Get started if you must

So, I told myself (and you) that I would NOT start seeds this early. Not ever again. Here I am ~ four kinds of tomatoes, one artichoke that I don’t even want, broadcast Patterson and Red Wing onions, shallots (Ambition) and got a four pack of lettuce going, all under lights in the guest room. Old habits die hard.

The tomatoes went into generous four packs, one seed per cell. I only need one of each to succeed. Keep in mind that tomatoes are weeds and there is the potential to be overwhelmed with their bounty. Although my neighbor, Karen, was astounded that I didn’t toss them into the freezer to add to sauce as winter ground on. Not only did I do as recommended but I tossed them in a bit of olive oil, a touch of salt, spread them on a sheet pan and roasted them. Oh my. They have been gracing our once a week pizza. Why haven’t I been doing this? Why have I been giving them away? There is no logical answer here so we’ll just let it go. Suffice it to say ~ never more.

Next on the list were the tuber begonias. I store them in the basement, each one in its own brown paper bag, all soil knocked off the tuber before being stored. Often they emerge from their bags with a weak shoot and I just break it off. Last year I let one go to see what would happen and that was a mistake. It continued being weak and eventually broke off. But THIS year ~ take a look at the photo ~ the shoot had a bud. Good grief. And, yes, it may seem heartless but I broke it off.

The four of them are now potted up in with fresh soil. The three that go into the flower box on the north side of the house are in individual pots, that way come fall, I just pull them out of the box, leaving the annuals to fend for themselves in the unpredictable weather of fall.

If you insist on starting your plants from seed ~ get going.

Comments

Rosemary Fitzpatrick, the Kachemak Gardener

Having arrived in Alaska May, 1972 I have had much to contend with on the gardening front. The impetus to start gardening can be traced directly to empty grocery store shelves in 1973 due to a Teamsters strike. That was a wake up call. The first garden was on a gravel pad in Eagle River, the second in Wasilla. That one was rounded out with two goats, a flock of chickens and our two children. The third in Homer, where we settled in 1978, is the spot where much was learned. Starting in 1990 I have written the Kachemak Gardener in an attempt to encourage new gardeners and those of you who have tried and failed. Stick with me, let’s get you gardening.

The Well Watered Garden

I’m thinking about bringing in the potatoes. There are only a few plants out there and the two that I’ve already pulled had truly huge tubers. The ongoing problem is storage but we will consume them ‘tout de suite’. Nothing like new potatoes. The carrots, Bolero, are once again excelling. But they will need to be pulled sooner rather than later. The weather needs to cool off so our innovative storage solution can be implemented (please read that with your tongue firmly in your cheek). I don’t like to move plants around in the fall, I think they need more time to settle in so that task is usually carried out in the spring. But here we are ~ moving dwarf red twigged dogwoods that appeared in the perennial garden from roots that were left over from the last time we moved the original plants. There’s always something. We added them to the established three nestled in below the larch, the more the merrier. This will be the year that more bulbs are planted under the shrubs. ...

Going to Seed

Here is something I’ve been thinking about: seed saving. I hardly ever save seeds. To me the plants are throwing their seed here and there and don’t need any help from me. But, if I were to be a little more in control, a little more selective, and a little more organized it would be a boon. So, the thalictrum (meadow rue) is in full seed and I have been deadheading, if I don’t there will be millions of these lovelies come spring and we all know about too much of a good thing. Thalictrum seed heads are beautiful. The cutting down of them is actually painful, the loss of all that beauty at a time of year when we are savoring every single second of available loveliness seems like a crime. There have been years that I didn’t cut them, thinking the warblers would make use of the seeds. Mistake. So this year I am diligent. But there are those of you who save seeds. Well, sure. But when a plant sends out seeds it means that is the perfect time to get them on/in the gr...

Search This Blog