So it's mid-winter break and the kids are with my mother-in-law. This means I have ample time to
1. Do our taxes
or
2. Order 2009's garden seeds
I chose number 2.
Ooooo, I loooove this time of year! Okay, really I don't. But ordering seeds to grow food and herbs for when it will eventually be warm again (it will, right?)... nearly as good as chocolate.
So I didn't do anything too crazy this year. I'm afraid with no greenhouse or cold frames and not having space for continuous warmth to start seeds in the house, I rely a lot on direct sowing. I will freely admit that I BUY all of our tomato and pepper plants from local folks, or barter with friends who have started their plants from seeds. Honestly, I just can't figure out an easy way to deal with it. I tried one year and failed miserably. We keep our house really cold, and even with grow lamps, I got terrible results.
And typically, when I start off to buy just tomato and pepper plants, I inevitably end up buying a lot of other stuff at random. Like four kohlrabi plants or some interesting variety of squash. This is how more and more of our backyard gets turned over into growing space.
At any rate, here's this year's list of seeds ordered from Fedco Seeds (which is a great company, btw):
multi-colored pole bean mix
Vermont Cranberry bean
coral shell pea
arava cantaloupe
cross country pickling cucumber
super zagross Middle Eastern slicing cucumber
early yellow crookneck squash
Waltham winter butternut squash
New England pie pumpkin
Tonda di Parigi carrot (super cute little round carrots for folks who have trouble growing carrots in rocky soil)
Danvers Carrot (typical carrot that will be slightly twisted in our soil, but still good)
early wonder Tall Top beets
White Egg Turnip
Long standing Bloomsdale spinach
Tyee Spinach
De Morges Braun lettuce
Summer lettuce mix
Bright Lights chard (great for kids)
Verte de Cambrai Mache (anyone ever grow this? a first for me)
Arcadia Broccoli
Gonzales cabbage
Ruby Perfection cabbage
Champion collards
Sweet basil
Wild bergamot
Caribe cilantro
fernleaf dill
Kablouna Calendula mix
Resina Calendula
early wonder cosmos
Sunrise Serenade Morning Glory
3# yellow onion sets
3# Red Baron onion sets
3# Rose Finn Apple potatoes (fingerling type)
10# Russet Burbank potatoes
And from Jung's Seeds & Plants (total sucker for this glossy page catalog with amplified photos!):
Luffa sponge gourds seeds
3 different 3 year old blueberry bushes
3 Red Lake currant bushes
white button mushroom kit
There are a lot of other things that I really love but can't sacrifice the space for. Some of those things we've tried before and they didn't work so great or our growing season just wasn't long enough. Last year's edamame was delicious, but I only had space for 20 sq ft and ended up with a great harvest, but only enough to measure to 2 cups. That was eaten in one meal!
Or sweet potatoes, the harvest is mediocre at best, we just don't have heat long enough for them to get to a decent size.
Same goes for Brussel Sprouts. I love them, but they're only as big as quarters by Thanksgiving.
Parsnips are delicious. We all love them here, however, with a 3 week germination period, they're a little difficult to find when and if they finally do germinate. I'm sure I "weeded" more than I meant to. Out of a whole packet of seed, I had ~8 parsnips grow. I left them in the ground for the frost to "sweeten" them. I covered them with loads of leaves and guess what? I can't find the damn things. When we get ready to prepare the soil for this year's garden, I'll have to carefully cull through that bit to try to find my 8 parsnips I tried so hard for. I'm told they're best after they've over-wintered, at their sweetest. IF you can find them.
I'm waiting for my bank to call and inform me that some nut job stole my credit card and made a bunch of random gardening orders.
4 comments:
What an impressive list. I got to start some of my seeds this weekend and I actually have little broccoli seedlings up!! I have grow lights in the basement and a heating cable that I use for seed starting. But I also trade plants with friends who started different varieties. That way we all get a good variety of plants.
I can't wait for it to warm enough that I can get out and plant some of the early stuff like peas.
Judy
Have you thought about a more "dense" planting plan? In other words, choosing fewer types of seeds/crops and planting more of the kind that you eat most? That is something I'm trying this year (granted, I'm very new at this) and it might be interesting to see how it works.... just a random idea.
Other thing I was wondering: you mentioned your home is too cold to really start seeds well. What temp do you keep it? I have started my earliest seeds this week, but have been worrying about whether it is really warm enough inside for them. I have them on top/wrapped in the mylar blanket things, but I just keep worrying about them...
Livinglocal, this actually feels like an abbreviated list for us! Last year I grew more varieties. The point for us is to grow as much as we can to get through winter. It worked really well last year, with the exceptions of the things I listed. This year, buying fruit bushes and cantaloupe was where I ventured into something new. However, if all works well, the blueberries and currants will be long-lasting friends in the garden.
As for our house temp, it's generally around 60-62* in here. You could use a heating pad under them, I suppose. But maybe only have it on when you're home. They do sell proper heating mats that are probably worth the investment if you have the space to set up seedlings.
You've got me dreaming of little sprouts!!!
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