It feels like I’m going to be able to be more forthcoming with the garden projects I’ve got going on this year so I thought I would take advantage of the freedom by posting all the seeds I buy or acquire by trade, gifts, etc.
When I bought bean seeds the other day I also purchased some assorted vegetable seed but decided against posting about them there to keep the post on topic. In the meantime a pack of Gourmet Mesclun Asian Baby Leaf (Phew that was a mouthful) seeds arrived in a press packet from Renee’s Garden. Packets of lettuce and greens never go to waste around here! I’ve had “Get some greens started on the windowsill” on my to-do list for over a week now. It’s way too early to get them going outdoors around here just yet, but there should be enough sunlight to pull off a crop of micro-greens.
When I think about it, it’s kind of amazing that I’ve managed to acquire this many seeds so early without having given barely a thought to what I will be doing in the garden this year. Perhaps this garden season will take inspiration from my trip to Cuba and just be about going with the flow.
What I Got:
- ‘Matt’s Wild Cherry’ Tomato – This is a classic, super prolific and easy to grow wild variety. I’m fairly certain I’ve been growing these in my community garden plot where I inherited a crop of tomatoes that self-seed every year. This is most likely the plant I have permanently tattooed on my arm so I figured it was time to try and solve the mystery once and for all. I could have easily acquired these in trade if I’d had the patience to wait half a second, but…. I don’t. So I didn’t.
- ‘Sparkler’ Radish – I’m always on the lookout for a good radish contender for container growing and figured this round ‘French Breakfast’ alike might just fit the bill. And since I’m a fan of that elegant two-tone variety it was hard to pass up a rounded version.
- ‘Golden Detroit’ Beet – I generally don’t grow beets since we can get them cheaply enough at the farmer’s market but how could I pass up a variety with such a glam rock vibe about it? Come to think about it, these last two plants could fit into a disco theme seed collection. Anyways, this variety is golden with golden veining. It kind of reminds me of ‘Golden’ Swiss Chard, another beauty.
I decided to re-use some strawberry boxes (you know the clear, hinged kind) for starting some windowsill lettuces. i just lined them with newspaper and filled with potting soil and sprinkled on the mesclun mix seeds. sprouting now…
Oh I hear ya on the seed planting! I’ve had ‘start seeds’ on my list for 2 weeks! Finally got some potting soil Sunday so fingers crossed this afternoon I shall get out there!
Seeds! Nice to see you’re in a seedy mood like the rest of us. This warm weather has gotten me all restless for planting, and face it, you probably can’t even say the word SEED without smiling. :-)))
Ive grown the French Breakfast Radish, Its got a nice mild taste.
Oh the seeds…yes, the seeds. Seeds are definitely on this weekend’s “to-do” list. On your suggestion I’ve been squirreling away a sh*it-ton of toilet paper tubes. Gotta get some soil and some seeds and start getting this project under way! Happy growing!
Renee’s seeds are SUPER! Just a week ago I shot a HOW TO video for creating a living salad bowl to enjoy while you wait for those tomatoes to grow, and I used Renee’s seeds. The package is beautiful, and I’m pleased to report that my “prop” salad bowl is growing great on the window sill with sprouts over 2 inches tall already.
I started some seeds in my window last week or so and they seemed to be thriving and I was so excited. this morning I woke up and it appears my cats knocked every container over and sifted thru the pile of dirt making a huge mess! :(
any ideas or tips on how to keep my feline children away?
Ciao Gayla-
I’ve been a bit scared to try Matt’s Wild Cherry. I’ve heard it can get to be a rampant vine that takes over the world, kind of like Yellow Pear which I’ll never re-grow. I could always grow it in partial shade I guess, lol, however I did that with Yellow Pear one year, hung it in a hanging basket from the cherry tree in about a teaspoon of pro-mix and it still got wild and crazy.
Munchkin grows golden beets every year. They never get huge because he mostly ignores them in favour of sexier plants like his tomatoes and his flowers, but we usually have a few salads with quarter-sized beets. They’re quite sweet even raw like that.
The to do list is tacked to my frig and seeds and gardening chores are on it. Looks like we’re all getting buisy again.
Yes! Matt’s Wild Cherry!!! We had almost NO rain here in Austin last year and this variety kicked all the other ones’ butts, producing consistently thru December. I hope you love it…
Ive started my tomatoes indoors, and my second line of lettuces. My fall onions are almost ready to harvest. I’m mulching, mulching, mulching to keep the soil from being overwhelmed by everything. Ive set my “golden alexandria” strawberries outside, and Ive started a new variety by seed indoors that are white. Yes, white. It’ll be interesting if they survive the blistering heat down here. Maybe if I keep them shaded. I already have sprouts.