Nuts!

That title is a G-rated version of what escaped my lips when I looked outside Saturday:

On March 16, I was planning to plant my peas in time with the gardening tradition of putting the seeds in the ground by St. Patrick's Day.

Now, I don't mind cold, but it seems ridiculous to actually shovel through a few inches of snow to plant something. 

Fortunately, I had another idea... (that, just so you know, has totally nothing to do with gardening)

Success!

The completely insane summer weather we have been having here in Ohio sure has been good for one thing: lemons. 

There are 7 Meyer Lemons growing on my plant, and they are all about the same size right now, which is comparable to an average lime.  I really do not know how big Meyer lemons are supposed to get, but I know that they typically ripen during the winter months.  Not sure if these guys are just a little precocious, or if they are on schedule.  We'll find out!  I'm so excited about this, and I guess it's one benefit to this summer's tropical climate (in my opinion, one of the only benefits... but that's another story).  All I have been doing to this plant is watering occasionally, keeping up with biweekly feedings of Miracid, and trimming a few branches back.  When/if it ever gets colder here, I'll put it  back inside.  Eventually these can grow into tree size, so for next year I am imagining a bigger pot.  Right now the plant is still probably only in the range of 2 feet tall.  This is an experiment I am glad I tried! 

Ohio citrus?

Years ago, when driving in my car early on a weekend morning, I caught part of a local radio show featuring the man behind one of Northeast Ohio's big garden centers (I am not sure if this show is still around, but for any of you locals, it was on 102.1).  He was answering questions about growing citrus trees in Ohio, and ever since then I have imagined having a Meyer Lemon tree.  I asked around at garden stores the past few years and they were either hard to come by or not available due to a citrus quarantine.  They are sold online, but I wasn't really committed enough to spend upwards of $100 (shipping a small tree is apparently kind of expensive).

So imagine my surprise when we just happened upon one at the garden store this April, when we weren't even looking for it.  And for $24.99, no less.