I walked by a display of fresh new seeds yesterday and couldn't resist. I got packets of Heavenly Blue morning glory, cilantro, Mammoth and Bouquet dill, and Boston Pickling cucumber seeds. So my garden is starting!
I'm planning to set up my plant lights and shelves soon. Maybe next week. The earliest crops don't get planted til mid February, but I'd like to try growing sprouts, which I've never done. Maybe even some winter lettuce in containers.
I haven't yet put together my seed lists for mail order, but I've seen some interesting things in the various catalogs and email ads. I'll start a wish list here so I remember:
- Romanesco broccoli
- Chinese broccoli
- sweet potatoes (I'll probably start my own slips)
- potatoes (Russet Burbank, Dark Red Norland, All Blue)
- summer squash (Costata Romanesco)
- Long Island cheese pumpkin
19 comments:
I just found your site and hope to check into it often. I started 9 raised bed for Square Foot Gardening last year and loved it but will tweak it a bit and put a different crop in each of my nine raised bed.
Its nice to get tips from gardeners.
This year I will join the organic Community Garden that will start in our little town. I hope to learn tips from the master gardener who will help us.
Most foods will go to the local Food Pantry but my own home garden is sure to benefit from the knowledge I gain.
Like you. I've been thumbing thru the 3 seed catalogs I've rec'd in the last month.
I'll be checking your site for tips and pictures. My own site is quiltlady'sgardens.blogspot which will hopefully be full of great foods in 2010.
Good luck.
I love Costata Romanesco squash, it is delicious and provides lots of tasty male blossoms, too. I've been working on my seed order today as an antidote this dreadful rainy weather we are having in Maine.
Some of your new wishlist items are on my wishlist, too. Isn't looking through the seed catalogs fun? Almost addictive...
I've only received the Baker Creek catalogue, and I already have well over 40 seeds I'd like to get :)
I did see a green leaf gailan (chinese kale) in Baker Creek's, is that similar to the chinese broccoli you made?
I'm going to try and grow a large garden next year, but I only have so much room.... oh well, I'll get creative :)
Do you do the 3 sisters planting at all? I was thinking of trying that.
You are WAY ahead of me! Guess I need to start thinking about Spring....NOW!
The Romanesco broccoli is seriously delicious – one of my favourite foods. Not the easiest to grow (all the usual brassica foibles, plus a few), but well worth it...
Kathy, Where are you seeing seed displays? My local stores garden centers are still selling after Christmas holidays sale items and bird feeders. No seeds in sight except for purchase online. I'd like to buy seeds without paying for shipping. Thanks!
I grew sweet potatoes this year from Johnny's selected seeds here in coastal Maine. Considering how wet and cool it was this summer, I was very pleased with the crop harvest(around 25 lbs. or so). I followed the directions and was quite pleased with the results, I just need to learn how to store them better. I had quite a few large tubers that were 6"-9" long and about 3" in diameter. The taste was very mild compared to the store bought varieties. There were lots of small slips, but I did not keep them over, my family enjoyed many meals of roasted, mashed and baked sweets. Try them, I think you will be happy! I will be growing more next season.
I have done one seed order so far, two more to go. Trying to order before the seed houses get to busy this year.
Did those beans seeds make it to your box? I can't recall when I even sent them now.
I got heirloom seeds... Sweet Pea from Baker Creek Heirloom Seed Co. for Christmas... can't wait to plant them!
My DH is pouring over all the seed catalogs, ordered and received seeds for lettuce and radishes. He has planted them in our FL garden. We have eaten broccoli and lettuce and onions and radishes from our garden. We are learning how to garden in the winter so we can garden 12 months out of the year!!
I am in the Edmonds area, and I'm considering adding two more vegetable gardens to the three I have now. Anybody in the greater Seattle area have a preference foe where to purchase seeds?
Dan, the seeds made it fine. Is this a good time to send out the celeriac seeds?
Cider hill- I am thinking of starting my own sweet slips soon. I have a store bought white sweet that has tiny new sprouts. Exciting!
jessica - The seeds I found were in a hardware store in southern Mississippi. I went south to visit family for Christmas last week. The shipping is cheaper than the airfare I guess. I thought maybe seed racks are out in stores up north too, but maybe not. I'll check next time I go by my True Value or Whole Foods.
lovemeknot,
Yes. What I'm call Chinese Broccoli (that's what Whole Foods called it) is often/usually called Chinese Kale.
I think Three Sisters takes a lot of space. I have not tried it though I did consider it once. I think its more an method for low maintenance gardening when you have a lot of space.
I like to grow corn in as dense a block as I can for pollination. I'd prefer to rotate my small beds with beans (to add nitrogen) one year and then corn or squash (which use up lots of nitrogen) the following year.
I agree with the Broccoli... It is amazing! Here in Zone 9 it is a bit more difficult to grow, but if you time it right, its a great treat!
Glade to hear they made it. You can send the celeriac when ever you have time. Spring planting is a long ways off still. Do you need my address?
Kathy,
thanks for the reply! I'm looking into variety of greens, gailan might make my cut :) Thanks for the info about 3 sisters, I didn't realize it'd take up that much room.
Angelnina,
I live in Bothell! Feel free to contact me! (seed swap perhaps?) my email is lovemeknotcreations @ gmail dot com
:)
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