Planting begins!

Tuesday, January 29, 2008

This weekend I started sowing a few seeds indoors under the grow lights. I've been feeling hunger pangs for spring greens lately, and I found in my seed bucket an unopened package of "micro greens" -- a freebie from the folks at Botanical Interests. Inside is a mix of beets, cabbage, Swiss chard, kohlrabi and pak choy seeds. All these things, even in miniature form, would ease my craving just fine. Really, though, I think this is more about the urge to coax to life a few tender greens, even if it's not yet enough for a full-bowl salad. The instructions say the seeds can be started inside "anytime under proper lighting." So here we go!


I also planted seeds of Blue Solaize Leeks, and for flowers, I started snapdragons and petunias. I never imagined I'd become a petunia grower -- those things are a dime a dozen at garden centers -- but the previous owner of the house had petunias planted when we moved in, and I saved some of the seeds last fall. I'm working on free plants for the flower boxes along the deck.

Speaking of flower boxes, I'm trying to think of a combination of plants that I could put in the flower boxes at the front the house. It's north-facing, no direct sun, and the boxes, I anticipate, will be dry more often than moist. Any suggestions for good flower combos in such conditions?

13 Comments:

Blogger kate said...

The seed packets from Botanical Interests are cool. I think it's great that you are getting some seeds planted.

For your north-facing flowerboxes - how about some impatiens, trailing lobelia, gypsophilia and maybe dianthus? I wish I could be more helpful, but I don't grow many annuals, except for vines and sun-loving annuals.

Good luck and enjoy your planning and planting!!

8:53 PM  
Blogger Shady Gardener said...

I'm proud of you! I want to start sowing seeds myself. Hopefully I can get to it soon. :-) As far as window box ideas, my favorite gardening magazine, Garden Gate, often has great ideas. I'll check back later to see how your seeds are doing!

9:17 PM  
Blogger Robin's Nesting Place said...

I haven't started any seeds for inside yet. I'll do that soon though.

9:31 PM  
Blogger Tira said...

My very first vegetable seed packets were from Botanical Interests, and included those very microgreens! They were great, and I also let them grow to get baby salad leaves,

9:50 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Ohhh, it sounds like a lovely plan, I can almost taste a salad of lovely greens and some vinagrette!

10:25 AM  
Blogger DianeSchuller.com said...

I was at someone's blog a month or more ago (but can't remember which one) and she had some amazing window boxes in the shade. She had hostas and caladium and all sorts of exotics in there -- it was quite beautiful.

I love Schizanthus plus mimulus (monkey flower I believe some people call it) because it's loaded with colourful flowers. I also love Coleus (Joseph's coat) but both of those will need watering for sure. I also like the contrast with bright colours by having a bit of Dusty Miller.

My mother always had so many spider plants that she'd put a few in her flower baskets so those might be a surprise in a window box.

Good luck and have fun.

Diane
Alberta Postcards, was Sand to Glass

12:09 PM  
Blogger Kate said...

Hi Christa, I found your blog via "Spade Work" and I think it is lovely. I live in Australia and we have a blog for our seedsavers group that you might like to check out http://hillsandplainsseedsavers.blogspot.com/
Feel free to comment any time.
I will put you on my favourits list.

3:46 PM  
Blogger Unknown said...

Hi, everyone! Thank you for visiting, and thanks for your suggestions for flower box flora.

Gypsophilia? Schizanthus? I will have to look those up. I've never heard of those before. I like the idea of using trailing lobelia. I had Dusty Miller in mind as a possible candidate, too, with something nice and bright for contrast.

Thank you for the ideas! :-)

8:47 PM  
Blogger Whyite said...

Good for you. Just to get a taste of the yummy greens is worth it.

9:36 PM  
Blogger Connie said...

Have you ever done winter sowing? This will be my second year and I love it!
www.wintersown.org

4:07 PM  
Blogger Christina said...

I'm hankering for seedlings too, although I've had the benefit of a winter garden to hold me over. This weekend, I'll be planting tomatoes that will go in the ground in March.

Sorry, I'm idea-less on the window boxes. Oh wait, my fibrous begonias do really well in deep shade with very little attention. They come in a range of interesting leaf shapes and patterns.

12:50 AM  
Blogger Matron said...

I really love tagetes marigolds in amongst my veggies. They seem to thrive whatever I do to them, they are colourful, and they keep some pests away.

3:40 AM  
Blogger Silly Goose said...

I'm jealous that you can begin planting seeds so soon. I need to wait a few more weeks or all my seedlings will be too spindly when it's time to transplant outdoors. (sigh)

10:50 AM  

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