February 9, 2008

tomato seeds

These are the tomato varieties I’m growing this year. I haven’t grown tomatoes from seed for many years. By growing my own, I’m looking forward to having more unusual varieties. I have ten varieties so far. They should be planted indoors around April 5th. Heirlooms: Brandywine: One of the best-tasting tomatoes. Brandywine’s luscious flavor is “very rich, loud, and distinctively spicy.” The large fruits, often over 1 lb., have deep pink skin and smooth red flesh. 78 days. Cherokee Purple: Unusual variety with full flavor. Pre-1890 Tennessee heirloom is reportedly…

January 25, 2008

seeds arrive!!

The days are getting a little longer (abut 2 minutes a day!) – the sun is getting a little brighter – and my seeds are here!!! Spring seems just around the corner. (57 days, I think.) Slave to a springtime passion for the earth.How Love burns through the Putting in the SeedOn through the watching for that early birthWhen, just as the soil tarnishes with weed,The sturdy seedling with arched body comesShouldering its way and shedding the earth crumbs. – Robert Frost

January 20, 2008

collecting seed potatoes

My husband brought home a nice bag of fingerling potatoes from our local warehouse store yesterday. A mix of La Ratte, Russian Banana, French and Rose Finn (though I don’t know which are which). Since these were varieties I was planning to mail order as seed potatoes, I immediately pulled out a bunch. I’ll save these for planting instead of ordering and paying for shipping costs. Last year I had very good luck with planting supermarket potatoes. Why not? I also noticed I had a Yukon Gold that was beginning…

January 10, 2008

seed order

Last year I thought the 25 packs I ordered was too many. This year my list has 39 varieties. I am very excited about growing sweet peppers, lots of fresh green soy beans, many different colors of tomatoes, early carrots, and sweet white onions. Sand Hill Preservation CenterBeets: Chioggia, Lutz, Ruby QueenCarrots: Coreless Amsterdam, OxheartParsnips: Cobham Improved MarrowKale: Tuscan, Red Russian Kale Onions: White Portugal, Yellow Sweet Spanish Peppers: Sweet ChocolateTomatoes: San Marzano, Giant Belgium, Purple Calabash, Cherokee PurpleChickens: three buff Orpington female hatchlings (not)Johnny’s Selected SeedsBeans: Isar, Tongue Of…

January 8, 2008

leftover seeds

Before I did too much circling in my catalogs, I checked out my leftover seeds. I was surprised to see so many. I won’t need to buy as many new seeds as I thought this year. Between the leftovers and the ones I saved, I have many seeds. I am excited about some little watermelon seeds I saved from a delicious melon I bought from my CSA. (I’m hoping it wasn’t a hybrid.) I also have several types of wildflowers that I will plant outside in plastic milk bottles in…

January 5, 2008

catalogs!

Don’t you love garden catalog season. My favorite ones (Sand Hill and Johnny’s) just arrived. They are in a stack next to my computer for quick access when I need a break from my work. I’m hoping to get my seed orders out soon. S&P

November 13, 2007

lettuce seeds

There’s too much else to do these days than to spend time in the garden. The stores already have Christmas music and I need to come up with a Thanksgiving menu for 12 guests – not to mention keeping up with my paying job. My lettuce bolted this summer and out of curiosity I let it go to see what would happen. I may or may nor actually collect the seeds, but there are nice puffy seed heads in the garden now on my Romaine. S&PLactuca sativa

September 17, 2007

dill seeds

Time for seed collecting. I have some little plastic baggies I’m saving them in. So far I’ve collected: morning glories, watermelon, Capucijner peas, three types of beans, garlic cloves and several types of wildflowers seeds. I have a few rows of lettuce that are starting to bloom now and I’ll see if I can find their seeds later. S&Pculinary herbs

July 21, 2007

fall seed order

I placed an order of fall garlic and seeds yesterday for planting in mid-August. I ordered from Sand Hill Preservation: Lettuce: Black Seeded Simpson, Merville de Four Seasons, PrizeheadEndive: Full Heart BatavianGreens: Arugula, Fall Greens MixGarlic: Old HomesteadPeas: Alderman (Tall Telephone)Radish: Round Black Spanish S&P

April 19, 2007

Sand Hill seed catalog

A copy of the Sand Hill seed catalog came in the mail the other day. Its a great catalog to read with a lot of very interesting gardening information. In particular, I found the following comments: About turnips, which I dislike and accidentally bought seeds for: they “make an excellent soil builder when planted and left to rot over the winter“. Great! Maybe I will grow them! About pumpkin and squash culture: “The vine crops continue to be the biggest challenge here in the Midwest to grow organically. We continue…

weeks and counting until my last spring frost

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