Tag: starting seeds

This Will Go Down in Your Permanent Record, Part I

It’s Just a Habit: part one in a series of notes for POD 2011

Some Sign to Pursue a Promise…
This year’s targeted plants on deck date (April 20) proved to be a little early. Each year promises are made that this will be the year that POD’s minder demonstrates restraint and won’t submit tender seedlings to the elements before those elements are ready for them.

Next year’s targeted drop date for the important stuff is May 7-21.  Which, conveniently, will fall on what one hopes will be a lovely spring weekend.

So, what does that mean in terms of a POD 2011 seed-starting timeline?
(First, find some real, honest-to-goodness seed-starting mix.)
February 12: romanesco (on deck March 19)
March 26: tomatoes, peppers, and herbs (on deck May 7)
April 16: cucumbers and melons (on deck May 14-21)

Direct-sow:
March 12: kale, turnips
March 19: lettuce, radishes, carrots
April 2: chard
May 7: beans

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Making a List

And checking it twice. It’s hard to believe as this week’s blizzard blows (please, read that as you will) but there were reasons for optimism last weekend. The sun was shining and the 40-degree temps were rapidly melting the blackened snow heaps still dotting Philly’s streets.  Plants On Deck Seed List

After reviewing a few previous posts, POD hunkered down with with a stack of seed catalogs and began dreaming. To save on shipping cost and distance, only two purveyors made this year’s cut. The winners were Cook’s Garden (Warminster, PA) and Happy Cat Organics (Elverson, PA). As wonderful as Territorial Seed Company and  Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds are, one is located in Oregon and the other in California and Missouri. Although D. Landreth (New Freedom, PA) had the coolest catalog, they didn’t offer the seaweed/fish fertilizer I vowed to try on this year’s garden.

Of course, there are enough seeds here for a multi-acre garden, but we won’t think about that.