Getting the garden going is taking up more of my attention. Even if I have yet to set one tap for syrup in a maple. And even if February winds are howling outside the window. At the end of January, I set up the seed-starting trays with the domes. I also got out the plant lights. You ask, “Are you nuts?”
No, I am not mentally disturbed. It’s part of a twofold approach to getting the garden, and myself going by the first bell of spring. First, there is me. I get seasonal affect pretty bad, and I find that keeping myself active in January and February helps keep it at bay. Secondly, it’s a budgetary measure to limit and distribute the cost of supplies.
Starting early lets me inventory supplies and plan replacements rather than have surprise expenses. It also aids in the slow process of going over many seed catalogs. That allows me to compare prices and quantities – do I need sixty tomato seeds, or will 20 seeds do? I’ll grow only six plants. By comparing prices this year, I noticed that floral and vegetable costs have increased significantly. I don’t mind paying for quality seeds. But taking it on the chin for an extra special glossy catalog I can do without. This year, the lion’s share of my seed order went to a Maine seed coop that offered the right mix of quality, quantity, and value. Without comparison shopping I couldn’t have done that.
This week, I’ll be sitting down with a handy little guide I have that outlines the starting times for seeds in my hardiness zone. In about a week, I’ll start the first lettuce and spinach. Those are because they will go out into specially prepared and sheltered beds as soon as possible. If I miss my timing, we’ll trim some baby leaves off for salad. I grow leaf lettuce, not head lettuce, and the plants don’t seem to mind a bit of trimming.
I’m a pusher when it comes to timing. I’m in New England’s hardiness zone 5b, and like to push for early crops where possible. This means that I use remay fabric to cover early and late crops, hot caps, covered beds, and other tricks to push my season earlier and later. It’s a game that I play to win.
The garden is an intangible in many ways. The emotional value you get from it is hard to measure. But it also is a game I play with cost and value. By careful maintenance of my equipment, careful selection of varieties to grow, and sound horticultural practice, I can produce better quality food for my family than is available at the market.
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Well, keep us posted. I live in an apartment in Alaska so gardening is not part of my realm. But we have a well stocked farmers market twice a week all summer so fresh veggies are usually plentiful but Expensive and yes, that is with a capital E.
Nice post 🎸🎸
There is no hurry with the beans I haven’t sent you yet. I’ve started mine inside in March and regretted it because they got 3 feet tall in the house — pretty hard to deal with. I’m in 4b/5a
I start them in April around here. Like you, I’ve found that too early gives me leggy plants.
You’d probably do OK to start the beans in the ground. I do that. Usually I start 3 in the house two weeks before the safe date which is June 1 around here. I’ll send you a bunch, but if you want to eat the green beans, you need at least 6 bean plants. I now plant 14 or so. I only have a 4 x 8 garden plot for them. They like direct light and I’m a little short on that in my yard except out in the Yard of Dire Injuries.🤣
The Yard of Dire Injuries…sounds like something out of a saga.
It is literally an ICE LAND ick saga…. 🤣