February 3, 2009

melting snow and seed orders

Our paths are all muddy now. Skippy checks out every inch of the muddy snowbanks. I’m glad for any melting we get. I was able to get my last seed order mailed out yesterday. Turns out I waited too long and Sand Hill is sold out of Opalka tomato seeds for 2009. I found another source (Reimer) and placed my order, adding in a few more varieties (Box Car Willie, Early Girl and Sun Gold cherry). And I have a trade set up with Dan. I’ll send Delicata squash and…

January 31, 2009

sports, melons and seed catalogs ….

Yes, that was me. Out in the bleachers reading my seed catalog at the high school wrestling tournament. I’d look up now and then and cheer. Then, back to the heirloom melon section. Nothing like an all day sporting event to catch up on my catalogs. I think I can do better at growing melons this year. I’ll remember that the seedlings need to stay very warm. Sand Hill Preservation Center reminds growers not to start seedlings indoors more than 2 weeks early. The seedlings should not have more than…

January 29, 2009

organizing seed packages

Today’s mail delivery brought a few more seed packages. From Burpee. A nice new marigold (Fireball), parsnips, cucumbers, parsley and Provence Blue lavender. I already received my seeds from Johnny’s and Botanical Interests. My Fedco potatoes and onion sets will come in April. With most of my seeds in, I spread out all the packages, old and new and got out my rubber band jar. I stacked the seeds by their planting date. First pile to be sown 8-10 weeks before frost. Next, 4-6 weeks. Next, 2-3 weeks. Next, direct…

January 16, 2009

seeds

I got out all my left over seeds tonight and checked through them. I threw out the umbellifers (carrots, parsnips, dill, parsley etc) as these seeds don’t store well. I threw out the empty packages. And I threw some packages that didn’t sprout for me for the past 2 years (a zucchini and some parsnips). Still close to 50 packs left! It would be a nice garden even if I didn’t buy any more this year. Nevertheless, I placed orders for some new varieties. I ordered from Burpee, Johnny’s and…

January 13, 2009

reading more seed catalogs

I’m still looking through seed catalogs. So much to read and circle. Here are some quotes from Sand Hill Preservation Center that I was amused by “Sorry, but the rabbits continue to destroy the seed crop. This is ironic since we are surrounded by fields of genetically engineered Soybeans. Do you suppose the rabbits know something that we don’t know? “Butterbean: 85 days. A deep green soybean, used best as a green shell bean. (Unavailable for 2009)” I’ll have to find Buttterbean seed somewhere else. And here’s another quote on…

January 9, 2009

garden catalogs

I wasn’t going to look at all these catalogs. (Nine so far this year.) Its quicker to do plant orders on-line. But the colors are so nice this year. And the plants look so pretty. So I’ve been circling items. Wildly. Don’t know if I’ll be able to find all my circles and narrow down a sensible list to buy. But its fun to rummage through seed catalogs. I suppose what caught my eye first was the seedless tomato on the Burpee catalog. I had to do a double take…

January 7, 2009

Chinese bean seeds

I was given some beautiful hand collected Chinese pole bean seeds a couple of days ago. These were collected by a local gardener/colleague, who also shared some fresh beans with me last summer. The fresh beans were long, very crisp and a bit lemony in flavor (my photo). I was hoping I could grow some myself this year and am extremely pleased he shared his seed crop with me. Thank you Shunguang! There’s nothing better than hand collected, heirloom seeds. Shunguang says the seeds store best in their shells, but…

January 2, 2009

my seed potato order

I didn’t know 2008 was the UN year of the Potato. The International Year of the Potato has raised awareness of the potato’s fundamental importance as a staple food of humanity. But it also had a very practical aim: to promote development of sustainable potato-based systems that enhance the well-being of producers and consumers and help realize the potato’s full potential as a “food of the future” Ah yes, a “food of the future”. I was thinking the same. But in a less global sense. I’d like to expand my…

December 27, 2008

gathering and giving seeds

Gathering: I saved the seeds from a sweet Butternut squash we ate at our Christmas dinner. Nice big seeds – the squash was from our local CSA farm. It feels good to be gathering the beginnings of my next garden. I’ve collected five or six types of seeds by now. I’m still gathering my list of seeds to order. Giving: I gave my sister (who lives in CA) seeds for Christmas, though I think her box arrived late (I hope it has arrived by now). Cucumber, red lettuce mix, purple…

December 24, 2008

Delicata squash seeds

I wasn’t planning to grow Delicata again, but I’ve changed my mind. Last night I baked two little squashes grown in my community plot last summer. Fantastic. Sweet and smooth. I’ve never tired this variety and didn’t expect it to be so good. I’m used to Acorn, which has stringer flesh and a squashier taste. So I’ve edited my planting list yet again. I think I’ll grow Delicata and Butternut this year for winter squashes. The Delicata seeds I grew this year were from a package my neighbor shared with…

weeks and counting until my last spring frost

S	M	T	W	T	F	S
						1
2	3	4	5	6	7	8
9	10	11	12	13	14	15
16	17	18	19	20	21	22
23	24	25	26	27	28	29
30	31