What did you do in the garden today?

[gtaus]

I pick them up from TSC and the Dollar store just last weekend. Sometimes they have them at the farmers co-op (feed store) too.

Edited to add - TSC had a bunch of garden stuff (planters, fertilizer, tools, etc) on clearance this weekend along with seeds.

We don't have a TSC where I live. The Dollar Tree sent all their seeds back. I'll have to check the Co-Op next time I go to town. It's on the other side of town and I don't get out there much anymore. I think location matters, and I'm glad some people are able to pick up seeds at clearance prices. That's what I thought I could do. But, so far, I have not found any store with seeds still on display.

BTW, when I do go to town, I always check the clearance items. Sometimes I find great bargains. I recently bought a Ryobi 40v 14-inch chainsaw marked down from $229 to $115 on clearance. So, I bought it for the 5-year warranty alone. But that was the only clearance item I have found in the past few months related to outdoor tools.

I was hoping to pick up on some garden hose supplies on clearance, but nothing left on the shelves. Last year I got some good deals. Oh well, nothing I need, but I do like to stock up on clearance items if I can find a good deal.

 

[gtaus]

My in-laws always planted peas on Good Friday. We often do too. Have never had a problem. My mother-in-law always said peas like to be snowed on.... She always planted her potatoes Good Friday also. Carrots and beets are other cool weather crops.

Thanks. I'm writing stuff down a list to look up. I think I already have some leftover seed packs for carrots, beets, and peas. Next spring I hope to have a raised bed, or two, for the cool weather planting.

 

[gtaus]

Highly scientific and organized!

The obvious correct reply is whatever works for you is fine by me.

Like I said, I had my seeds filed by their packaged year. That has proven not to be a very effective way to organize my seeds for me. If nothing else, I think I'll have separate tabs by plant name, and then put the oldest seeds in front of the newer seeds.

I am also thinking I should maybe keep a garden calendar with seed starting, planting, and transplanting dates laid out. I started something like that this year, and it helped me start some plants in the house on time. I hate to overthink some things, but gardening is not very forgiving and if you mess up, you might have to wait until the next year to try again.

 

[Smokerbill]

I just stack some of the seed packets in a pile, roll them up and wrap a rubber band around them. Others, like tomatoes, I stuff the packets all into a fancy foil pack that one type of tomatoes came in. Thrown in a small cardboard box, it goes into a cool room that doesn't get heated in the winter.

Half the fun for me is sorting through them when it's getting close to planting time so I can decide what I need to buy for the new season.

 

[gtaus]

I just stack some of the seed packets in a pile, roll them up and wrap a rubber band around them. Others, like tomatoes, I stuff the packets all into a fancy foil pack that one type of tomatoes came in. Thrown in a small cardboard box, it goes into a cool room that doesn't get heated in the winter.

Half the fun for me is sorting through them when it's getting close to planting time so I can decide what I need to buy for the new season.

Well, that is more organized than I was. I had seed packets here and there, usually somewhere I could never find them when I needed them. Tossing them all into one cardboard box would have been an improvement in my organization.

At any rate, I have them all stored in my new plastic ammo box now. Next step is to try to organize them some way so I know what I have and how old the seeds are.

 

[chickengr]

Memorial Day Weekend is my transplanting weekend as well. Except for the peppers, which I wait another 2 weeks.

I am trying to learn about cool weather crops that can be planted in early May, for my zone 3b, and maybe get a little jump start on growing food. I guess there are some crops that do better in cooler temps and can survive the frosty nights. Maybe next year I'll get an earlier start outside in the garden.

brassicas taste better if there is some frost.

 

[chickengr]

Thanks for the link. I'll be looking into that Bok Choy. I think I bought some seeds but never used them this year. I'm really disorganized when it comes to seeds. But I bought a storage case to put all the seeds in one place and to get them organized.

Speaking of which, to anyone out there, what is the best way to organize your seed collection? I had my seeds sorted out by year, but I can see that is not a very good system. Don't know if I should sort them by category of food, by name, or whatever...? Maybe by planting or seed starting dates? So many options, so little kn

Thanks for the link. I'll be looking into that Bok Choy. I think I bought some seeds but never used them this year. I'm really disorganized when it comes to seeds. But I bought a storage case to put all the seeds in one place and to get them organized.

Speaking of which, to anyone out there, what is the best way to organize your seed collection? I had my seeds sorted out by year, but I can see that is not a very good system. Don't know if I should sort them by category of food, by name, or whatever...? Maybe by planting or seed starting dates? So many options, so little knowledge.

I keep winter and summer seeds separately.

 

[Farmer13]

I have some 2X2 frames with chicken wire on them to keep out the rabbits. I was thinking I could easily staple some plastic over the wire and make it into a mini greenhouse, cold box, or whatever they are called.

You know the white frost covers. Just put up some 2x2 stakes 4' long & we used shade cloth black 30% & tied that off to the 2x2s first. Then we stretched the white row covers over that. It will withstand more wind & overnight snow. Make sure to leave easy entry to harvest your greens.

Frost is freezing temps with water & that will burn plant tissue faster than just freezing temps. Keep the leaves dry water only in the am to prevent excess water from damaging the tissues.

We live in the Mountains of Western NC & the temps over winter can become a killer on Fruit trees & vines. Last Winter our fall garden as we call it was frozen in early Dec & then the rest of the winter was mild. Mild until it dropped to single digits when our Peach trees were in full bloom. Mother nature is in charge.

We have grown organic food since the 70s & we can share one thing we learned.
Growing your own food is Magical it's like being nearer to God, it's also pretty darn depressing. What?? Well we plan & dream over new seeds we have or are going to get. We buy lights & heating mats, soil & supplies to care for our new plants. Sometimes Mr. Murphy has his say.

Have you started all kinds of new & unique seeds, & brought them to where you plant them in ground. Then as happens in nature, a frost comes along & kills them all.

Off to anywhere now to buy starts from all the usual places after everyone had picked through them all. Bummer!

So what did I learn?
Living & growing with plants is a never ending story from year to year it does not stop for seasons. We plant our hopes & dreams onto a planet with extreme weather that can destroy or nurture you work. That's life.

In the way past when we were young, we did get bummed out over our garden failures. Over the seasons we started to see a pattern. Fruit trees producing a large crop every other season. Cool spring slow start watch & spray for Fungus & virial problems.
Nature will keep you in the loop, if you watch & listen to her. It's in you already to feel nature.

We learned to enjoy all the little things that turned out well, & believe me they do outnumber the sad times we have from time to time. Growing food is not new, & we can learn so much from other growers if we listen with our hearts.

 

[Sally PB]

^^

Edited to add - TSC had a bunch of garden stuff (planters, fertilizer, tools, etc) on clearance this weekend along with seeds.

I'll look when I'm there next week. I hadn't thought of them. Also for garden stuff on sale.

I bought seeds from this company for the first time this year, was VERY pleased with the results. Maybe they still have seeds?

Baker Creek is AWESOME! They have seeds year round. Their catalog is flat out garden porn. It's difficult for me to deal with winter after I get their catalog in mid January.

Like I said, I had my seeds filed by their packaged year. That has proven not to be a very effective way to organize my seeds for me. If nothing else, I think I'll have separate tabs by plant name, and then put the oldest seeds in front of the newer seeds.

I have all my bean, eg, together. I have 2-3 varieties, so I use the oldest first of each.

Half the fun for me is sorting through them when it's getting close to planting time so I can decide what I need to buy for the new season.

Oh yeah. See my comment on Baker Creek's garden porn that they send out in the middle of winter to taunt me!

 

[jerryse]

Nice fall like weather with highs around 70 and lows around 50. I have been planning next years squash. I want to try Big Moon and South Anna butternut squash. Anyone ever eat a Big Moon pumpkin? I mostly want it for the size.