Friday, November 16, 2012

seed starting

It's almost winter, you say? Pffft. I have a warm, south-facing window now. That means we start seeds ALL-YEAR LONG.

Ignore that random button. I don't know how he made it into the picture.


Not that anything has sprouted yet in my little indoor container garden, although my coleus cuttings are getting along just swimmingly with their sunny spot.

But the real reason I decided to try sprouting some seedlings is because we got here in mid-summer, and by the time we got organized enough to where I felt I could spend some time doing outdoorsy work and not feel guilty about it, it was far past any time frame to be sprouting seeds other than some lettuce and kale (which are still relatively small in my back garden but definitely growing -- I'm thinking another 30 days and we'll be eating homegrown produce).

I had to rearrange our bedroom to take advantage of the sunny window, but I actually like the layout better now. I seeded some basil, breadseed poppies, and columbine because that's all I really had on hand (thanks, Anna!) since I've only purchased vegetable seeds so far out here (I plan to do more, however -- that dresser will be overflowing with flower seedlings in a few weeks).

I know, it's kinda ridiculous, but gardening wouldn't be any fun without experimentation, and I'm hoping to have some big, fat plants to put out in the springtime! If they don't completely take over our bedroom window first, that is.

6 comments:

  1. Not ridiculous at all. It feels really good to get something done and it's well worth it!

    We got here in mid-September and hadn't lived here for a full week yet when the in-laws flew in to spend the week. This means that we couldn't do any kind of land clearing until October. Instead of my 20 planned fruit trees this year I got 4 in the ground. No winter veg either. Although we are currently eating plenty of homegrown salad leaves from the cracked and poorly sited greenhouse (it seriously doesn't get warmer than outside of it at night right now, but the daytime temperature boost and windfree environment does the salads good). Every gardener needs a even a small victory now and then.

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    1. Sounds like we are both kinda riding the same homesteading wave right now, Emma! I see that things ARE getting done around here, just very slowly, and I'm an impatient person. ;)

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  2. Do you want some Chicago Hardy fig cuttings to join your collection? I've got extras, and my understanding is you can start them inside (even in a dark place) to get the roots a head start on spring. (I haven't tried this yet myself.)

    Also, let me know if you want any other starts at Thanksgiving. Things like raspberries can wait, but you could put them in now if you want. If I haven't foisted of Egyptian onions on you yet, I've always got plenty of those, and I need to divide my chives and echinacea (pink) and comfrey.

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    1. It is an most definitely an unfair trade from my end, but I will gladly bring you a little coleus start in exchange for whatever you'd like to pass on! They make great houseplants and/or you can transplant it to a shady spot in the spring to brighten up a dark corner of the garden.

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    2. I think of plant swaps nonlinearly --- I got so many awesome starts from gardeners when we first moved here, so I'm paying it forward. (Plus, I suspect you'll have cuttings to share from interesting perennials in a year or three.) Shall I bring you anything and everything?

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    3. Please do! I cannot accurately express how excited I am. :D

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