kid's bed)", "They go outside, not in the greenhouse" ], "severity": 3, "source": "P-13" }, { "name": "Pumpkin", "name_kid": "🎃 Pumpkin", "emoji": "🎃", "photos": [ "P-17", "P-13" ], "location": [ "Individual pots and trays mixed in with the other cucurbits", "Some newly germinated with tiny cotyledons just up" ], "condition": [ "Fast germination, big leaves early — Brandon's quick-feedback crop", "Some lid-on vs lid-off germination experiment running (with lid germinates faster per gardener)" ], "next_action": [ "Plant out strongest pumpkins after beans", "8-12 sq ft per vine" ], "next_action_kid": [ "Plant the biggest baby pumpkins outside", "Give them lots of room" ], "severity": 2, "source": "P-17" }, { "name": "Cantaloupe (UNDER HUMIDITY DOMES)", "name_kid": "🍈 Cantaloupe (under clear lid)", "emoji": "🍈", "photos": [ "P-17", "P-16", "P-09", "P-15" ], "location": [ "Individual pots and trays in cucurbit staging area", "Currently under clear humidity domes (still germinating)" ], "condition": [ "Emerging well", "Quick visible progress like pumpkin", "Domes still on — appropriate while germinating, take off once true leaves emerge" ], "next_action": [ "Remove dome once true leaves emerge (not just cotyledons)", "Bottom-water", "Outside planting, full sun, 6-8 sq ft per vine" ], "next_action_kid": [ "Keep the lid on until the baby has real leaves", "Then take the lid off", "Plant outside in the sun later" ], "severity": 2, "source": "P-17, P-16" }, { "name": "Cucumber (Straight Eight)", "name_kid": "🥒 Cucumber", "emoji": "🥒", "photos": [ "P-17", "P-13", "P-09" ], "location": [ "Cucurbit staging area" ], "condition": [ "Fast crop — quick germination, quick to vine", "Straight Eight is a classic slicing variety" ], "next_action": [ "Outside planting, trellis if vertical", "Start another succession round in empty pots" ], "next_action_kid": [ "Plant outside", "Start more seeds in the empty pots" ], "severity": 2, "source": "P-17" }, { "name": "Okra (UNDER HUMIDITY DOMES)", "name_kid": "🌿 Okra (under clear lid)", "emoji": "🌿", "photos": [ "P-16" ], "location": [ "Newly germinated in staging trays under clear humidity domes" ], "condition": [ "Loves heat — June is when okra starts going", "Goes from tiny seedling to surprisingly large plant fast once warm", "Medium-speed reward crop", "Domes still on for now — appropriate while germinating" ], "next_action": [ "Remove dome once true leaves emerge", "Plant out once soil reliably 70°F+", "Single row, 12-18 inches apart" ], "next_action_kid": [ "Keep the lid on until baby has real leaves", "Then take the lid off", "Plant outside when the dirt is hot" ], "severity": 2, "source": "P-16, gardener consult notes" }, { "name": "Sweet Corn (CHLOROSIS PROBLEM)", "name_kid": "🌽 Corn — yellow and sick", "emoji": "🌽", "photos": [ "P-07", "P-01", "P-11" ], "location": [ "Side-of-house mulched bed: 8-10 corn plants planted out in 2 rows", "Plug tray starts ready (with reddish anthocyanin stems)", "Pink 5-gallon bucket experiment STAGED in P-12 background" ], "condition": [ "Corn is the ONLY plant waving a yellow flag — noticeably paler than beans, peppers, watermelon, pumpkin nearby", "Chlorosis suggests nitrogen deficiency, pH issue, poor root development, excess moisture near foundation, or mulch tying up nitrogen", "Garden-wide problem ruled out because everything else is green" ], "next_action": [ "BUCKET EXPERIMENT: plant one corn per bucket in 4 bright pink 5-gallon buckets arranged in a SQUARE (already staged in P-12 background)", "Drill plenty of drainage holes, fill almost completely with fresh potting mix", "Compare color and growth after 10-14 days", "If bucket corn greens up while bed corn stays pale, the bed itself is the problem", "For block planting in the bed: minimum 4 rows of 4 plants for wind pollination" ], "next_action_kid": [ "The corn looks yellow and sad", "Put 4 baby corns in 4 pink buckets in a SQUARE", "Wait 2 weeks and see if the bucket corn turns green", "If yes, something is wrong with the dirt in the long skinny bed" ], "severity": 4, "source": "P-07, gardener consult" }, { "name": "Lemongrass", "name_kid": "🌿 Lemongrass", "emoji": "🌿", "photos": [ "P-08", "P-10" ], "location": [ "Plug tray location TBD (P-01 top was watermelon, gardener-corrected); awaiting closeup" ], "condition": [ "Tender perennial, hardy only to zone 9", "Lime-green strap leaves" ], "next_action": [ "Plant out NOW for full summer heat", "Lift into a 1-gallon pot late September to overwinter indoors, or treat as annual" ], "next_action_kid": [ "Plant outside soon", "Bring inside before winter or just enjoy it for one summer" ], "severity": 2, "source": "P-01" }, { "name": "Lavender (established)", "name_kid": "💜 Big Lavender", "emoji": "💜", "photos": [ "P-17", "P-04", "P-06", "P-08", "P-10" ], "location": [ "Front foundation bed, multiple mature clumps" ], "condition": [ "Silvery-green foliage in bloom with purple spikes", "Healthy" ], "next_action": [ "Light shape-prune after first bloom flush", "Do not cut into old wood" ], "next_action_kid": [ "Trim the flower tops after the bees finish", "Don't cut the brown woody part" ], "severity": 1, "source": "P-17" }, { "name": "Rosemary (non-flowering needle-leaf plants)", "name_kid": "🌿 Rosemary", "emoji": "🌿", "photos": [ "P-04", "P-08" ], "location": [ "Teal scalloped ceramic pot (P-04)", "Any other needle-leaf plants WITHOUT flowers are rosemary per gardener (rule: with-flowers = marigold, without-flowers = rosemary)" ], "condition": [ "Mediterranean shrub, needle-like dark-green leaves", "No flowers when small", "Small nursery start, needs final placement" ], "next_action": [ "Plant out in full sun, well-drained gritty soil", "Rosemary hates wet feet even more than lavender", "Hardy to about zone 7, may winter-kill in 6b; consider growing in a pot brought indoors over winter", "Pinch tips to encourage bushiness" ], "next_action_kid": [ "Plant in the sunniest, driest spot", "Bring inside before winter, it cannot survive Parkville cold", "Pinch the tips so it grows bushy" ], "severity": 2, "source": "P-04, gardener rule" }, { "name": "Lavender (new starts in plug tray)", "name_kid": "💜 Baby Lavender", "emoji": "💜", "photos": [ "P-11" ], "location": [ "One in small purple pot on porch step (P-11)", "Other plug-tray locations TBD (P-01 top was watermelon, gardener-corrected); awaiting closeup" ], "condition": [ "Small nursery plants", "Need final placement" ], "next_action": [ "Plant out near established lavender within a week", "Gritty drainage required, lavender hates wet feet" ], "next_action_kid": [ "Plant the babies near the big lavender", "They don't like soggy dirt" ], "severity": 2, "source": "P-11, P-01" }, { "name": "Marigold (the ones WITH orange-yellow flowers)", "name_kid": "🌼 Marigold", "emoji": "🌼", "photos": [ "P-17", "P-04", "P-06", "P-09", "P-15" ], "location": [ "Front foundation bed, near lavender", "Identified by: orange-and-yellow daisy-like blooms (gardener rule: with-flowers = marigold, without-flowers = rosemary)" ], "condition": [ "Blooming orange and yellow", "Healthy" ], "next_action": [ "Deadhead to extend bloom", "Companion-plant near tomato transplants for pest deterrence" ], "next_action_kid": [ "Pull off dead flowers so new ones grow", "Plant some next to tomatoes, bugs don't like marigolds" ], "severity": 1, "source": "P-17" }, { "name": "Daylily", "name_kid": "🌺 Daylily", "emoji": "🌺", "photos": [ "P-07" ], "location": [ "Side bed behind the corn row" ], "condition": [ "Mature clumps", "Orange bloom visible" ], "next_action": [ "Divide every 3-4 years", "Deadhead spent scapes" ], "next_action_kid": [ "Split them every few years", "Pull off dead flower stems" ], "severity": 1, "source": "P-07" }, { "name": "Lemon Balm or Mint (TBD)", "name_kid": "🌱 Leafy Herb", "emoji": "🌱", "photos": [ "P-08", "P-10" ], "location": [ "Front foundation bed" ], "condition": [ "Established, bright green serrated heart-shaped leaves", "Vigorous" ], "next_action": [ "Confirm species (lemon balm vs true mint)", "Pinch flowering stalks to prevent self-seeding", "Harvest leaves while young" ], "next_action_kid": [ "Tell Claude if this is lemon balm or mint", "Pinch off flower tops" ], "severity": 2, "source": "front-bed observation" }, { "name": "Strawberry-tower contents (TBD)", "name_kid": "❓ Tower Pot", "emoji": "❓", "photos": [ "P-05", "P-15" ], "location": [ "Stacked 3-tier terracotta strawberry-pot tower" ], "condition": [ "Young seedlings starting in top tier", "Species not yet confirmed by gardener" ], "next_action": [ "Confirm what's planted", "Pick care plan after ID" ], "next_action_kid": [ "Tell Claude what's in the tall pot", "Then we can help it grow" ], "severity": 2, "source": "prior porch staging" } ], "beds": [ { "bed": "Front Foundation Bed", "crops": [ "lavender", "lemon balm or mint", "marigold", "thyme or oregano groundcover" ], "notes": [ "Established perennial herbs in bloom", "Marigolds + lavender showing well", "Creeping Charlie pressure on edges, hand-pull as needed" ], "notes_kid": [ "The pretty grown-up herb bed", "Flowers smell sweet", "Pull weeds at the edges" ] }, { "bed": "Side-of-House Corn Row (CHLOROSIS BED)", "crops": [ "sweet corn" ], "notes": [ "8-10 corn plants in 2 rows, all showing pale yellow chlorosis", "Suspected nitrogen deficiency, pH issue, or mulch tie-up", "Compare against bucket-corn experiment to isolate cause" ], "notes_kid": [ "The long skinny corn bed", "The corn here looks yellow and sad", "We're testing if it's the dirt" ] }, { "bed": "Pink Bucket Corn Test (4 buckets in a square)", "crops": [ "sweet corn" ], "notes": [ "4 bright pink 5-gallon buckets arranged in a SQUARE for wind pollination", "One corn plant per bucket, fresh potting mix, plenty of drainage holes", "Side-by-side test against the bed corn over 10-14 days" ], "notes_kid": [ "4 pink buckets in a square", "One baby corn in each", "If the bucket corn turns green, the dirt in the long bed is the problem" ] }, { "bed": "Greenhouse (planned)", "crops": [ "Carbon tomatoes", "peppers", "lettuce experiments", "optional corn test" ], "notes": [ "Greenhouse priority list: Carbon tomatoes first, then peppers, then lettuce", "Give tomatoes wider spacing than feels necessary", "Support early, airflow critical to avoid disease in stagnant humid air" ], "notes_kid": [ "The greenhouse is for: tomatoes, peppers, lettuce", "Give tomatoes lots of space", "Keep air moving so they don't get sick" ] }, { "bed": "Outside Vegetable Garden (planned)", "crops": [ "Straight Eight cucumbers", "pumpkins", "watermelons", "beans", "corn block planting", "okra", "cantaloupe" ], "notes": [ "Outside crops are the heat lovers and sprawlers", "Corn goes in a BLOCK (4x4 minimum), not a thin row" ], "notes_kid": [ "Outside plants love the sun", "Corn needs to grow in a big square, not a long line" ] }, { "bed": "Hardening-off Porch Staging", "crops": [ "tomato", "bean", "pepper", "cucurbits (watermelon, pumpkin, cantaloupe, cucumber)", "okra", "lemongrass", "lavender starts", "sweet corn starts", "strawberry-tower TBD" ], "notes": [ "Staging area, not a planting bed", "Most plants here need to move into ground within 1-2 weeks", "Keep humidity domes off most seedlings — domes are germination tools, not growing tools" ], "notes_kid": [ "The waiting spot, not the home spot", "Most baby plants need to move soon", "Take the clear lids off after sprouts come up" ] } ], "pests": [ { "plant": "(lawn around beds)", "plant_kid": "The grass", "date": "2026-06-14", "severity": 3, "symptom": [ "Creeping Charlie / ground ivy (Glechoma hederacea)", "Heavy spread into bed edges" ], "symptom_kid": [ "Sneaky weed creeping into the flower bed" ], "treatment": [ "Hand-pull at bed edges while soil is moist", "Selective broadleaf herbicide (triclopyr) in fall, never near herbs" ], "treatment_kid": [ "Pull it out by hand", "Don't spray weed killer near food plants" ], "source": "P-07 background" } ], "propagation": [ { "plant": "Carbon Tomato", "method": "Seed start in 3-inch pots + nursery purchase upsize", "date": "~6-8 weeks before", "status": "Hardening off, the largest is rootbound and ready for greenhouse/5-gal upsize" }, { "plant": "Garden Bean (Landreth's Stringless)", "method": "Seed start in 4-inch pots", "date": "~3-4 weeks before", "status": "Past optimal transplant size, plant this week" }, { "plant": "Watermelon", "method": "Seed in peat pots", "date": "~3-4 weeks before", "status": "Ready to vine, plant strongest first" }, { "plant": "Pumpkin", "method": "Seed in individual pots + peat-pot trays", "date": "~2-3 weeks before", "status": "Fast germination, lid-vs-no-lid experiment running" }, { "plant": "Cantaloupe", "method": "Seed in trays", "date": "~2-3 weeks before", "status": "Emerging well" }, { "plant": "Cucumber (Straight Eight)", "method": "Seed in pots", "date": "~2-3 weeks before", "status": "Ready for outside, start succession rounds" }, { "plant": "Okra", "method": "Seed in trays", "date": "Recently sown", "status": "Just germinating, waits for full heat" }, { "plant": "Pepper", "method": "Seed in 4-inch pots", "date": "~8-10 weeks before", "status": "Hardening off, greenhouse candidate" }, { "plant": "Sweet Corn (bed)", "method": "Direct sown / transplanted", "date": "~3-4 weeks before", "status": "PLANTED OUT, chlorotic, under bucket-test investigation" }, { "plant": "Sweet Corn (bucket test)", "method": "4 buckets in a square pattern", "date": "Setting up now", "status": "Experimental" }, { "plant": "Lemongrass", "method": "Seed/division in plug tray", "date": "Recent", "status": "Plant out now, treat as annual" } ], "inventory": [ { "item": "Black plastic plug trays (hex cell)", "qty": 2, "reorder_at": "—" }, { "item": "4-inch plastic nursery pots", "qty": "~40", "reorder_at": "—" }, { "item": "3-inch round seedling pots", "qty": "~30", "reorder_at": "—" }, { "item": "Peat-pot strips for cucurbits", "qty": "~12", "reorder_at": "if more cucurbit sowings" }, { "item": "Clear humidity domes / clamshells", "qty": 4, "reorder_at": "—" }, { "item": "3-tier stacking strawberry pot tower", "qty": 1, "reorder_at": "—" }, { "item": "Teal scalloped ceramic 4-inch square planter", "qty": 1, "reorder_at": "—" }, { "item": "Pink 5-gallon buckets (corn experiment)", "qty": 4, "reorder_at": "need drainage holes drilled" }, { "item": "Organic mulch bag", "qty": 1, "reorder_at": "—" } ], "tasks": [ { "due": "2026-06-15", "priority": "high", "status": "open", "task": [ "Drill drainage holes in the 4 pink 5-gallon buckets and set up the SQUARE arrangement", "Plant 1 sweet-corn seedling per bucket with fresh potting mix", "Start the 10-14 day clock on the chlorosis test" ], "task_kid": [ "Make holes in the 4 pink buckets", "Plant 1 baby corn in each bucket", "Put them in a square shape" ] }, { "due": "2026-06-21", "priority": "high", "status": "open", "task": [ "Transplant the largest Carbon Tomato into 5-gal container or greenhouse bed", "Bury deep up to first true leaves, remove lower leaves first", "Stake or cage on day one" ], "task_kid": [ "Move the big Carbon Tomato to a bigger pot or in the dirt", "Bury it deep", "Give it a stick to lean on" ] }, { "due": "2026-06-21", "priority": "high", "status": "open", "task": [ "Plant the strongest bean seedlings out, space 6 inches apart in row, rows 18 inches apart", "No trellis (bush)" ], "task_kid": [ "Plant the biggest baby beans outside", "Space a hand-width apart" ] }, { "due": "2026-06-21", "priority": "high", "status": "open", "task": [ "Plant strongest watermelon and pumpkin seedlings out, keep peat pots intact", "8-10 sq ft per watermelon vine, 8-12 sq ft per pumpkin" ], "task_kid": [ "Plant the biggest baby watermelons and pumpkins", "Each one needs a kid-bed of space" ] }, { "due": "2026-06-21", "priority": "medium", "status": "open", "task": [ "Plant lavender starts (teal pot + plug tray) into front bed, gritty drainage" ], "task_kid": [ "Plant baby lavenders near the big lavender" ] }, { "due": "2026-06-18", "priority": "high", "status": "open", "task": [ "Watch cantaloupe and okra under humidity domes — remove the moment true leaves emerge", "Watermelon is already out (good)", "Domes are germination tools, not growing tools", "Airflow prevents damping-off and weak stretched growth" ], "task_kid": [ "Watch the cantaloupe and okra under the clear lids", "Take the lid off when baby has real leaves", "Lids are for new seeds, not for big babies" ] }, { "due": "2026-06-21", "priority": "medium", "status": "open", "task": [ "Set up greenhouse priorities: Carbon tomatoes, peppers, lettuce experiments", "Give tomatoes WIDER spacing than feels necessary", "Plan early support + airflow" ], "task_kid": [ "Set up the greenhouse for tomatoes, peppers, and lettuce", "Give the tomatoes lots of room" ] }, { "due": "2026-06-28", "priority": "medium", "status": "open", "task": [ "Start another cucumber succession round in the empty peat pots" ], "task_kid": [ "Plant more cucumber seeds in the empty pots" ] }, { "due": "2026-06-21", "priority": "low", "status": "open", "task": [ "Pinch lemon balm flower stalks before they set seed" ], "task_kid": [ "Pinch flower tops off the leafy herb" ] }, { "due": "2026-06-21", "priority": "medium", "status": "open", "task": [ "Hand-pull creeping Charlie at front-bed edges" ], "task_kid": [ "Pull the sneaky weed out by hand" ] }, { "due": "2026-06-15", "priority": "low", "status": "open", "task": [ "Tell Claude what's planted in the strawberry-pot tower" ], "task_kid": [ "Tell Claude what's growing in the tall pot" ] }, { "due": "2026-06-16", "priority": "high", "status": "open", "task": [ "Pot up the leggy watermelon seedlings from the close tray (P-14) before they stretch further", "Bury deeper to firm the stretched stems, then keep in strong light", "Aim to plant out once nights hold above 60F" ], "task_kid": [ "Move the floppy watermelon babies into bigger pots", "Plant them a little deeper so they stand up", "Put them where they get lots of sun" ] } ], "risks": [ { "title": "Corn chlorosis in bed — yellow flag, suspected nitrogen deficiency or bed problem", "title_kid": "The corn looks yellow and sick", "severity": 4, "likelihood": "high", "mitigation": [ "Bucket experiment isolates the variable", "If bucket corn greens up within 10-14 days, the BED is the problem (nitrogen tie-up by mulch, pH, drainage near foundation)", "If bucket corn stays pale too, the plants or the seed are at fault" ], "mitigation_kid": [ "Do the pink bucket test", "If the bucket corn turns green, the dirt is the problem", "If it stays yellow, the seeds are the problem" ], "sources": [ { "title": "Diagnosing nutrient deficiencies in corn — Iowa State Extension", "url": "https://crops.extension.iastate.edu/encyclopedia/diagnosing-nutrient-deficiencies-corn" }, { "title": "Sweet corn — K-State Research and Extension MF-2693", "url": "https://bookstore.ksre.ksu.edu/pubs/MF2693.pdf" } ] }, { "title": "Carbon Tomato is several times bigger than its nursery cell, will be root-bound", "title_kid": "The big Carbon Tomato pot is too small now", "severity": 3, "likelihood": "high", "mitigation": [ "Slide out, check for root-circling, bury deep up to first true leaves", "Buried tomato stem grows additional roots", "Move into final container or greenhouse this week" ], "mitigation_kid": [ "Take it out of the small pot", "Bury it deep in a bigger pot", "The buried part will grow new roots" ], "sources": [ { "title": "Tomato transplanting — University of Maryland Extension", "url": "https://extension.umd.edu/resource/growing-tomatoes-home-garden" }, { "title": "Indeterminate tomatoes — Missouri Botanical Garden Kemper", "url": "https://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/gardens-gardening/your-garden/help-for-the-home-gardener/advice-tips-resources/visual-guides/tomatoes-growing" } ] }, { "title": "Bean seedlings will get rootbound in 4-inch pots if not planted out this week", "title_kid": "The baby beans need to go in the ground SOON", "severity": 4, "likelihood": "high", "mitigation": [ "Plant out this week", "Bush type so no trellis needed", "Beans resent root disturbance once mature" ], "mitigation_kid": [ "Plant them outside this week", "No stick needed, they stand up themselves" ], "sources": [ { "title": "Growing beans — University of Minnesota Extension", "url": "https://extension.umn.edu/vegetables/growing-beans" }, { "title": "Snap beans — MU Extension G6970", "url": "https://extension.missouri.edu/publications/g6970" } ] }, { "title": "Cantaloupe and okra damping off if humidity domes stay on past germination", "title_kid": "Cantaloupe and okra babies can get sick if the clear lids stay on too long", "severity": 3, "likelihood": "medium", "mitigation": [ "Watermelon is already out — good", "Cantaloupe and okra are still under domes for germination — take domes off the moment true leaves emerge", "Bottom-water, do not crowd", "Airflow is the cure" ], "mitigation_kid": [ "Watermelon already has its lid off (good)", "Cantaloupe and okra still have lids on — take them off when real leaves come", "Water from the bottom" ], "sources": [ { "title": "Damping-off — Cornell Cooperative Extension", "url": "http://vegetablemdonline.ppath.cornell.edu/factsheets/Damping_off.htm" }, { "title": "Damping-off in seedlings — University of Minnesota Extension", "url": "https://extension.umn.edu/plant-diseases/damping-flower-and-vegetable-seedlings" } ] }, { "title": "Corn row too thin for wind pollination → blank ears", "title_kid": "The corn row is too thin for the cobs to fill up", "severity": 4, "likelihood": "high", "mitigation": [ "Plant block-style, 4 rows by 4 plants minimum", "Corn pollen drifts between tassels and silks", "Bucket square solves this for the experiment" ], "mitigation_kid": [ "Plant corn in a big square not a line", "Corn needs lots of friends close by" ], "sources": [ { "title": "Sweet corn — K-State Research and Extension MF-2693", "url": "https://bookstore.ksre.ksu.edu/pubs/MF2693.pdf" }, { "title": "Growing sweet corn — University of Minnesota Extension", "url": "https://extension.umn.edu/vegetables/growing-sweet-corn" } ] }, { "title": "Creeping Charlie / ground ivy taking over front-bed perimeter", "title_kid": "A sneaky weed is creeping into the flower bed", "severity": 2, "likelihood": "high", "mitigation": [ "Hand-pull at bed edges", "Selective broadleaf (triclopyr) in fall lawn-wide, never near herbs" ], "mitigation_kid": [ "Pull the weed out by hand", "Don't spray near food plants" ], "sources": [ { "title": "Ground ivy in lawns — MU Extension G6750", "url": "https://extension.missouri.edu/publications/g6750" }, { "title": "Creeping Charlie — UW-Madison Horticulture", "url": "https://hort.extension.wisc.edu/articles/creeping-charlie/" } ] }, { "title": "Lemongrass winter kill in zone 6b", "title_kid": "Lemongrass cannot live through cold winter", "severity": 2, "likelihood": "high", "mitigation": [ "Treat as annual", "Or lift into a 1-gallon pot in late September and overwinter in a sunny window" ], "mitigation_kid": [ "Bring it inside before winter", "Or just enjoy it for one summer" ], "sources": [ { "title": "Lemongrass — NC State Extension Plant Toolbox", "url": "https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/cymbopogon-citratus/" }, { "title": "Growing lemongrass — Penn State Extension", "url": "https://extension.psu.edu/lemongrass-cymbopogon-citratus-cymbopogon-flexuosus" } ] }, { "title": "Sweet mint takeover if planted unbounded next to brick path", "title_kid": "Mint takes over the bed if you let it loose", "severity": 3, "likelihood": "high", "mitigation": [ "Buried bottomless pot or rhizome barrier 12 inches deep", "Or keep in dedicated container" ], "mitigation_kid": [ "Plant mint inside a pot buried in the ground", "Or grow it only in a pot" ], "sources": [ { "title": "Mint — Missouri Botanical Garden Kemper", "url": "https://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?taxonid=287739" }, { "title": "Margaret Roach, A Way to Garden — mint, the polite way to grow it", "url": "https://awaytogarden.com/herbs-grow-them-the-right-way/" } ] } ], "references": [ { "title": "Carbon Tomato variety reference — Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds", "url": "https://www.rareseeds.com/carbon-tomato", "kind": "variety-source" }, { "title": "Straight Eight cucumber variety — All-America Selections 1935 winner", "url": "https://all-americaselections.org/product/cucumber-straight-eight/", "kind": "variety-source" }, { "title": "D. Landreth Seed Co. — Stringless Green Pod bean variety history", "url": "https://www.landrethseeds.com/", "kind": "seed-source" }, { "title": "Front-Lawn-Plant-Ideas (ChatGPT capture, 2026-06-04)", "url": "https://drwu-htmls.vercel.app/chatgpt-captures/Front-Lawn-Plant-Ideas", "kind": "prior-chat" }, { "title": "Garden-Brick-Extension-Visualization", "url": "https://drwu-htmls.vercel.app/chatgpt-captures/Garden-Brick-Extension-Visualization", "kind": "prior-chat" }, { "title": "KCCG Garden Bug Detectives pest guide", "url": "https://drwu-htmls.vercel.app/kccg-garden-pests", "kind": "pest-reference" }, { "title": "4-H garden pests reference", "url": "https://drwu-htmls.vercel.app/4h-garden-pests", "kind": "pest-reference" }, { "title": "Verdure / Cedar Hollow Garden dashboard (parallel design)", "url": "https://horticulturalist-dashboard.vercel.app/", "kind": "parallel-design" } ] }