Reflections of katlupe: seeds

Showing posts with label seeds. Show all posts

Saturday, April 05, 2014

My Seed Starting Process Has Begun

Seed Starting

Yesterday I started planting my seed starting planters, that I only use for this purpose. I bought three bags of seed starter from Lowe's. If a planter is too big, I add small rocks to the bottom for drainage. These little planters though, do not need it. I only fill them part way, then dampen the mix. Not too much. Just to feel it. Then put my heirloom seeds in place. Then I spray a little more water on the top with a spray bottle.

Seeds

I save many of my seeds from year to year. I buy heirlooms most of the time. Though I have bought hybrids also. Just not a lot. I make sure the seeds I buy are covered by the safe seed pledge that are non-GMO seeds. I want to grow REAL food in my garden. This is the Safe Seed Pledge if you do not know what it is:

The Safe Seed Pledge

"Agriculture and seeds provide the basis upon which our lives depend. We must protect this foundation as a safe and genetically stable source for future generations. For the benefit of all farmers, gardeners and consumers who want an alternative, we pledge that we do not knowingly buy or sell genetically engineered seeds or plants. The mechanical transfer of genetic material outside of natural methods and between genera, families or kingdoms, poses great biological risks as well as economicc, political, and cultural threats..."

This pledge was signed by us (whatever seed company you are buying from) & other companies that are concerned about this issue. For more information on this project, contact:

The Safe Seed Initiative
C/O Council for Responsible Genetics
5 Upland Road, Suite 3
Cambridge, MA 02140
www.gene-watch.org

Seeds Planted & Covered

This one is all done. Now is the part I dread..........having to keep them warm at night in my house and away from my cats. Our house is cool at night when we bank the wood stove back so it is not really that warm. I am trying a few different methods to keep them warm. As for the cats, I am keeping my fingers crossed that they won't be interested in them.

63 Seeds Started

Yesterday I started 63 seeds. I am planning on starting more, maybe tomorrow. How many will survive to be put in the garden? I don't know. Some will come up and some won't. Time will tell. I have a large area for the garden so I can start a lot of plants. There are some, like the bush beans that I don't start, and they will be the first ones up and producing. That is the plant I grow best, besides potatoes.

Patches, my helper today!

Friday, April 04, 2014

Time To Start Seeds!

Time to get started with my garden. Right now that means starting my seeds inside. It is still quite cool and we are running our wood stoves. At night though, our house gets pretty cold once the wood stove is banked back for the night. I am thinking of trying a few different things to keep them warm during that time. Seeds need to be kept really warm. My oven has a pilot light and I did think about setting them in there for the night. But I am afraid the propane would kill them. So that is out. I could set them on top of the stove, and the pilot lights on each burner (I have 5) might give them a little warmth. The propane should not affect them up there in the open. That is an idea I might try.

This morning, I am accumulating all my seed starting essentials. Yesterday, I bought seed starter to start them out with. This morning I went down to the root cellar and got all my containers. Or a large amount of them. I still have more downstairs. I only needed the little ones to start the seeds in. I brought up trays that I keep them on so they are easy to move around. I save plastic containers that meat and produce come in from the stores. I use them to put under the little planters, to catch the water that drains out of them.

This is one of my favorite activities. I love to garden. I love to see it progressing during the spring and summer. It is an activity that my husband and I share. I used to share it with my father. When I work in my garden, my thoughts are always of him, and his skill as a gardener. After such a hard winter (they are always hard here anymore), spending time outside, listening to the birds, and being in the sunshine, is something I crave to do. How about you? Are you starting your seeds yet?

Monday, March 19, 2012

Getting Seeds Ready To Start

Raised beds today

Planning your garden should be utmost in your mind at this time of the year. Spring this year, is warmer and most of our snow has melted. A few piles are around, melting slower because they are in shaded areas. Today looks to be a gloomier day though the sun was shining quite brightly a hour an ago. My garden plans are being worked on today.

Seed starting equipment

I brought up some of my seed starting equipment upstairs to get organized. Your equipment doesn't have to be fancy or bought especially for starting seeds. I use old containers that I have purchased small plants in. Over the years, I have collected more than a few. I also use disposable cups or whatever I find. Cut down a paper milk or orange juice container to start some in. Those plastic food containers from the grocery stores can be used to put the little pots in to catch the water. Makes them easier to move around.

Seeds in packets

I got out my seed packages and starting sorting through the ones I want to start now. Keeping various types of vegetables and herbs on hand is good so you have plenty to choose from. Add to your supply every year and try to add heirloom seeds. Then you will be able to save the seeds for the future years. As I go through the seeds, I will be putting some into glass jars for safe keeping. Nice little stash for the future!

Plowed up one raised bed since the weather was so nice!

By the way, add me on Google+ and we can talk!

Monday, January 09, 2012

Planning The 2012 Garden List

Raised Beds in Winter 2011

As the old saying goes, "The days get longer, the cold gets stronger." It is very true. My husband walks around saying that to himself much of the time. We look forward to longer days, but not to the bitter cold of winter. So during this time of the year, what do I do? I ponder what seeds to start in March for my garden! Yes, it is that time of the year when the seed companies are busy sending me catalogs. I love to study them over and over.

These raised beds can grow an awful lot of food!

This year, I have promised myself to not waste an inch of space in my raised beds. That means planting only the vegetables we absolutely love and will eat. Some of our old favorites we will be increasing.

Cucumbers

Cucumbers - I did really well last year with the Blonde Boothby. Will be planting that as well as the Lemon Cucumber. We really loved these and they were plentiful. Walking out to the garden and picking one to eat as a snack is something we all do. They are always there and there is no shortage.

Green Beans

Green Beans is a food that our whole family loves. My son would open a jar for supper every night if I didn't argue. So we need many jars of them. I never seem to plant as many as I need. Or we just eat more if they are available. I usually plant the bush type bean.

Yellow Squash

Summer Squash is a vegetable that we normally eat fresh all summer. If I can get it started inside and out in the ground pretty quick, we will have plenty and soon. I also can it and it has turned out to be a much better product than when I tried it before. The secret is to can it in cubes. Very good all winter!

Zucchini

Zucchini is a vegetable I always have in my garden. I can make so many dishes with it as well as pickles, relish, in salad, with dips, fried and in casseroles. What isn't there to love about this veggie?

Butternut Squash

Butternut and Acorn Squash is another vegetable that can be used for many dishes. I like to make a pie with it using a pumpkin pie recipe. Nobody ever knows the difference.

All Photographs Copyright © 2012 Kathleen G. Lupole
Updated July 2016

Wednesday, June 01, 2011

Seeds A Week Later - Wordless Wednesday

Friday, April 01, 2011

Hopi Pale Grey Squash Seed Starting

Blue Hubbard Squash are growing!

Even though it is snowing and cold here in upstate NY today, my thoughts run to spring. We are so ready for it after our long hard winter. I went upstairs to water my seedlings this morning and found many had sprouted. I will transplant them into their own pots soon. Keeps me focused on my garden. I wrote about starting my seeds in this post, Starting Seeds Today on March 18th. They are coming up and look good.

My Hopi Pale Gray Squash 2010

Except my own saved Hopi Grey Squash seeds have not showed their face yet. Now these seeds are heirlooms and I thought they would start with no trouble. Maybe they need more time, or............

Hopi Gray Squash Seeds 2010

I recently read on Jackie Clay's blog that you are not supposed to plant any squash seeds within a mile of each other. Now I don't have that much room on my whole property let alone in my garden. It makes me wonder about people with next door neighbors who have gardens. Many people grow winter squash. She had much more detail on it on her blog but it makes me see I really need to do the research on saving seeds and planting heirloom seeds. If you follow my link to her blog, scroll down to the area where readers ask questions. She tells you there about saving squash seeds (it might be hard to get past the pictures of her beautiful log house though!).

Broccoli Seedlings

It disappoints me that I shouldn't be planting that many different kinds of squash in one garden. Does that mean that I can't grow various types of pumpkins and squash? Or is that the conditions for only the heirlooms? I have some that are not heirlooms. I was going to be using them up before I discontinued them completely from my garden. I guess I will learn as I go with the heirlooms and saving my seeds.

Hubbard Seedling Popping Up!

How is your seed starting going this year? My friend Marlene, the writer of an awesome blog called Marlene's Many Hats posted her seed starts for her Wordless Wednesday post this week, Look at her zucchini..........wow! Way to go Marlene!

Wednesday, January 04, 2006

Hungering For Spring

My little girl Nutmeg

My cat, Nutmeg is 16 years old. She has been with me longer than my husband. She went with us when my husband was a driving a over the road truck. We went all over the country, and she went too. Her favorite spot was on the bottom bunk, where the heat vent blew out. She loves to be as hot as possible. Her favorite spot now is on the pedestal of our big wood heating stove in the living room. Sometimes, she gets so hot, she just flops down on the floor like she was drugged. Every year, I try to get myself ready to lose her, but she makes it another year. I hope she does that again this year. This is her picture that I have posted for you to see. She was younger in this picture though.

Today was a pretty busy day for me. I have been so busy working on my eBay store that I haven't had much time for anything else. I joined a group there, called The Seller Resouce Group and they really get you motivated! So, I end up working all the time trying to improve it and make more sales. After all, I have to have sales to make money, and I have to have money to be able to live the homesteading lifestyle, now don't I?

This is the time of year that makes me just hunger for Spring. I am lucky, in that I have many birds that come to my bird feeders. I just love the Chickadees and the Blue Jays. But I am anxiously awaiting the first Robin!!! Last summer, we sat in our back yard watching a family of Robins in the tree in our yard. They were teaching the little ones how to eat and fly. We worried about our cats getting the babies. Then, one day we noticed the nest was gone and so were they. And so were all the Robins. Then it was fall...

But tonight when I was feeding our horses, I heard something squeeking. I thought the cat, Hobo had a mouse and I was yelling to her to kill it. She likes to play with them first, torture them awhile and sometimes they manage to get away. But when I got closer, I saw it was one of the birds. Not a Chickadee, but one of their friends, who hangs out with them. So I grabbed Hobo and put her in the truck till I got done with the horses. Then took her in the house for the night. She can't understand why I get mad at her for killing birds. And praise her for killing mice! How do I get through to her? Kill the mice, Save the birds!!!

I am beginning to look through my seed catalogs. I have those raised beds that I told you about in the Spring. They were great. I love them and plan on having my husband build me more of them. I need at least one, maybe two for strawberries. And I need about three for potatoes alone, and who knows how many for tomatoes. I will also have vegetables growing in pots and bare spots all over our property. And bit of ground is good for a edible plant. I have many wild fruits that grow here. But I still plan on adding some domestic ones too. I love the wild blueberries, but they are so tiny. So I plan on getting a pretty good supply of bushes. And grapes. We have wild grapes all over the state forest land where we live. But I want a variety. I try to grow as much as I can, and can or dry it for the winter.

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