Everyone has a different determinant for the beginning of the gardening season. For some, it's as soon as the ground can be worked, which for us in New England is a week or two away (given the temperatures in the 40s and 50s this past week it might be able to be worked now, but I haven't checked). For others, it's around the time of the
Blooms! flower show (formally the New England Flower Show), starting on March 24; they need to see some advanced display to get in the mood. For Minton Stable Gardeners, the season might start when they attend the
annual meeting, where they sign their rules and pay their dues. But for those of us around here starting seeds, the season should have begun by now.
According to the
Farmer's Almanac, I have arrived late to the party. This past Tuesday, I started five varieties from my Fedco order: Black Prince and Rose de Berne organic tomatoes, Fiesta organic and Piracicaba broccoli, and Charming Snow Cauliflower. According to the Almanac's chart I should have had them under the grow light by February 23. Oh well...At least the cauliflower has decided to help me catch up.
Are you on schedule?
Are you on schedule?
8 comments:
Your sowing dates will work fine. I am not starting brassica's until the 15th and they will then be planted outside mid-late April.
Oh heavens, I haven't started mine yet. I don't give them long to grow inside though, only about a month or so.
Finally (Mary 13) started my tomatoes. Actually will start additional seeds a little later as well, although I started all 8 varieties today. Also planning to try starting some lettuce--maybe tomorrow.
Dan and Daphne, thanks for the reassurances. I thought those dates seemed kind of early.
And Bryan, when is the month of "Mary?" And did you get to plant your lettuce? I had thought about this weekend but it seems like the seeds would have been washed away.
"Mary" is of course a typo for "March." Planted 8 more flats of the same varieties of tomatoes today and three varieties of semiheading lettuce, also in flats. One year Marc and Jen gave me a flat of lettuce and it was great to have along with the leaf lettuce I sow outside. Maybe I should follow Dan's example and sow broccoli also. But it is good to be gardening again, even if only inside.
My philosophy is that it's never too early for seeding, and it's never too late. 'Course, that's mostly for lettuces (which I start any time from January to November). My unheated greenhouse is still on the cold side, though I did start a couple of tomatoes (Red Pear and Milano Plum) to begin on the heat mat yesterday. And there are some cabbages and the onions I started early last month up and waving. Most of my plants will go to the farmers markets a little later than most, so people can buy them to replace the plants they lose to late freezes in April and May.
Bryan, you should grow broccoli, it's easy to start indoors, just use a potting medium with fertilizer.
Barb, it's true about the timing of starting seeds indoors, since we control the conditions. I don't have a heat mat, but after my attempts to grow herbs I'm having second thoughts.
Hi Sally,
What a cute post! "arrived late to the party." great writing!
Giulietta
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