When to Plant the Garden? Now!

In our neighborhood, the daffodils are done, the cherries have leafed out, but the late tulips are still going strong. 

Last year's kale is happier than ever and that means Mao Mao's getting lots of little kale nibbles before dinner. Yes, our cat is a big fan of greens. I am too, so our human salads are getting a big supplement from the garden lately. 

Three varieties of lettuce are also sprouting in the plot. I've harvested leaves from the red romaine but the others are taking their time. This photo is from last week. We're getting closer to harvest size this week. 

What else is growing? Two varieties of carrots are up. The strawberry plants have an abundance of blossoms. I transplanted about a dozen leeks from the windowsill "greenhouse" to the plot.  I repotted a dozen pepper plants into bigger containers to encourage more growth and hope to keep a few on the fire escape. The radicchio plants are looking good but are getting a little crowded with the kale. I might have to chop the kale monster down a bit. 

It was a very cold and long winter but we're finally deep into spring. And now that Mothers Day is upon us, it is officially safe to get planting. I see a trip to the garden center in my future. The tomato seedings are calling my name. 

Starting Seeds Indoors

Now that my coffee table is overflowing with seed catalogs, I'm itching for the gardening season to begin. And it has!

I'm starting seeds inside my apartment now, so that by summertime I'll be harvesting lots of goodies. Some seeds do well with a jumpstart in a sunny window (like in my home), a greenhouse, or under grow lamps in a basement or garage. Leeks, onions, and brassicas like broccoli, cabbage, and cauliflower all have long seasons that can begin inside, long before the snow melts and the soil warms. 

I use seed starting pellets and lettuce containers for my operation. The seed pellets are soaked in water until they puff up and become a soft, moist home for the seeds. The plastic lettuce boxes get a few drainage holes poked in the bottom for drainage and are placed on top of the lids to catch any overflow from watering. 

I cover the boxes with plastic wrap until they germinate and then open them up when they've all sprouted. 

The purple sprouting broccoli came up in just a few days. What other seeds did I start inside?

I started Purple Sprouting Broccoli from Pinetree Garden Seeds (2012), Crimson Forest Bunching Onion from Pinetree Garden Seeds (2012), King Richard Leek from Botanical Interests (2015), and Bloomsdale Long-Standing Spinach from Burpee (2009).  I didn't buy any new seeds this year except the leek. While going through my gardening supplies, I realized that I already have a huge selection from previous years. I'm being thrifty this season and growing what I have. So, we'll see if those 2009 spinach seeds do anything. 

Here's to Garden Season 2015! Get growing!