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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.


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