Starts for Summer
Weeks ago we converted our old dining table into seed table as the seed table went downstairs and the seed room was converted over to a future foster kid’s room.
Until today, that table was a mess of Victor’s “experiments”, my untended (and dying) Coleus starts, and dried out seed starting mix. It’s taken a good part of the day, but we’re finally growing starts.
Last year I think we were both very excited by the potential of this and were even talking a small greenhouse, but my enthusiasm had definitely cooled. The reality is we don’t need this many plants…so the weeks and weeks of tending to them, the inevitable die-off as we learn how to, and the unsightly mess in our small house make this little side hobby perhaps an unproductive waste of time. Thirty dollars of veg packs would be more than enough to get us through the summer.
There’s two things I do like about growing our own starts:
I liked giving starts to our pals last year though, and so this year, we’re hoping to have enough success to share with the neighbors, the community P-Patch and finally, what we have left over, to give to the Central District Garden Club Plant Exchange.
I like being able to grow some varieties of plants I’ve not seen at City People’s, like Shisho and Ground Cherries: both I think a bit tempermental for our climate, but something we’re going to try under a summer cloche with our okra and eggplant.
Friends: you are welcome to drop me a note if you want to get your hat in for some tomatoes, ground cherries, hollyhocks, peppers, dill, or shisho.
You might also like
2 Comments
Shiso grows like a weed here. A couple years ago we had about 50 plants, ate maybe 3 or 4 leaves. So much for all the umeshiso rolls we planned on.
Last year mine died. This year, it looks just as bad but still lives. I like the idea of it being a weed as it is so freakin’ delicious!