Your 2025 Garden

[pennyJo1960]

Would have to plant indoors it would drown in the rain of winter.

 

[CatInTheHenHouse]

While out today I'm going to look for some Bok Choi seed and might pickup some lettuce too. I like to grow semi head lettuce. I've never grown romaine before so that is on the seed want list too. I'm expecting sticker shock when I find the new racks of seed on display.

Check your local seed library? I’ve been surprised at some of the things I’ve seen at mine.

 

[Nomadicus]

Check your local seed library? I’ve been surprised at some of the things I’ve seen at mine.

I doubt we have one in this small town in the middle of nowhere. I normally try to find varieties that are disease resistant, have good flavor, and are very productive which often means relying on hybrids that incorporate traits from multiple varieties. Some things I do get from Southern Exposure Seed Exchange which a form of seed library as they get seed from all over from old lines from days gone by. One such seed I did find there is the seed for Strawberry Watermelons. Great melon for the back yard garden and maybe local farmers market but worthless as a shipper for commercial use as their rind is very thin. I didn't see and seed racks out today for what I want now and not in a month so I will order a few things tomorrow that our local Ag Supply doesn't have.

 

[NanaK]

Check your local seed library? I’ve been surprised at some of the things I’ve seen at mine.

I have heard of this but never seen one. Wish we had one here. You are fortunate!

 

[Sally PB]

Check your local seed library?

I helped a neighbor package/label some seeds for a seed swap last year. I couldn't go (conflict on the date), but that would have been fun to attend.

 

[CatInTheHenHouse]

I have heard of this but never seen one. Wish we had one here. You are fortunate!

I’m not sure where you are in North Carolina but it looks like the State Library of North Carolina has one, although it looks like it’s mostly native plants not crop plants. Durham has a few locations. Google suggests there might be more, and you could always reach out to your local traditional library to start one if there aren’t any near you.

I helped a neighbor package/label some seeds for a seed swap last year. I couldn't go (conflict on the date), but that would have been fun to attend.

Michigan apparently has a whole network of seed libraries if you get bored before planting season.

 

[Nomadicus]

I spent a couple of hours earlier sorting through several varieties of paste type tomatoes with very high disease resistance. I'm going to try planting some on nursery ground cover that is woven and will let water through and keep grass and weeds from coming up. By preventing soil form being splashed up by rain maybe we can get enough of a crop to can what we need from a 100 plants. The ground cover can be used for several years. l think it can be rolled up in the fall and stored out of the weather and used for 5 or more years. I know one homestead that uses it and has for years for 3 or more crops.

 

[Sally PB]

Do you have a brand name for that? The only weed block fabric I've ever used was horrible. It broke down in sunlight, ripped and disintegrated, so it was a single season thing. And then getting it off the ground...? It made a horrible mess.

 

[Nomadicus]

Do you have a brand name for that? The only weed block fabric I've ever used was horrible. It broke down in sunlight, ripped and disintegrated, so it was a single season thing. And then getting it off the ground...? It made a horrible mess.

Specs say UV resistant.
There are other brands but I have seen good reviews on this brand. I have others to look at.
https://www.homedepot.com/p/VEVOR-W...ic-Underlayment-JBXBZ6300FT3Z23NJV0/329849274
Here's another source and brand with a video that may shed some light:
https://growerssolution.com/product...5365045&pr_seq=uniform&variant=39494271991989

 

[CatInTheHenHouse]

I spent a couple of hours earlier sorting through several varieties of paste type tomatoes with very high disease resistance. I'm going to try planting some on nursery ground cover that is woven and will let water through and keep grass and weeds from coming up. By preventing soil form being splashed up by rain maybe we can get enough of a crop to can what we need from a 100 plants. The ground cover can be used for several years. l think it can be rolled up in the fall and stored out of the weather and use for 5 or more years. I know one homestead that uses it and has for years for 3 or more crops.

Good luck! I hope it works out for you - the tomatoes and the ground cover both.