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Thursday, February 14, 2013

spring seedlings

It's finally time to start growing new plants! It's a bit early still for the warm weather stuff like tomatoes, but for the cool-season edibles it's time.


As usual I've bought too many different seed packets for my limited herbivore-free space behind the fence, but I just can't help myself.


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Remember that I already have in-ground kale, Swiss chard, spinach, cilantro, and a few beets -- those were all fall-planted and overwintered nicely.


So I have space for only about three short rows of spring greens, and I can plant in containers on the deck.


With that in mind, here are the cold-tolerant plants that I bought seeds for this year:
  • Tatsoi
  • Pak Choi
  • Lettuce 'Red Romaine'
  • Lettuce 'Merlox Red Oak'
  • Mizuna
  • Cabbage/Komatsuna hybrid
  • Beets
  • Swiss chard 'Rhubarb'
Plus I have older seed for:
  • Lettuce, 4 or 5 varieties
  • Peas, 3 or 4 types
  • Kale
  • Spinach, at least 3 different types
  • Cilantro/corriander
Let's do the math: well over a dozen different types of plants, three or four available rows in the garden beds... I'll need a lot of containers for the deck!

I'm not sure if the older lettuce seed is still viable, but I planted some and I'll give it a few more days before giving up on it:


I really don't know where I'll put the peas this year... maybe as a single row in back of the long bed? I haven't had good luck with peas in containers so I think that's my only real option.


Right now I have Tatsoi, Lettuce 'Red Romaine', Lettuce 'Merlox Red Oak', Lettuce 'Buttercrunch' (as a test), and cilantro germinating. Once they get going I'll get them outdoors (they can all handle the cold) and will start on the others.

I'll figure out where to put them later, right?

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6 comments:

  1. Gerhard Bock (Succulents and More)February 14, 2013 at 12:18 PM

    Wow, you are nothing if not ambitious! I wish I had you as my neighbor; I bet you'd share your veggie wealth :-).

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  2. scottweberpdxFebruary 14, 2013 at 3:19 PM

    There are few things as glorious as new seedlings...and, drat, I still haven't started mine...EEK!

    ReplyDelete
  3. BarbieFebruary 15, 2013 at 3:33 AM

    Looking good!! I like the look of your seedling mix - what do you use? Do you mix your own?

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  4. AlanFebruary 15, 2013 at 8:28 AM

    Gerhard: always looking for neighbors to take the extras, which is difficult most years. Why don't more people garden?

    Scott: it's never too late!

    Barbie: it's bagged seed starting mix from Ferry Morse in this photo, but I've made my own before too. The key is to grind everything up, then filter out the larger bits -- unless you're planting big seeds, in which case you don't need the fine texture.

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  5. Jono / Real Men SowFebruary 17, 2013 at 4:36 AM

    Looks lovely and organised Alan!

    Have you ever grown Mizuna before? If not, I'd really recommend it. Peppery in taste, but hardy too. Lasts most of the winter this side of the pond.

    ReplyDelete
  6. AlanFebruary 17, 2013 at 7:00 AM

    Jono: I love Mizuna. I've grown it a few times before, and love the flavor (and leaf shape). I'll be opening that seed packet today in fact.

    ReplyDelete