Some Thoughts On Starting Seeds

I'm a gardener of average skill and knowledge. I have grown many things successfully from seed that I have directly sown into the ground. (peas, radish, turnips, sunflowers, beans, morning glory, lettuce, spinach).

Most years I just buy plants at the nursery when it's time for Tomatos, peppers, etc.... This year I decided to try and grow some veggies from seed by starting seeds inside. I choose broccoli, 2 kinds of tomato and onions. I read up a little on seed starting, ordered my seeds and then I was in business. I also ordered seeds that I sowed directly into the ground (Arugula, Spinach, Peas)

I have mixed feelings about this whole thing. Not only did this become a daily chore for me to have to remember but I only grew 2 kinds of tomato. (I'm giving a bunch away but they look nothing like the robust transplants at the nursery this time of year.) This year, many of the nurseries that I frequent got in on the heirloom vegetable resurgence and have offered so many different varities. You can buy one of each for about $1.69 and I ended up purchasing a bunch of tomatos as well. (purple, striped, dwarf, yellow) of course a seed grown tomato costs a lot less than $1.69 but a plant produces enough fruit that I can be satisfied with that return on investment. Also, I'm only growing 9 tomato plants. If I was growing 30, then starting seeds might be a better option for me.

The onions were so scrawny that they didnt transplant well at all. I finally put 2 clumps in and figure the clumps will be big enough in the fall for me to transplant for next year.

The broccoli. Well Im excited because Im growing a kind I can't find in transplants. However, something in my garden has snapped the stem of a few already so I filled the spaces with brussles sprouts from a nursery. It's much less frustrating replanting something you just bought rather than something you've been growing since February!

The heirloom spinach had a VERY low germination rate and I imagine that is why people stopped planting it. I had to supplement with a local brand of seeds-The cost was less and seeds acclimated to my area.

The jury is still out on the peas. I saw flowers today so peas are in my future.

First Harvest!

Today, May 22nd, I harvested the first thing from this year's garden.

Broccoli Rabe (Rappi) that, with the July-like temps of the last few days, flowered yesterday, way earlier than I expected. The stalks really didn't have enough time to get very big around and they were a little tough at the bottom. Certainly not the best veggie that I've ever harvested from my yard, but as the first this year, it was still pretty darn great.

I sauteed these up with some olive and sesame oils and then added some of the Chineese Green Onion Sauce that my husband whipped up for the Chineese wings he grilled tonight.

My Girl Gets In On The Act

After making some mixed flower planters for Mother's Day gifts, my girl asked me if she could have the leftover flowers for her tree house not in a tree (that's what she calls the tent platform on her swing set.) She proceeded to get out some pots and planted them herself. She then put on her finishing touches (as she called them) by putting all the plastic plant markers she could find in the 2 pots. Then she placed them in her "tree house" and watered them. Along with that she has marigolds and peas that she started in preschool. I'm thinking of a way I can make a small trellis in the platform so we can grow them in pots for her as they are actually pretty healthy plants!

The Homestaed Kitchen!

Yesterday my husband took my daughter to the zoo for a daddy/daughter date and I worked around the homestead.

I started a batch of Artisan Bread from Mother Earth News. I made the whole wheat last week but made the white batch this week as I'm having all the moms in my family over Friday for a belated mother's day lunch and I wanted something a little less dense for them. The awesome thing about this recipe is that it makes 3 loaves and there is NO KNEADING involved. I like kneading well enough but I haven't really mastered it-How long, when is it too much, etc... This is a simple simple process and I have made 4 loaves without incident. It's better if you let it sit in the fridge overnight so I baked it today.

I also made a batch of mozzarella cheese. I halved it and made one ball of mozzarella and one log that was filled with prosciutto. My family really like this so we probably eat it faster than we would normal cheese. In addition, I started a new batch of Keifer but that won't be done until tomorrow. (and it's not really that photogenic!)

New Header

Like my new header? Stuff is growing around here! You can see my lovely chives mixed in with geraniums and those little seedlings behind the chives-Turnips!

My Own Planting Progress

I really need to post some new pictures, the garden ALREADY looks different!

So far I have planted the following:
Potatoes
Leeks
Turnips
Onions
Shallots
Broccoli
Broccoli Rabe (Rappi)
Arugula
Lettuce (various kinds)
Spinach
Shelling Peas
Snow Peas
Golden Beets (I'm not sure on the progress of these. They seem to be taking a long time and I've never grown them before.
Rhubarb
Garlic (I planted this last fall)
Horseradish (again, planted last fall)
Dill-I actually didn't plant it, it's sprouting from some seed from last year, I'm just letting it grow!)
Radishes
Brussels Sprouts
Oregano (had already)
Sage (Ditto)
Winter Savory (Ditto)
Chives (Ditto)
Thyme (Ditto)
Tarragon (Ditto)

Wow-On paper that looks like more than it does to me out in the garden. Perhaps it's because the garden is bigger than it ever was or perhaps it's because some of that stuff is still small and no where near ready to eat.

Mother's Day Garden Update

Well we took the raised bed over to my parents today and I have to say-My mom was surprised and a bit perplexed. Like why would we expect her to GROW FOOD??? By the end of construction though, I could feel her warming up to the idea. I could tell she was having fun as we sat down and designed what kind of food she was going to have in it. She even called me tonight to thank me again and say she thinks it will be really neat when things start to grow.

I'm setting things out in a Square Foot Gardening configuration and her 4' x 8' garden will contain:

-1 Tomato, I am also making a homemade earthbox for an additional tomato
-2 Broccoli
-2 Pepper
-2 Eggplant
-1 Zucchini
-2 Bush cucumbers
-Green onions that she can cut early and use for, well, green onions.
-9 Onions that will grow into full size onions
-Parsley
-Basil-The funny thing about this is she asked if she could dry it. So hmm...she went from being perplexed by the whole thing to wondering about drying herbs in the space of like 2 hours. I think my plan is working......
-Marigolds in the corners
-1 separate planter of lettuce


I'll post some pictures when all the more tender veggies are planted.

If you think you don't have room to grow veggies!

When I worked at Citibank and became a manager I was upgraded to a great cubicle (Is it even legal to use those words in the same sentence???) It had 6ft tall sunny window that ran the length of the cube with a huge window sill. It looked over a large expansive lawn with gorgeous trees that turned a fiery orange in fall. It was the best seat I ever sat in during my corporate world work days. I had some plants but nothing edible.

I also worked with some IT geeks at Paychex who were growing pea vines in their office window. Urban gardeners before it was even cool!!! Sadly, at Paychex, I had a dreary cube in the middle of a building that had tinted windows. While the job was great, the surroundings were suffocating.

If I worked in the corporate world today THIS is what I would be tending at my desk!

Earthbound Farms Clamshell Lettuce Garden

I am going to try this next winter. I think I'll do lettuce and arugula. Arugula is my very favorite green and is always in short supply in the winter. This past winter I bought 2 small bunches for $5 at the Long Season Market because I missed it so much. This winter I will raise my own!!

Buy Local!

I am a strong proponent of buying locally grown, fresh food. Please head on over to my other blog to see my latest on NOT buying Mexican tomatoes (it has nothing to do with Swine Flu!). I didn't post it here because it's not about MY crops but I do think it's worthwhile to consider!

Making Food Production a Family Affair!

My brother and I have come up with an AWESOME (I think) Mother's Day Gift for our mom!

He is building her a 4' x 8' raised bed with some scrap wood of and we are going to fill it with a small veggie garden for her. I have also already started a large rectangle planter of salad greens that is growing quite well.

My mom has never been a gardener but she does love her potted plants on the patio. She's good about caring for them and I imagine will be good about a veggie garden (especially one from her kids!) Ohhh....Great idea-I just had the thought to have my daughter make her a sign for it! She'll love it even more!

I just feel so strongly that people should learn to produce some of their own food. As soon as you have the garden, the rest is relatively easy-Water, weed & consume!

I've also been encouraging my brother, who is a landscaper, to grow some of his own food as well this year. So far he is off and running with peas, snow peas, radishes, lettuce, 2 brussles sprouts, broccoli and potatoes!