Monthly Archives: March 2019

Still planting!

I’ve been planting like crazy, but getting ready to move haven’t left me time for updating the blog. I’ve just been jotting down what I do in a paper journal. We’re waiting on pins and needles for closing, which is currently at “any day now” status.

I have so much seed action going on that I’ve realized I’d rather keep notes in a database that’ll allow me to easily run queries to determine next tasks, things to plant, things to plant again next year, etc. It’ll also be a good way to track planting locations in the garden. One benefit to not getting to start farming until I’m over 40 is that I’ve acquired a wide variety of skills I can apply on our homestead.

Here’s my Solo cup garden as of today:

Flowers

Nasturtiums – tasty edible flowers and beneficial pest traps next to veggies

Alaska mix – these should be started indoors 2-4 weeks before last frost. I started several on March 5 just because I needed one more thing that takes at least 10 days to germinate for a container with mostly peppers. I’ll move these to larger containers as needed.

Peas

Cultivars: Sugar Magnolia, Spring Blush snap (heirloom)

These are usually direct sown in early spring, but I’m not sure when I’ll have the ground ready for early planting so I decided to sow several of each indoors on March 5, just to see how it goes.

Good companions: beans, carrots, corn, cucumbers, and lettuce

DO NOT plant next to: onions

Second seed order

So many things that I’m not going to link each one individually.

From Pinetree: Bennings green tint scallop summer squash (heirloom), Armenian cucumber (heirloom), Sorrel green, Scarlet runner bean (heirloom), Long Island Improved brussels sprouts (heirloom), Red Russian kale (heirloom), Black Turtle bush dried bean, Vermont Cranberry bush dried bean (heirloom), Dragon Langerie bush bean (heirloom), Windsor fava bean, Tongue of Fire bush bean (heirloom), Mosaic yard long bean (heirloom), Red noodle yard long bean (heirloom), Yard long bean (heirloom), Speckled Calico pole lima bean (heirloom), King of the Garden pole lima bean (heirloom), Silver Queen okra (heirloom), Connecticut field pumpkin (heirloom), Ogen melon, Ginkaku melon, Ananas melon (heirloom), Brisk Green pak choi, Boston pickling cucumber (heirloom), winter squash blend, summer squash mix, Lebanese White bush summer squash, motherwort, Black Beauty summer squash (heirloom), Delicata squash (heirloom), Tomatillo (heirloom), Golden Bantam corn (heirloom), Dragon carrot, Rainbow carrot, Atomic Red carrot, Moon & Stars watermelon (heirloom), Chiogga beet (heirloom), Early Wonder beet (heirloom), Vera lavender, Millenium asparagus, Purple Passion asparagus, Mammoth Sandwich Island salsify (heirloom), Black salsify scorzonera (heirloom), Black Tip wheat, thyme, sage, Greek oregano, mint, lemon grass, Hollow Crown parsnip (heirloom), Afina cutting celery, large leaf cilantro, borage, fernleaf dill, fennel, lemon balm, viola (johnny jump up), and Pasilla Bajia hot pepper (heirloom).

I also ordered a few things from Seeds Now because they were recommended by a farmer in a YouTube video I was watching (I don’t remember which one, unfortunately). Their reviews are good and prices are so low that I decided they were worth a try. I ordered summer savory, tarragon, rosemary, Glorious Gleam nasturtiums, marjoram, Shungiku edible chrysanthemums, Purple Top White Globe turnip (heirloom), American purple top rutabaga (heirloom), Purple Beauty bell pepper (heirloom), Red Burgundy okra (heirloom), garlic chives, Rapini broccoli raab (heirloom), Highbush blueberry, Mary Washington asparagus seeds (as opposed to the starts I ordered from Pinetree, heirloom), clover sprouts, alfalfa sprouts, and California Wonder bell pepper (heirloom, free promotional item). The total was less than $20 with a discount code I found online and shipping was free. If I like the results, I’ll try more items from them next year.

Peppers

Cultivars: Orange sun (sweet), Biquinho yellow (hot, for kimchee), Italian pepperoncini (hot), Ancho (hot, heirloom), Anaheim (hot, heirloom), Super Thai (hot)

My garden calendar recommends starting these indoors March 12 and the seed packets say 8-10 weeks before last frost. I started the Orange sun and Biquinho on March 3, the pepperoncinis, anchos, and anaheims on March 4, and the Super Thai on March 5.

Good companions: basil, coriander, onions, spinach, tomatoes

DO NOT plant next to: beans, kohlrabi

Celery

I meant to buy celery seeds from Pinetree and try some interesting, new things but somehow missed them, so these are Ferry-Morse organic seeds from Lowe’s.

Cultivar: Tall Utah 5270R Improved

Packet recommends planting indoors 10 weeks before outdoor planting date and to transplant out when they’re 4″ tall. It always bugs me when they don’t include information relevant to frost hardiness, but that’s why I’m keeping all these notes: so I’ll know for next year if I transplanted too early/late, etc.

I seeded inside March 3.

Celery companions: beans, cauliflower, cabbage, leeks, tomatoes, dill

Good companion for: beans, cabbage family, cucumber, leeks, tomatoes

DO NOT plant next to: parsnips

Mutually beneficial: celery, beans, cauliflower, leeks