Category:

Seeds

April Planting Guide: Maximizing Your Garden’s Potential

by Margauex April 4, 2024

written by Margauex

As April showers give way to May flowers, gardeners everywhere eagerly prepare to sow the seeds of a bountiful harvest and vibrant blooms. With the soil warming and the days growing longer, there’s no better time to get your hands dirty and plant the garden of your dreams. Whether you’re a seasoned pro or just starting out, here’s a comprehensive guide on what to plant in April to make the most of the growing season.

Direct Sow Outdoors

Leafy Greens (Lettuce, Chard, Kale, Mustard/Mizuna, Collards): These nutrient-rich greens thrive in the cool temperatures of early spring. Succession sowings throughout the month ensure a continuous harvest of fresh, tender leaves. Spinach, a cool-season favorite, is best sown in early April to avoid bolting as temperatures rise.
Root Crops (Beets, Carrots, Radish, Turnip): Take advantage of the cool, moist soil to sow root crops directly outdoors. Succession sowings of these crunchy vegetables ensure a steady supply throughout the season. Additionally, consider direct sowing kohlrabi alongside transplants for a variety of harvest times.
Herbs (Cilantro, Dill, Calendula, Basil):Early to mid-April is the perfect time to sow herb seeds directly in the garden. These aromatic additions provide flavor to your culinary creations and attract beneficial insects to your garden. Don’t forget to include basil, a versatile herb that adds a burst of flavor to dishes and pairs beautifully with tomatoes.
Peas:If the weather remains cool, consider an early to mid-April planting of peas. These cool-season legumes thrive in temperatures below 70°F (21°C) and can tolerate light frosts. Choose a sunny location with well-drained soil, and provide support for climbing varieties.
Cool-Season Cover Crops: Keep your garden beds healthy and fertile by planting cool-season cover crops such as oats, peas, vetch, tiller radish, and mustard. These crops protect the soil from erosion, suppress weeds, and add organic matter when tilled under.

Transplant

Brassicas (Cabbage, Broccoli, Cauliflower, Kale, Kohlrabi): Early to mid-April is the ideal time to transplant brassicas into the garden. These cold-hardy crops benefit from an early start and thrive in the cool temperatures of spring. Provide adequate spacing and monitor for pests and diseases as they grow.
Fennel:Transplant fennel seedlings into the garden in mid to late April. This aromatic herb adds a subtle anise flavor to dishes and pairs well with fish, poultry, and vegetables.
Late Planting of Potatoes:For those feeling adventurous, consider a late planting of potatoes in early to mid-April. Choose a sunny location with well-drained soil, and provide ample space for your potato plants to grow. With proper care, you can look forward to a delicious harvest later in the season.

Sow Indoors

Tomatoes & Tomatillos (April 1st):Start tomato and tomatillo seeds indoors on April 1st for a head start on the growing season. These warm-season crops require ample sunlight and consistent moisture to thrive.
Late Sowings of Cabbage & Broccoli: For a late-season harvest, sow cabbage and broccoli seeds indoors in early April. These cold-hardy crops can be transplanted outdoors once the threat of frost has passed.
Brussels Sprouts (Early April):Start Brussels sprouts seeds indoors in early April for a fall harvest. These nutritious vegetables require a long growing season, making April the perfect time to get them started.
Marigolds, Basil, Nasturtium, Peanuts (Mid April): Add a splash of color and flavor to your garden by sowing seeds of marigolds, basil, nasturtium, and even peanuts indoors in mid-April. These companion plants attract beneficial insects and provide culinary delights throughout the season.
Zinnias (Late April): Brighten up your garden beds and borders with the cheerful blooms of zinnias. Start seeds indoors in late April for an explosion of color throughout the summer months.

With this comprehensive planting guide, you’re well-equipped to make the most of April’s gardening opportunities. Whether you’re sowing seeds, transplanting seedlings, or nurturing established plants, the rewards of a well-tended garden are well worth the effort. Happy planting!

April 4, 2024 0 comments

Seeds

Seed Starting: February

by Margauex February 1, 2024

written by Margauex

As winter starts to loosen its grip in Zone 6A, avid gardeners are already gearing up for the upcoming growing season. February marks the perfect time to kickstart your garden by sowing seeds indoors. In this guide, we’ll explore the essential tools you’ll need and provide detailed insights into what seeds are best to start during this early period.

Why should you start you seeds indoors?

Starting seeds indoors in Zone 6A offers several advantages, enhancing the success of your gardening endeavors.

Extended Growing Season: Begin earlier to lengthen the growing season. We experience a relatively short growing season due to the risk of late spring and early fall frosts. Our growing season lasts roughly 145 days, from May 15th to October 7th. Starting seeds indoors allows you to gain a head start and extend the growing season for your plants. This is particularly beneficial for crops that require a longer time to mature.
Temperature Control: Protect seeds from late winter and early spring temperature fluctuations.
Early Harvests: Enjoy earlier harvests by giving plants a head start indoors.
Protection from Frost: Shield seedlings from late spring frosts that are common in the region.
Optimal Germination Conditions: Ensure consistent soil moisture and humidity for successful germination.
Customized Lighting: Utilize grow lights for optimal and customizable light conditions.
Reduced Weed Competition: Minimize competition with weeds during the vulnerable seedling stage.
Space Efficiency: Maximize indoor space for seedlings, optimizing their growth potential.

What tools do I need to have successful starts?

To start seeds successfully, you’ll need a few essential tools. The flexibility of your setup can range from basic and budget-friendly to more advanced and expensive. At a minimum, you’ll require:

Seed Trays or Containers: From repurposed household items to specialized seed trays, choose a container that provides adequate space for individual seedlings.
Quality Soil or Seed Starting Mix: Ensure good aeration and moisture retention for healthy germination and seedling growth.
Humidity Domes or Plastic Wrap: Maintain consistent moisture levels by covering trays with humidity domes or plastic wrap until seeds germinate.
Grow Lights or Natural Sunlight: Depending on your budget and available sunlight, use artificial grow lights or position trays in a sunny location for proper seedling development.

Beyond these basics, you can invest in additional tools like heat mats, grow light stands, and nutrient-rich fertilizers to create a more sophisticated seed-starting environment. The key is to tailor your approach based on your budget and gardening goals.

Budget Seed Starting

Seed Trays or Containers:

>>>Save your empty milk jugs, juice jugs, and oil containers. Cut them in half and fill the bottom half with soil and plant your seeds. Water and tape the top back on. This creates a mini greenhouse to keep seeds warm. Don’t place the cap back on.

>>>Save solo cups throughout the year. They work great for up-potting. Poke a hole in the bottom and fill with soil.

Soil:

>>> Any seed starting mix will do. I get mine from Menards.

Natural Sunlight:

>>>Place containers in a sunny location. With the plastic jugs, I place them outside where they will get the most sun and then bring them inside overnight. With the cap off you shouldn’t have to water. With rain and snow, it will keep them moist.

Advanced Seed Starting

Seed Trays or Containers:

>>>My husband ordered me these seed trays with humidity domes. They work really well and are still pretty budget-friendly. I use these for starting most things. For stuff that tends to get transplant shock, like summer squashes, I use these trays with my soil blocker. The soil blocker really ups your seed starting game. It is really easy to use and transplanting is so easy. You just dig a small hole and plop it in. It makes up potting tomatoes so easy. I pop the block in a solo cup and then fill it with dirt.

Heat Mats:

>>> I got these heat mats last year and every single seed I planted and placed on them germinated. I followed my seed packet instructions and planted 2-3 seeds per cell and ended up with 200 tomato plants. If you have had issues with seed starting in the past I highly recommend them.

Soil:

>>>Any soil starting mix will do. I also add fertilizer to each plant when transplanting. The fertilizer you use will depend on your soil. Based on my soil test I am doing a 10-10-10 in everything this year. (10 part nitrogen, 10 part phosphorus, 10 part potassium.) With the exception being tomatoes. With that, I’m doing a 23-3-3. That is based on recommendations from the test.

Artificial Light:

>>>I got these shelves with lights before we built my greenhouse. They work really well and are stackable so you can put as many as you need high to save space. Now they sit in my greenhouse for extra shelving. We are running electricity to them to help with lighting until the days get longer.

What seeds do I start In February in Zone 6A?

The seed varieties I am planting can be found here.

Brassicas:

Recommended Seeds: Broccoli, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Kale
Sowing Time: Late February-Early March. I do not start my first planting until the last couple days in February and then do a succession planting in mid-late March. I start them all at the same time. The only brassica I do not start this early is Brussel Sprouts. I wait until Mid-Late March for them.
Tips: Brassicas thrive in cooler temperatures, making February an ideal time to start them indoors. Transplant seedlings outdoors once the risk of frost has passed.

Celery and Celeriac:

Recommended Seeds: Celery, Celeriac
Sowing Time: Mid to Late February. I usually start them mid-month. Celery seems to take a long time to grow in my soil so I start them early.
Tips: These crops have a longer growing season, so starting them early indoors gives them a head start. Keep soil consistently moist for successful germination.

Leafy Greens:

Recommended Seeds: Lettuce, Spinach, Swiss Chard
Sowing Time: Early to mid-February. Succession plant every 2 weeks until April.
Tips: Leafy greens prefer cooler temperatures. Begin sowing early and consider succession planting for a continuous harvest.

Green Onions:

Recommended Seeds: Scallions, Green Onions
Sowing Time: Mid-February
Tips: Green onions are fast growers. Start them indoors and transplant them into the garden or containers once they reach a suitable size.

Herbs:

Recommended Seeds: Basil, Cilantro, Parsley
Sowing Time: Late February
Tips: Herbs can be started indoors and provide a flavorful addition to your dishes. Ensure they receive sufficient light for optimal growth.

Annual Flowers:

Recommended Seeds: Marigolds, Petunias, Zinnias
Sowing Time: Mid to Late February
Tips: Starting annual flowers early ensures a vibrant and colorful garden. Provide adequate light and maintain a warm environment for germination.

Perennial Flowers:

Recommended Seeds: Coneflowers, Black-Eyed Susans, Perennial Salvias
Sowing Time: Late February
Tips: Perennials take longer to establish, so starting them indoors early allows for a more robust root system before transplanting outdoors.

Conclusion:

February in Zone 6A presents an exciting opportunity to get a jumpstart on your garden by starting seeds indoors. With the right tools, meticulous planning, and a bit of patience, you’ll soon be rewarded with healthy seedlings ready to be transplanted outdoors as spring unfolds. Happy gardening!

February 1, 2024 0 comments

Seeds

2024 Seed Picks

by Margauex November 6, 2023

written by Margauex

As we are almost at the end of 2023, I’m gearing up for my garden with a sense of anticipation and wonder. You may think, “Isn’t it a little early to be announcing your seeds for 2024? 2023 isn’t even over yet!” Well if you didn’t know November is when most seed companies announce their 2024 catalog. From personal experience, If you do not get in and order what you want right away, a lot of the varieties will be sold out. Specifically potatoes, garlic, and onion plants/sets. Last year I completely missed out on potatoes, so this year I am ordering as soon as I am allowed to. In this blog post, I’m thrilled to unveil the seeds that will find their home in my garden this coming up season. Some will be the same as last year but there are quite a few new varieties.

I still have some F1 seeds left over from my first year on our homestead. My goal is to get what I have left planted so that in 2025 I will have all heirloom or open-pollinated seeds, making seed saving that much easier. Because of this, I will be overplanting some crops, mainly peppers, to get them out of my inventory. My goal is to grow a year’s worth of produce for our family and save enough seed so that I do not have to purchase any the following year.

My garlic seed I bought in 2021 and have saved from those every year to replant. So if you have the space plant a bit more garlic than you actually need and you won’t ever have to buy it again. Why do I have so many garlic varieties? Well, that’s because when I ordered them my internet was acting weird and I didn’t think the order went through. So I did a second order and ended up with double the amount of garlic. I gave some away that year to my neighbor but still ended up with a lot of garlic. I could have canceled the order but I thought, “Ooh I have the space I’ll just plant it all and then have some left over to save. That has turned into me planting 800+ bulbs this year.

Where I buy my seeds 2024

This year my seeds are from Johnny’s Selected Seeds, High Mowing Organic Seeds, Seed Savers Exchange, and Fedco Seeds. There are a lot of really great seed companies out there, but for me, these companies have the best selection of bulk seeds at a good price. I am super excited to try out some of these new varieties for 2024.

How do I decide what varieties I will grow every year?

When deciding on varieties to plant you want to take a couple of different factors into consideration.

#1 How long is your growing season?

This is important because you will want to grow varieties that will mature and produce within that time frame. It will also tell you how early you need to start your seedlings indoors. For me, in Northeast Ohio, my average last frost is May 4th and My average First Frost is October 7th. That is 156 days, giving me a pretty long growing season, and allowing me to grow most varieties. I will say I do not plant anything out until after Mother’s Day because it seems like we always get one late frost. In 2023 we had a light frost the first week of June. Our first frost has varied a lot. in 2023 it was not until October 23.

#2 How is your climate?

Different varieties thrive in different climates. If you live somewhere where the summers are 120° with no rain, you will want drought-tolerant varieties versus where I live, where summers are 80°-100° with high humidity and rain, you want higher disease-resistant varieties.

#3 Soil Type

What kind of soil you have will make a big impact on what and how you grow. For heavy clay soils like mine, root crop variety selection is important. If you select varieties that do not tolerate moisture very well, They will just rot in the ground.

Anyway on to the list. Here is my list of 2024 seeds with links in case you are interested. I’ll make notes of any seeds that are on my “I will always grow this variety” list.

Arugula

Artichoke

Bean

Provider (Fresh) ** Open Pollinated, Grows really well in my region. Continues to produce a lot when weather gets cooler in the fall.

Jacobs Cattle* New for 2024

Mayflower * New for 2024

Rattlesnake* New for 2024

Broccoli

Brussels Sprouts

Cabbage

Carrots

Cauliflower:

Celery

Chard

Bright Lights** Open Pollinated. Grows really big tasty leaves.

Collards

Cash Crop

Corn

Who Gets Kissed Sweet Corn* New for 2024

Cucumbers

Lemon** My favorite cucumber. Tastes so good on fresh salads.

Eggplant

Garlic

Premium Northern White

Kale

Leek

Lettuce

Dragoon** My favorite head lettuce. It grows really well and tastes great.

Monte Carlo

Gourmet Lettuce Blend

Muskmelon

Amish Melon * New for 2024

Petit Gris de Rennes

* New for 2024

Okra

Clemson Spineless

Onion

Red Spring * New for 2024

Walla Walla Sweet* New for 2024

Deep Purple (bunching)

Peas

Pepper

Early Jalapeno** Has a lot of hot fruits.

Potatoes

Kennebec ** The best storage variety for my region. Grows well in my soil.

Yukon Gem

Georgia Jet Sweet Potato * New for 2024

Pumpkin

Atlantic Giant

Musquee de Provence ** Love this pumpkin. It looks like Cinderella’s Carriage and tastes really good when roasted.

Radishes

Spinach

Summer Squash

Tomatillo

Tomato

Amish Paste** The best paste tomato you can grow. Huge fruits that taste great. Never had them rot (unlike San Marzanos which for me never fully ripen.)

Big Beef Plus

Super sweet 100

Turnips

Hakurei

Purple Top White Globe

Watermelon

Moon & Stars (Cherokee) * New for 2024

Oh So Sweet * New for 2024

Winter Squash

pinterest pin

November 6, 2023 0 comments

Seeds

Seed Saving | Basics

by Margauex October 21, 2023

written by Margauex

What is seed saving and why should you do it?

Seed saving is the practice of collecting, storing, and replanting seeds from plants you’ve grown, preserving genetic diversity and enabling self-sufficiency. Its importance lies in several factors. First, it saves money by eliminating the need to purchase seeds each season. Additionally, saved seeds are adapted to your local growing conditions, leading plants that yield better harvests. This process contributes to the conservation of heirloom and rare plant varieties saving them from potential extinction. By saving your own seeds, you play a crucial role in maintaining biodiversity and promoting sustainable agriculture.

How long do seeds last?

Viability can be determined in several different ways. The most common, and one you can do at home, is a standard germination test. How that works is you take 100 seeds, soak them in water overnight, put the soaked seeds on a paper towel in a clear container with a lid, wet the paper, and then set them in a warm spot in your house. Most seeds will germinate within 14 days. Count how many of the 100 seeds germinate and that is your germination rate. So if you have 80 seeds germinate that is an 80% germination rate and means 80% of those seeds are viable. Meaning they will grow a healthy plant under suitable conditions.

Seeds lose viability over time. You will lose most of your germination rate within the first 5-10 years and will continue to drop as time goes on. You’ll want to use your seeds within the first 3 years or so in order to get the best germination rate. I’m not saying you won’t get any germination but it will be very low. It’s really difficult to get to true zero, your seeds will rarely be completely unviable. In 2020 scientists in Israel harvested dates from 2000-year-old seeds they germinated. So you can see, seed can be viable, under the right, conditions for 1000s of years.

So what is the best way to store seeds?

You want to store them where they are cool, dark, and dry. How cold does it need to be? In a cool part of your basement, a cold cupboard, or a closet. It doesn’t need to be freezing but anything below 60° is optimal. For long-term storage, you can put them in the freezer. I don’t recommend that unless you are planning to store for decades.

Option 1: Mason Jars

If you have extra mason jars sitting around they are a great option. They will keep your seeds very dry. If you have a jar sealer, you can vacuum seal the jars, reducing the amount of oxidation that can happen, making your seeds last longer. They are great for bulk seeds, like corn and peas.

Option 2: Reusable Bags

Reusable silicone or Ziploc bags work great for seed packets. The packets lay flat, so you can put all your varieties in one bag. I use the little snack sizer bags for individual varieties. If the packet tears or has a hole, it keeps all your varieties separate. They are also reusable as long as you don’t tear them.

Option 3: Plastic Container

There are several different containers you can use. Containers work great when you have a big seed collection. I use 4×6 photo cases. It works great to keep everything organized and the packets fit perfectly in each container. I bought these generic seed envelopes to store seeds I save in and transfer any seeds that the packets have been destroyed.

How do I know which seeds to save?

First, you need to make sure you have either an heirloom or an open-pollinated variety. If you try and save hybrid plants you don’t know what you will get. The resulting vegetable could have traits from either parent making it susceptible to diseases and in some cases inedible.

In general, you want to find a very ripe vegetable from a healthy plant. Different vegetables have different requirements. For example, for cucumbers, you want to wait until they turn yellow, and for broccoli, you wait until it flowers then the pods completely dry out.

Now that you know the why and how of seed saving, hopefully, you can get started saving your own seeds! I’m going to be writing more in-depth guides for vegetables you can check out on the blog.

Conclusion

Learning the viability of your seeds will really help to set yourself up for success. By knowing when to toss out seeds and the germination rate, will aid you in determining how many seeds to plant. For older seeds, you will know to plant a few more in order to guarantee a successful planting. I will say, knowing the germination rates has really helped me in my seed starting. Hopefully, it will help you too!

sOURCES

https://extension.colostate.edu/docs/pubs/garden/07221.pdf

October 21, 2023 0 comments

Seeds

Where I buy my seeds

by Margauex September 26, 2023

written by Margauex

There are so many options now a days when it comes to places to purchase seed. The reality is you can buy seeds anywhere and they will probably grow. I have gotten seeds from Menards, Lowes and even the Dollar Store and had them grow. In order to find the best place to purchase your seed, you need to first figure out what kind of seed you want. Questions I asked myself were “Do I want organic seed?” “Is this something I am going to grow a lot of ?” “Am I going to seed save?” Different companies fulfill most of the things I need but not all of them have all the varieties I like.

Johnny’s Selected Seed

Most of my seed comes from Johnny’s. They are great for bulk seed. A lot of places that sell heirloom or open pollinated seed only give you a packet option, which usually contains less than 100 seeds. Most packets I’ve found give you 20-25 seeds which isn’t enough for me. Johnnys sells packets up to 50lbs of seed for certain crops at reasonable prices.

High Mowing Organic Seed

Another place that sells good quality seed in bulk at reasonable prices. They have quite a few varieties I haven’t seen other places, and if I have seen it somewhere else, it’s usually a small packet which doesn’t work for me for most crops. They also carry tillage radish, a cover crop that helps tremendously breaking up clay soil, which I have in Northeast Ohio.

Baker Creek Heirloom

Baker Creek sells heirloom and rare seeds. They have some really cool, super old varieties. They only sell packet sizes so I tend to only get seeds I know I will only use a few and can seed save from. Like watermelons, muskmelons and winter squash.

Seed Savers Exchange

Seed Savers is an awesome non profit company working hard to save heirloom varieties. They keep a seed bank with over 20000 heirloom varieties. You can become a member and get exclusive seeds they don’t sell on their website. They also give away seeds to community education groups, schools, community gardens and provide some disaster relief to people.

Mountain Valley Seed Co.-True Leaf Market Seed

I have gotten some good seed from Mountain Valley Seed. They were acquired by True Leaf Market. I have not purchased since they became apart of true leaf market but the seeds I did purchase in the past were good quality and affordable. I have seen people post issues with sprouting since they switched over so keep that in mind if you decide to order there.

September 26, 2023 0 comments

Gardening Seeds

2023 Seed Picks

by Margauex August 13, 2023

written by Margauex

I try and plant either heirlooms or open pollinated so I can save seed for the next year. I buy all of my seed from Burpee Seeds, Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds, Gurneys, MIGardener and Johnny’s Selected Seeds. Also to note, some varieties I’ve purchased in previous years and are unfortunately no longer available. Which is another reason why I try to seed save.

This year I’m trying out a few new varieties. Some because they looked cool and others because they were out of the varieties I normally get. I’m also still trying to figure out what grows best in my area. I also try and get disease resistance varieties of everything because we get pretty hot a humid weather for a good chunk of the summer.

For some varieties of seeds your region doesn’t really matter, yet for others it does make a big difference. We have a decently long growing season, May to October or roughly 155 days so I don’t really worry about maturity dates.

If you have shorter growing season make sure to check the days to maturity. The counter starts once the seed germinates so you’ll need to take that into account. So if seed says 50 days to maturity with 7 day germination you will have to have 57 days to see a harvest.

Arugula:

Artichoke:

Bean

Broccoli

Brussels Sprouts