Folks,
What with all this at-home time more and more of us will have, I bet some folks are looking outside and fancying a bed extension or additional containers.
This Spring, I’m all-in on containers, and will take my time making my beds and permanent vegetable garden through this year, with the goal of some late Summer-early Fall plantings for late 2020 harvests, and some late Fall plantings for mid-winter and Spring harvests. Except for catnip – I’ve got a live plant of my buddy’s weapon-grade catnip he grows in Colorado (I’ve got many seeds for and from it, if you’d like, just let me know). And I ordered a dwarf Kafir lime tree because I cannot easily find the fresh leaves anymore, and I’m over that hassle. Indoor tree, hello!
I’m trying a bunch of new veggies and can’t wait for my first harvest, which should be some 18-day radishes on April 1, but since I planted them on Friday the 13th, I expect I’m going to get a double-whammy and that date will slide a few days. I’ve also got some greens, beets, and carrots (three kinds!) in for late-April and early May harvests, assuming global warming continues making it unseasonably warm here.
Except for those first few pots, most of my seeds are either starting in trays, or will be soon. I’ve got an aggressive plan to do a lot of staggered and succession planting, so I’ve got a rough road map from now through mid-November. I’m also taking advantage of my limited space by dual-planting, so radishes for example are planted with squash because by the time the squash blocks out the radishes, they’ll be long-gone (folks, for so many veggies, it’s not just the bulbs – those greens are yummy too).
This year I’m using seeds from two different companies, plus I ordered some heirloom tomatoes that arrive in early April. I have varied tastes and love all kinds of plants, so it took me some time to find my seed sources, and I thought I’d share them with this great group of folks. I still have seeds from years past, but this is my first real garden since 2013. Accordingly, I ordered lots of new seeds.
First is the Kitazawa Seed Company. I use them for all my Asian veggies, greens, and herbs, though for things like gongura, I had to look elsewhere. They are a treasure if you like Chinese, Korean, Japanese, or Thai herbs and veggies. I’ve been a customer since 2006 and happily praise them to any- and everyone.
Second is Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds, also known as RareSeeds. This is a new company to me, but their selection of seeds is amazing, and their pictures and Whole Seed Catalog are inspiring, to put it mildly. (Side note – was going through some art and other large format books this week and found my old Whole Earth Catalog. Ahh, the old days…)
I found this great seed source because I was so impressed by this post a few years back from Ozark Hillbilly, especially the pumpkins and squash. So I did some searching for Galeux d’ Eysines seeds and founds this amazing source, smack dab in the middle of Missouri. I assume that’s his source since it’s local and well-known. Regardless, I was impressed with their selection of obscure squashes and so many other veggies, herbs, and flowers. They strike me like a “Penzey’s for seed”.
Since I’m a cook and love pumpkin and squash dishes, I’m excited to be growing those Galeaux d’ Eysines (since one plant makes two fruit, I’ll have one to perfect the French soup recipe with, then use the second for Thanksgiving dinner). These are a long-term investment, as they germinate now and are ready in the late Fall to early Winter. I’m also growing a standard zucchini and a Pattison Golden Marbre Scallop Squash. I’m certain they will be fine summer dinners, sauteed and served with some buttered pasta, good bread, and a glass of wine.
I’m also growing two small bush peas so I can have the joy of a few fresh peas without the space and trellis needs of traditional pea plants, then I will rip them out and put in some spinaches and mustard greens, staggered so they are a week apart. Once it gets too hot and they aren’t doing as well, I’ll plant some Fantasia Orange Chard for Fall harvest. I’ve got one slotted for late April harvest, but will likely grow something else with a 60 day or less window so I can have a mid-to-late summer planting for early Fall.
I’m also growing two special melons from Baker Creek, and if my peppers do not germinate, then I’ll be growing a couple of additional squashes and some okra and some beans. My goal this Fall is to have my beds ready so I can plant some Japanese bunching onions, asparagus, and something I’m forgetting at the moment so that they produce for me in 2021 if I’m lucky. Then, look out I’ll have beds and tons of seeds and no reason not to go crazier than I’ve already gone!
As I’m now into the continuous planting and harvesting plan, I’ll be growing seedlings indooes off and on until October; some of these greens are ready in 15-20 days and others 30-40, so I can get late harvests with cold-tolerant veggies into November, even early December if the weather remains warm and I’m on top of my game.
Open thread – stay safe and keep our eyes on the prize – getting back to normality.
WereBear
I’m just throwing in a warning now: let that seed order cool off in a drawer, just like a novel’s first draft.
Or if you want a shock, add it all up :)
A Ghost to Most
It is easy to envision a run on seedlings this year. We plan on stocking up early and often. Indoor gardens are so useful.
Mj_Oregon
I’ve grown Galeux d’ Eysines squash and they are amazing! BUT they need an enormous amount of space to grow in, for even just two plants. I’ll throw in a recommendation for another seed company that I’ve bought from a lot – Adaptive Seeds They have open pollinated and organic seeds. Great little company and wonderful people!
I’m looking forward to getting our garden going soon. I need the distraction.
artem1s
For those of you who want to support local, US, check Tomato Bob’s weekend sale. they are located in Dublin, Ohio and have been a go to for me in finding heirloom seeds of all types.
https://tomatobob.com/
I’m starting greens in pots and containers this weekend and will be able to keep an eye on them on the porch while I work from home. Might as well get a jump on the growing season.
Sab
Already bought mine.Also I have been saving plastic mushroom containers for planting.
We need to get the garden beds in order before the yellow jackets living in the siding of the rental house next door come out of hibernation. They are armed assholes. Tiny trumpsters.
ThresherK
@WereBear: Have you had any scenes in your life like in The Egg and I where you get through a dreary winter looking at seed catalog pr0n (for want of a better phrase)?
I was so young when Grandma gave me that book I didn’t know half the things going on in it, and never got the gardening bug, but since then lots of friends have mentioned that bit.
Frankensteinbeck
Open thread? Gantz has a majority coalition in the Israeli parliament. Netanyahu is out. Odds are now huge his political career is over.
scav
From Kirazawa, if anyone is still planning and a squash lover, these Tetsukabuto squash are amazing to eat.
emjayay
@Sab: How far do those wasp killer spray cans shoot?
ziggy
I was at a wholesale nursery Friday, and they were discussing whether or not to open the seasonal retail location. The word going around is that the nursery industry is actually doing quite well right now, due to people off work and focusing on their yards. But the workers are rightfully not thrilled about being exposed to Coronavirus, and I’m getting the impression that many may be heading back to Mexico for a while. So it will be interesting to see what happens.
emjayay
“fancying a bed extension” Too tall for a queen size?
Oh, that kind of bed.
WereBear
Oh yes, that’s why I put up the warning :)
Sab
@emjayay: I don’t know. Might investigate.
catclub
possibly not the BJ population, but I was thinking of a baby bump in nine months.
dexwood
Victory Gardens! On page 86 of the Baker Creek catalog is the Jarrahdale pumpkin which I heartily endorse. The interior is a rich orange while the exterior is a beautiful blue-grey. Sweet, delicious and made great pies and soups. I’m going to sow these seeds again.
joel hanes
weapon-grade catnip
So that’s what the kids are calling it these days …
Cckids
@catclub:
In 2033, we’ll be calling them Quaranteens.
Gretchen
@WereBear: I should have read this before I just hit “buy” for $82! But I really needed 3 kinds of peas! I love Pinetree Garden Seeds.
Gretchen
@ThresherK: I read the Egg and I a long time ago! I’ll have to look for it and reread it.
Gretchen
How does everyone keep the rabbits from eating everything? I can’t grow half the things I want to because they’re eaten down to nubs.
J R in WV
@Gretchen:
You need to get a roll of chicken wire and some stakes to use for fence posts, then fold the chicken wire down against the dirt and lat rocks on it. That will keep rabbits and ground hogs out of the sprouts.
Alain:
Would suggest not cropping the new asparagux plants the first year, they need to build up their root strength at first, and then next year just crop a few stems from each plant, until they’re strong enough to put up shoots for weeks. Good luck with the planting!!!
Alain
@J R in WV: Thanks! I can’t wait to plant in the ground but am settling for a bunch of containers of two different designs. It’s comforting knowing I don’t have to rush and build one because my koi pond and fence come first! The beds will need to work around those features, so my containers are my plan until mid-summer. There’s a little spring that trickles by the yard and I’d love to plant some watercress and asparagus there but it’ll be on the wrong side of my fence and deer and rabbits and possums and raccoons and who knows what else will feast on them.