Garden Fuss

It seems like I've had no time to get my seeds started until today. It may have been the cold then warm then hot, then cold again weather.... The gray skies, countless chores, and errands have no doubt played their part as well. In spite of all this I have successfully winter sown cucumber, red and green romaine, zinnias, marigolds, winter squash, tomatoes [stupice, chocolate cherry, yellow pear], red noodle longbeans, summer squash, lima beans, halogen melon, tat tsoi, and I'm sure I'm forgetting a few things.... So in other words I am a busy bee who has no time for spell check but will work on this blog posting later...[or not]

Happy Planting! UPDATE: So I have managed to come back and do some spell checking and to provide some additional information for you about my whole 2012 seed starting journey. As you can see from the previous pictures I have chosen for the second year in a row to use Organic Mechanics seed starter . This organic blend contains so many goodi...

As we get closer to our last frost date somewhere around and hopefully after May 21st, I thought I would get a jump on some annual herbs and summer squash by winter sowing. Don't think it's too late to start your plants using this method. Save some pain in your back and legs and your wallet by letting Mother Nature do the work for you. I am always amazed to see the plants emerge in their white, clear, and even green plastic bottles and clam shells. I thought for sure I was going to lose the tomatoes and peppers with such a cold spring, but they are up and starting to take off. In a couple weeks we should be enjoying some warmer weather and I will be venting and thinning back seedlings so check back for more pictures of our winter sowing adventures.

This has been a long time coming but I am finally putting the pictures of our winter sowing project up for you all. All the brassicas are up of course, and the lettuce looks great. I plan on starting some more vegetables this week, getting the squash, cilantro, peas, and beans going. The wind helped rip off the covers to some of the peppers and marigold so those are a loss. It didn't help that my helper *ahem ahem* forgot to put holes in the bottom and the drowned before they had chance to freeze to death. Oh well, maybe better luck next time.

Last year was such a success using the winter sowing method we are prepping for the upcoming season. Organization is everything, as is labeling! Gather your supplies which should include all or most of the following:  containers, tape, cutting tool [ie.. box cutter, scissors], permanent marker, wooden dowels or plastic cutlery (for labeling), seeds, potting mix, and water. For more information on this method please check out our previous posts . 

What an awfully long winter we have been having. I have had a hard time staying on topic for this blog. Mainly sticking to the gardening aspect of it with so many months of down time now. Well today I have been moving ever closer to my winter sowing project . I will begin putting out the brassicas soon (i.e. cabbages, brussel sprouts, cauliflower, and broccoli). To which I will also be adding leeks, and a few different types of winter squash. The squash did very well last year using this method. I decided to start a little earlier so I can get fruits faster. Since we are on the subject of winter sowing now, have any of you started planning for your spring planting? If so what method of seed starting has worked for you in the past? Any new methods you've considered? As the weeks progress I will be getting busier and busier preparing for the arrival of spring. I plan on building a cold frame and expanding on the hooped green house I buil...

There has been quite the debate in my family of late on whether it is possible to successfully use the winter sowing process for warm weather plants like Okra, tomatoes, peas and so forth. Winter Sowing is a process where you use recycleable containers as miniature green houses to start "hardy" seedlings outdoors during the winter months. This is supposed to be an easy method of germinating seeds that if done successfully will allow you to save #1. money, #2. time, and #3. time & money. First off it is very feasable financially to buy seeds and germinate them by direct sowing, in-door starting, and/or winter sowing. The cost to start your garden whether vegetable, herb, or flower could start to break the bank if you are purchasing plants instead of seeds. Starting seeds on time for the upcoming growing season can take a lot of work and planning and if inexperienced can also take a bite out of your wallet. Expenses that can sneak up on ...