Man, these past few days have flown! I’ve been in almost an altered state, with a one-track mind focused solely on this year’s vegetable garden. There are big bags of dirt in our kitchen, and open seed catalogs have littered the living room floor like banana peels waiting to snag unsuspecting passerby (sorry honey!).
There’s been much reading, researching, figuring, dreaming, decision making, studying of past garden notes, and starting of seeds. The energy, enthusiasm, and time that seemed absent last year are all right here in front of me to be feasted upon — and I am feasting.
Yesterday I bought seeds for a couple fun last-minute additions to the garden plan — leeks and romanesco cauliflower — and today my mom & I got seeds for a few more things that’ll be new to the garden this year too — tarragon, bok choy, and onion seed (I’ve always grown my storage onions from sets in the past).
I also counted up that I have 37 different varieties of tomato seed. Lest you think that’s excessive, let me tell you that it takes great and continuous restraint to not buy more! But it’s already hard enough choosing only 16 varieties for the garden…
Yesterday I started all my wall-o-water tomatoes as well as my cabbage, romanesco cauliflower, regular cauliflower, yellow bell peppers, and leeks in their seed tray over a heat mat. That was a good accomplishment.
And today, even though my main spring planting time is still a few weeks away, I planted some radishes in the wall-o-water I had set up a couple weeks ago, along with some arugula in the open space next to that. I’ve found that walls-o-water are a great way to sneak in an early crop of radishes, which are in and out before it’s time to put the tomatoes in.
It felt great to get my hands into that cold, fragrant Earth.
They’re calling for snow tomorrow, and I think it’ll be a good day to get the broad beans started, and then come back down to earth a bit by going over my moneymaking work and preparing for a Friday meeting.
I hope you’re all having a nice week. And tell me — what’s currently going on in your own garden??
*****
OMG – 37 different varieties of tomatoes! I usually grow at least 12 varieties each year (and several plants of each one), so totally understand 🙂 Thanks for the planting reminder, must start some peppers today.
Have you ever tried Biodynamic gardening? Planting and harvesting according to the planets? Every year my garden journey begins with buying the North American Biodynamic Sowing and Planting Calender and marking out my planting and bee guardian activities.. it never fails to get my gardening buzz on 🙂
http://steinerbooks.org/detail.html?session=86cb72d6a7365fc879915c772831e188&id=9780863158230
You go, girl!!! 🙂
Fabulous!…love all your garden work.
I need to plant out my shallot sets, but alas I will not be able to do that till next week.xxx
How exciting!!
We want to plant a new area this year, but it will require A LOT of work to get it ready. 🙂
Hello, Lindsey.
I just discovered your blog and am going thru Archives, as it’s so much fun seeing all the pics you post. I’m enjoying it so far.
I, too, am stunned by your Heinz fifty-uhh, that is, thirty-seven Varieties! I am a tomato lover, as well. Last year (2011) was the official first year of my Garden. My one success was a few tomato vines. The big toms weren’t notably successful (although I did get a triple-tomato!!!) but my greatest success and favorite variety was also an experiment!
It’s a smallish-yellow, fuzzy tomato called “Wapsipinicon Peach” which I bought seeds of from D. Landreth Seeds Co. They get their name from the peach-like fuzz on the tomatoes. (This brushes off easily with a mushroom brush.)
Have you ever tried these? I commend them to you. They were a treat for me last year until late december. (I’m in California, Zone 10b – we can do that here!)
Well, happy gardening! Ciao.
Matt in Los Angeles, CA
Hi Matt! Thank you so much for taking the time to say hello! I love when people do that. A triple tomato? OH wow. I’ve had a double cherry tomato which I thought was the most awesomest thing ever, but never seen a triple!
Thanks also for mentioning that fuzzy tomato – and also for mentioning that seed company. I’ve not heard of them and am very glad to know they exist. Even though I have way too many tomato seeds as it is, I may need to try that one! I get excited when I come across an unusual heirloom that I haven’t heard of before.
Well enjoy your Los Angeles grow-anything climate! That’s pretty cool. A lot of times I’m grateful for the break from gardening that Winter provides, but now and then I covet a warmer climate.
All the best to you, and I’m glad you like my blog – thank you!
Happy Gardening, Ciao~
Lindsey