What did you do in the garden today?

[Acre4Me]

Whee! I just ordered my onion sets. The local big box grocery has Stuttgarter every year, but only once did I find Red Baron there. I tried those, and of course since DH loves those best of all, they haven't had them since.

I got Red Baron sets from Gurney's last year, and I think I ranted on enough about my disappointment with Gurney's. So I looked online and got them from Maine Potato Lady. They aren't organic, but I can live with that.

I've never grown onions from seed. Has anyone here in Zone 5 done that?

I’m in 6A, but grew onions from seed last year and had better results from seeds, rather than the onion starts.

There are 3 types of onions: short-day (for southern states), long-day (for northern states), and day-neutral (generally ok everywhere). It has to do with day length…once day length reaches a certain point, the onions begin to grow the bulb (if I’m remembering correctly).

Start the seeds inside. Then plant outside at appropriate time (I think they can tolerate some cold once sprouted and grown a bit). Thin them to get green/young onions. Since I was late putting them in the garden last year, my day neutral ones did better than my long day ones. But, both performed better for me than using the little onion bulb sets.

 

[pennyJo1960]

Guess I bought the walking onion as we have sunshine.
It is not raining here.

 

[Acre4Me]

“Seed-poor” is that a term? It should be as we might be eating Ramen in Feb after paying cc bill in Jan. Hmmm… I’ll blame the spouse, as they decided to get a truck load of garden dirt for a new 20x30 garden bed, which needs seeds, right?

As you already suspect, I placed another seed order today.

 

[Sueby]

I have grown red kabocha and red kuri squash - neither are good keepers. If you grow it, pick a variety that says it's for storage.

Good to know. I'm guessing they freeze ok if cut & vacuum sealed?

 

[Sueby]

As you already suspect, I placed another seed order today.

Yep, just placed another one here too.

 

[Fishychix]

Speaking of which, has anyone ever ordered from Baker Creek/Rare Seeds? I had close to $300 but pared it by half. Still need to weed some more before I can afford this order.

 

[vall]

Good to know. I'm guessing they freeze ok if cut & vacuum sealed?

Yes - I don't have a vacuum sealer but I've used freezer ziplocs.

 

[Wolfie2]

Put this in the preservation thread also, where it proper;y be;omgs but I'm tryin to get as much info as possible.
Turmeric: I finally grew some after 3 dismal seasons. This time I just left the measly little rhizomes from last year in the ground. Got a decent crop this year, about 2 lbs. with enough left for seed next year.
My question: have any of you good folk grown turmeric? Those who have, how do you preserve it? I have read the articles and watched the U-Tube vids but would like your opinion.
Drying and powdering is one option but that's a lot of scraping and cutting before putting in the Dehydrator. And my dehydrator is big enough to handle 10 times what I have, so it seems somewhat a waste of energy.
We have grown ginger for years now and Mrs. Lobo keeps a little for now and freezes the rest, just throws it in the freezer in a ziplock. She's happy with the outcome but by the end of their life in the freezer they are kinda mushy when thawed. Turmeric and ginger look and grow alike so this is what I'll do if no better solution. Thanks in advance for any suggestions

 

[Acre4Me]

Speaking of which, has anyone ever ordered from Baker Creek/Rare Seeds? I had close to $300 but pared it by half. Still need to weed some more before I can afford this order.

That’s one order I placed, with Baker creek. But first time for me!

 

[igorsMistress]

@BReeder! - funny I just ordered Kabocha seeds from High Mowing. I think it was 5 something for 10 seeds. Not cheap, but I LOVE that company & trust their seeds implicitly.

I also ordered:
Yellowfin F1 Zucchini
Spaghetti Squash
Dragon Langerie Bush Bean
Rattlesnake Pole Bean
Pink Brandywine plants
Spanish Onion plants
Sungold cherry tomato plants
a Thyme plant (mine never survive winter, gonna bring this one inside next year)
& some chive plants

I'm hoping @Sally PB will send me some of those Egyptian Walking onions because I can't find them anywhere I usually buy from.

I'm probably done ordering for the garden & my mind has been made on the new beds, they will be squash. Here's hoping I can keep the bugs at bay.

I found them but they are usually a fall thing. Either Etsy or Amazon.