January is indoor seed starting time! Here is a seed starting calendar........

Starting seeds in a biodegradable pot

Saturday, January 25, 2020

I know it seems spring is a long way away this time of year.  Luckily for us gardeners, we get to start spring early!  End of January into February is prime seed starting time indoors.  I have outlined by month the plant seeds to start indoors between now and April for our Zone 7 garden.  It is wonderful to see the little green sprouts shooting up with promise of a bountiful gardening season right around the corner!  Our daffodils are up with flower buds.  It won't be long now.

Many big box stores begin getting in their seeds as soon as the end of December these days.  The variety available in big box stores continues to expand as more and more of us are growing our own food.  If you are wanting something unique, try on line seed companies. Some of my favorites with a good selection of organic vegetables, garden fruits, and herbs-Abundant Life Seeds, Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds, High Mowing Seeds, Johnny’s Selected Seeds, Renee’s Garden, Seeds of Change, Territorial Seed Company, Cook’s Garden, Seeds from Italy, Botanical Interest.  

Using indoor seed starting is a great way to accelerate your harvest by up to two months.  Seed packets tell you how far in advance of your last frost date to start your seeds indoors or when to plant outdoors for "direct sowing" in the garden.  Just look on the back. Here is a web page to look up your last frost date: Frost date look up

January and February are cold season crops seed starting time.  Cold season crops include your greens, broccoli, cabbage, strawberries and peas.  What is a four season garden?

March and April is the time for warm season veggie and herbs to get their indoor start.  Summer veggies include beans, tomatoes, beans, basil, eggplant, peppers and squash.

10-12 weeks prior (end Jan/beginning of Feb in our Zone 7 garden)

Artichokes

Arugula

Bay

Broccoli

Cabbage

Catnip

Celery

Chives

Edamame

Endive 

Escarole

Fennel

Fenu

Horseradish

Leek, if starting from seed

Lettuce

Mache

Mint

Mizuna

Onions, if starting from seed

Parsley

Peas

Rhubarb

Shallots, if starting from seed

Strawberries

Summer savory

Sorrel

8-10 weeks prior (mid-February in our Zone 7 garden)

Bee balm

Celeriac

Eggplant

Kale

Kohlrabi

Lavender

Lovage

Marjoram

Mustard

Oregano

Rosemary

Scallions, if starting from seed

Spinach

Thyme

Turnips

Seedlings started in an Aerogarden hydroponic system

March

Artichokes

Broccoli

Chamomile

Chard

Cilantro

Comfrey

Fennel

Lemon verbena

Okra

Peppers

Raddichio

Sage

Summer squash

Tarragon

Tomatoes

April

Basil

Beans

Cucumber

Melon

Winter squash

Stevia

You can find more crops seed starting times in this blog  Indoor sowing/outdoor planting dates

Another trick is to do succession seed starting.  For continuous harvests of veggies like broccoli, spinach and lettuce, start new seedlings every 3 weeks and plant out every three weeks in the garden.  For the early seedlings, use varieties that are described as cold hardy.  When you get to April, start seedlings that are heat tolerant.  Heat tolerant varieties will resist bolting and bitterness at the first sign of summer.  Get the most from your space-plant intensively!

You can also start perennial flowers and veggies indoors as well.  For any plant, look at the seed packet for when to plant outdoors according to your frost date.  Then back up the time from there on when to start indoors.  Typical seed starting is 6-8 weeks prior to the plant out date.  For more on perennial fruits and veggie gardens, Perennial veggies in the Midwest garden

For tips on seed starting: 

Indoor seed starting tips

Ideal soil temperatures for starting your seeds

Make your own peat pots

How much to plant?

Trying to decide what to plant for this year's garden?  Here are some garden ideas:

Easy kitchen garden

A French vegetable garden you can grow in a small ...

Start a kitchen herb garden!

Pizza garden for the kids

Heirloom Sicilian kitchen garden

Mediterranean diet garden

Colonial Vegetable Garden

Veggies for small spaces

Fruit for small spaces

The First Victory Gardens

Don't be worried about the work of putting in an edible garden.  You can simply grow veggies right along with your flowers in the ground or pots!  

Surprising veggies that can be grown in pots

Zucchini and petunias in a pot

Sunday, January 19, 2020

There are so many new varieties out every year.  There are ones that are more resistant to disease.  Ones that have higher nutritional value.  Ones that produce more.  Ones that have improved taste.  Ones that are developed for their small size and big harvests for those of us who have limited space or just want to get more for the effort.  It is amazing what can now be grown in pots!

We hear a lot about Monsanto and GMO’s (genetically modified organisms) and crop breeding can seem a bad thing.  The difference between GMO’s and other types of crop breeding is that GMO’s bring in genetic material from other organisms in a lab, like bacteria and even viruses.  The plants are engineered so that they kill insects that try to eat it.

That is only one side of the plant breeding story.  There are many other natural, with a little help, breeding of crops today.  It can be as simple as saving of seeds from the best producer of last year.  There are also hybrids which take the best traits of two different parents into seeds.  These hybrids will not produce seed that you can reuse next year and get the same vegetable as the parent.

Heirlooms and open pollinated vegetables will produce “true” to seed.  The offspring will be like its parent.  What do the terms GMO, natural, heirloom, organic, hybrid really mean?

Through the centuries, farmers have chosen the traits they like and have built on them from season to season.  This has given us Brandywine tomatoes, Vidalia onions and Jalapeño peppers.  Yum!

Today there is much interest in urban and small space gardening.  There are many new varieties every year.  Here are some I have run across that I had not expected:

Watermelon-Bush Sugar Baby, Sugar Pot

Basil-Summerlong 
Basil basics-harvesting, preserving, growing basil

Blueberry-Top Hat

Bush Bean-Any, Pole Bean-Any with stake in pot 
Growing beans

Cantaloupe-Honey Rock, Minnesota Midget

Pumpkin-Small Sugar 
Everything you need to know to grow squash

Corn-On Deck Sweet Corn

Cabbage-45 Day Golden Cross, Parel, Caraflex 
Cabbage is nutritious and easy to grow

Cilantro-Calypso is one of the most heat tolerant

Corn-On Deck Hybrid

Cucumbers-Bush Champion, Spacemaster, Salad Bush, Miniature White, Picklebush, Mexican Sour Gherkin, Patio Snacker  
How to grow cucumbers-in pots or in the garden
Eggplant-Patio Baby, Black Beauty 
Eggplant-add this native from India to your garden

Kale-Dwarf Blue Curled Vates

Grow one of the super greens this year-kale

Parsley-Single Italian, Extra Curled dwarf

Peas-Easy Peasy, Half Pint, Any bush types

Time to plant peas!

Pepper-Any, hot peppers thrive in pots

Peppers are for every taste and garden

Tomatoes-BushSteak, Patio Princess, Bush Early Girl, Tumbler, Bush Big Boy, Baxter’s Bush Cherry, Lizzano, Sweetheart of the Patio, Tumbling Tom Yellow, Bush Better Bush, Balcony, Fresh Salsa Hybrid (look for bush/patio/container types)

Tomatoes 101, everything you need to know to grow great tomatoes

Carrots-Caracas, Short ‘n Sweet, Little Finger, Tonda di Parigi, Parisian, Thumbelina, Touchon, Parmex, Mignon (look for short types)

All you need to know about growing carrots

Radish-Cherry Belle

Easy to grow crispy, peppery radishes

Zucchini-Bush Baby, Yellow Crookneck, Eight Ball, Cue Ball, Golden Delight, Anton, Patio Star, Giambo, Astia, Raven, Patio Star, Cosmos Hybrid (look for bush types versus vining types)

Growing zucchini and summer squash
Decorative container gardening for edibles

This is just a few of the many compact varieties available today to grow in small spaces and containers.  Just look for terms like "compact", "dwarf", "container" in the descriptors.  Many on line seed companies also have a section dedicated to container varieties.

Seed catalogs in full swing

Sunday, January 12, 2020

It is that time of year as the winter wind is blowing (or tornadoes this year) and the dreary days seem endless; the time to dream of warm weather, spring breezes, and green things sprouting once again.  Can't you almost smell the fresh cut grass and turned earth?  

Every gardener looks forward to the new year’s bounty of seed catalogs.  You can spend long hours browsing the possibilities for the coming season, imagining what you want to plant where.  What looks interesting to try this year, to reminisce on what worked well last year.

The biggest challenge is controlling the urge to go a little wild on the seed and plant ordering!  Every fall, I did as I always do, make myself a list of what I want to grow the following spring and summer.  If I could only just stick to it.............

The definitions used in seed catalogs can be a little confusing.  Organic means the plant it was taken from was grown using only natural inputs and is certified to be organically grown.  Hybrid is a plant that has been bred to have characteristics that are helpful like being resistant to different diseases.  These are not ones you want to grow if you want to save seed because the plants grown from the seed saved from it will not grow up like the mother plant.  OP means open pollinated.  Organic and OP are types you want to buy if you think you may want to save the seed to use next season.  Heirlooms are plants that have been in a family for generations.  They are all OP.  They may or may not also have been grown organically.  What do the terms GMO, natural, heirloom, organic, hybrid really mean?

Vintage WW2 poster

For seed catalogues, the best to order from are those that do their trials in your region of the country.  The seeds and plants they carry are the ones that have performed the best for them in their trial gardens.  Two of my favorites to order from are Baker Creek Heirloom Baker Creek Heirloom and Territorial Seed Company Territorial Seed.  I love Baker Creek because they specialize heirlooms and rare seeds from around the world.  It is just fun!  Territorial Seeds has a good summary in each section of growing tips.  

Catalogs I love are the ones with the links are on the right.  I have ordered from them all and been happy with their selection and how well the plants did.  They are all reputable seed companies that have a good selection of organic and heirlooms.

If you are a beginner, start with the a kitchen herb garden Start a kitchen herb garden! and a tomato plant or two Tomatoes 101, everything you need to know to grow great tomatoes.  

The biggest mistake new gardeners make is starting with too much and it becomes overwhelming instead of relaxing and fun.  If you have a small space or just want a small garden, here are some tips  How to decide what to plant for small spaces?

When do edibles start growing again?

Sunday, January 12, 2020

If you have noticed that plants stop growing in the winter, whether indoors or out, you would be right.  It is not just the temperatures that affect this slow down.  It is the amount of sunlight.

Basically, plants go dormant when receiving less than 10 hours of daylight.  For my latitude, this is from November 22-January 19.  You can look on this site to see when your daylight hits 10 hours.  daylight calendar

When planting in the fall for winter crops, you need to plan that they are at full, harvestable size by November 22nd.  They will remain this size until the end of January, when they begin regrowing.  edible winter garden

Growth starts back up at the end of January, for indoor and outdoor plants.  The lettuce, chard, sorrel, cabbage, kale, celery, and herbs that have overwintered will start growing with vigor again after this time with clear days and warmer temperatures.  Start your edible spring garden now

You can scatter sow seeds now of cold hardy crops and they will be primed for the longer days.  It is surprising to see the little greens popping their heads out in February.  

End of January is also when you start indoor seeds for a jump on spring and summer harvests.  January is indoor seed starting time! Here is a s...

The force of life is amazing!

Growing corn

Sunday, January 5, 2020

Scientists believe corn was developed about 10,000 years ago in central Mexico.  It was called maize and still is today.  Maize spread throughout the Americas 2500 years ago.  Native Americans were growing maize well before European colonists arrived.  Original plants produced one small seed head per plant.  By the time European immigrants arrived, maize had the larger ears we are familiar with today and many varieties and colors.

There are about 3 different of edible corn-sweet corn, ornamental Indian corn that can be used ornamentally, as popcorn or ground into corn flour, and dent corn which is used to feed animals and make the corn meal you get in grocery stores.  Corn plants grow to 6-7 feet tall and produce 2 ears per plant in 10-12 weeks.  They are considered a warm season crop and are sown by seed in mid spring.  Plant 2-3 weeks apart and you can get a harvest from midsummer to early fall.

Corn cross pollinates with other corn varieties so planting one type is best or separate different varieties by 250 feet.  Otherwise, you will get corn heads that are a combo of the parents.  Plant in soil that is fertile and at least 60 degrees Fahrenheit, 1-2" deep, in full sun.  Fertilize at planting, at 8" tall and again when the plants are 18" tall.  Since corn grows so tall, it needs lots of nutrition.

Days to harvest varies by cultivars.  For sweet corn, it can be as quick as 62 days to as long as 105 days.  For popping and flour corn, it is between 75 to 120 days.

Harvest sweet corn the ears when the silks turn brown and dries up.  A kernel should spurt milky juice when ripe.  If not eating immediately, store in the refrigerator with the husks intact.  For popcorn, harvest after the stalks turn brown.  Pull husks down or off and hang dry until completely dry.

Sweet corn starts turning its sugars to starch the moment it is picked.  The sweetest corn is the one that is picked and thrown directly into the pot for cooking!

Growing sweet potatoes

Flowering sweet potato vine

Saturday, January 4, 2020

Sweet potatoes are part of the morning glory family, which is clear when you see the flowers of the vine.  Sweet potatoes are native to the tropical regions of the Americas and have been around at least 5,000 years old.  They were first cultivated in Central or South America.  They are a different family than yams which are native to Africa, Asia and the Americas.

Sweet potatoes were grown by the early American colonists and referred to as a food of the Native Americans.  The edible tuber varieties have different skin colors-yellow, orange, red, brown, purple and beige and different flesh colors-white, beige, red, pink, violet, yellow, orange and purple.

Sweet potatoes are a great source of fiber, vitamin B6, potassium, vitamin A, vitamin C and manganese.  sweet potato nutritional info

Sweet potato vines filled out on mounds

As a tropical vine, it requires warm soil and a long growing season to develop the edible tubers, 100-140 days.  They are started indoors and planted outdoors once night time temperatures are in the 60's.  You can start your own plants by covering sweet potatoes in 2" of sand in a container kept 70-80 degrees Fahrenheit, keeping the soil moist.  As the slips appear, cover with another inch of sand.  In 6 weeks, the slips will be 6-8" long and ready to plant in the garden.

Sweet potatoes like loose soil that is well composted but not overly fertile.  Soils high in nitrogen will create healthy vines and few, small tubers.  Mounding the soil 8" high will help warm the soil.  Leave 3-4 feet between ridges as sweet potato vines are rambunctious!  Plant slips at least a foot apart.  Water immediately.  The vines are pretty hardy.  Water during any times of drought.  About a month before frost, cease watering. 

The tubers should be ready to be harvested when the leaves turn yellow or as soon as the first light frost. Do harvest before any hard frosts are forecasted.  Be careful harvesting the tubers to not damage them.  Cure for 10 days at 80-85 degrees Fahrenheit and high humidity for taste and keeping longevity.

January 2020 Edible Garden Planner

It's seed catalog season!

Sunday, December 29, 2019

January is the time of dreaming and planning for your spring garden.  All the seed companies begin sending out their catalogs for seeds and plants in December and January.   It is an exciting time for browsing the magazines and making the garden plan for the upcoming year!

Grow what you love!

The easiest way to fall in love with gardening is growing what you love to eat.  There is nothing like strolling out to the garden to see what's ripe and tasty for dinner.  If you have ever wanted to plant a kitchen garden, but weren’t sure if you had the space, you may be surprised.   

It is common for Italians and French to have a small kitchen garden where they grow herbs, greens and vegetables year round.  It is amazing the amount of food you can grow in a very small space!  How to decide what to plant for small spaces?

If you have only a 6’ x 6’ space, a Mediterranean kitchen garden could include the following:

Herbs (1 each)-thyme, rosemary, sage, oregano, and flat leaf parsley 

Start a kitchen herb garden!

3 basil plants (for pesto and seasoning)  

Basil basics-harvesting, preserving, growing basil

2 tomatoes-1 small fruiting and 1 slicer type 

Tomatoes 101, everything you need to know to grow great tomatoes

2 sweet pepper plants  

Peppers are for every taste and garden

1 zucchini (look for “bush” types as they are more compact)  

Everything you need to know to grow squash

1 eggplant 

Eggplant-add this native from India to your garden

8 red bunching onions 

Onions-everything you need to know to grow 'em

8 garlic plants 

Time to plant garlic! With growing tips......

Arugula, spinach and lettuce scatter sowed  

Growing fabulous lettuce and greens

For more details on a compact French garden:  Small space French kitchen garden

For an Italian garden:  Heirloom Sicilian kitchen garden  To entice the little ones, an Italian garden can also be called a "Pizza or Spaghetti Garden"!  Pizza garden for the kids

If you also have room for pots on the patio, you could grow the zucchini, eggplant, and cucumber in pots  (only 1 plant in each pot) and add 3 bush or 6 pole bean plants in the garden bed.  Traditional bush beans would be lentils, Romano, Capitano, Cannellini, fava; pole beans-Roma, Helda, Supermarconi.  Personally, I would stick with the beans you eat whole as shelled beans you do not get as much food per plant, and less food per space in the garden.

Decorative container gardening for edibles

If you have more room, you can add almonds (yes, they survive Midwest winters), beets, chard, fennel, chickpeas, figs (grows well in a pot), asparagus, cardoon, chicories, radicchio, endives, broccoli, cauliflower, or annual artichokes.  A word of caution, don't go overboard the first year!

If you are just beginning a garden, do start small.  You want the garden to be fun and relaxing, not overwhelming.  Don't be afraid to begin.  The force of life is strong and really doesn't need much from us.  Buy a few plants in the early spring and just put them in the ground with a natural fertilizer and you will be amazed at how they just go to town all by themselves!

What crops give you the biggest bang for your time?

Vintage WW2 poster

For seed catalogues, the best to order from are those that do their trials in your region of the country.  The seeds and plants they carry are the ones that have performed the best for them in their trial gardens.  Baker Creek is fun because they specialize heirlooms and rare seeds from around the world.  Territorial Seeds has a good summary in each section of growing tips.

Catalogs I love are the ones that the links are on the right.  I have ordered from them all and been happy with their selection and how well the plants did.

Still having trouble deciding?  Well, you have some time before the season starts.  Heck, you can procrastinate all the way to June..........  It is not too late to start a garden in June!  You can use this time to make your plan based on what you eat this winter.  Use this winter to figure out what to grow in the ...

For more on steps on putting in a garden: Easy ways to make a new vegetable garden bed  

Weed free, self fertilizing, till free garden beds  Easy kitchen garden