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Seeds are Thrilling

February 5th, 2012

The idea of any seed is thrilling, a potent, compact repository of dormant life waiting for the gardener’s whim and the forces of nature to spring into existence, wax large, and reproduce.

Joe Eck & Wayne Winterrowd in Living Seasonally: The Kitchen Garden and the Table at North Hill

Sometimes when I look at a tiny seed I’m amazed by what it will turn into. When you open up that seed packet and take out the tomato seed in February you can see your harvest basket brimming with ripe tomatoes in August. This tiny seed will grow up and produce food for your table and nourishment for your soul.

Those onions seeds I planted earlier this week started popping up on Friday, not bad since they were seeded on Tuesday. I’ll give all the credit to my seedling heating mat, worth it’s weight in gold in my cold house!

Which vegetable are you most surprised by it’s bounty from seed?

19 Comments to “Seeds are Thrilling”
  1. Dani on February 5, 2012 at 7:40 am

    Do you ever save seed from the previous season?

    Reply to Dani's comment

  2. Andrea Duke on February 5, 2012 at 7:52 am

    To answer your question, all of them. I am always surprised that a little seed can have so much life within it. Yet, every year, I get nervous, wondering if my seeds will grow, survive and be ok. My son used to call the little seedlings his babies, and now that I think about it, he is right. It’s like having a baby to worry about, but then being so happy to see it grow up and turn out just fine!

    My son wanted to start some seeds last Sunday with a little Jiffy dome I bought him from Home Depot that he wanted. He has always loved playing in the dirt and being outside, so he loves gardening too. I just bought heat mats this year and WOW, do they make a difference.
    He told me that he saw some lettuce seed poking through the next day and I didn’t believe him, but sure enough, the whole flat came to life within a few days. Much faster than ever before!

    It’s tradition that we start tomatoes and peppers on Superbowl Sunday, so today’s a good day :)

    Reply to Andrea Duke's comment

    • Susy on February 5, 2012 at 9:38 am

      Such a wonderful activity to do with your kids. I remember being fascinated by seeds and planting flowers when I was little!

      Reply to Susy's comment

  3. tami on February 5, 2012 at 8:52 am

    I started onions from seeds last weekend too and they’ve aleady popped up like yours. The casabanana I started last weekend…nothing yet. Today I’m wondering if I should go ahead and direct sow peas, we’ve been so warm. Decisions, decisions….

    Reply to tami's comment

  4. daisy on February 5, 2012 at 10:37 am

    I agree, seeds are magic! I’m happy with anything that comes up and produces food for us. I’m a newbie gardener and still have SO much to learn.
    Enjoy watching your seeds sprouting!

    Reply to daisy's comment

  5. KimH on February 5, 2012 at 11:15 am

    The lowly dandelion weed seed.. It boggles the brain how it can self propagate to the degree that it does..
    I dont normally eat dandelion greens but I’ve been inching closer to trying it and also think making dandelion wine would be fun too.. ;)

    I agree with Andrea though.. all of them simply amaze me..

    Reply to KimH's comment

  6. Green Bean on February 5, 2012 at 11:22 am

    I usually have that reaction when I harvest my pumpkins and think, my goodness, this giant thing came from that little seed? Amazing.

    Reply to Green Bean's comment

  7. Misti on February 5, 2012 at 11:50 am

    I agree with the person who said ‘all of them’. I think tomatoes especially, but lettuce is another one.

    Reply to Misti's comment

  8. Lynda on February 5, 2012 at 11:59 am

    Tomatoes and chard…they are such a mainstay for our weekly eating plan. When I put the seeds in the soil I dream of all the lovely lasganas, sauces, stuffed pastas, soups and stews that my lovely tomatoes and chard will be in.

    Reply to Lynda's comment

  9. Sarah on February 5, 2012 at 12:21 pm

    Hi Suzy! Had a question about your seeds that have sprouted. Looks like ours are at the same point (onions too) when will be transplanting them to the garden beds and will they be transferred into another/larger container first. I am pretty new at starting seeds inside but have lettuce varieties, onions that are looking pretty tall in the seed starter container.

    Reply to Sarah's comment

    • Susy on February 5, 2012 at 1:45 pm

      I don’t usually transplant the onions to another container, they’re pretty hardy and can be transplanted into the garden fairly early (with a little hardening off to get used to the cold). Lettuce can also be transplanted outside fairly early too, so no transplanting on those either. Tomatoes and peppers are usually the only things that occasionally get transplanted to larger containers before going outside.

      Reply to Susy's comment

  10. Wendy on February 5, 2012 at 1:34 pm

    I can’t pick one because I have thisse thought every year as I’m planting/starting seeds–it never ceases to amaze me. Just yesterday I was thinking about how amazing it is that I can buy one head of lettuce at the store or buy one packet of lettuce seeds for the same price and yet get innumerable heads of lettuce from that one packet of seeds.

    Reply to Wendy's comment

  11. Domestic Executive on February 5, 2012 at 3:08 pm

    I’ve just gone crazy in the Koanga Institute shop topping up my winter options and ordering garlic. There is nothing more satisfying but imagining what those seeds will turn into. I’m lucky that our temperate climate means my seeds generally germinate all on their own.

    Reply to Domestic Executive's comment

  12. Liz J on February 5, 2012 at 4:54 pm

    We are always surprised at the bounty of pattypan squash that we get. I have tried freezing this, but it’s just too watery after being frozen. It’s a delicious squash and we look forward to it every Summer. I am trying onions this year for the first time, but I am having a problem with dampening off. How do you water your seedlings?

    Reply to Liz J's comment

  13. itchbay on February 5, 2012 at 5:32 pm

    I’m continually amazed at the miracle of life. How can I get an enormous plant from such a tiny little seed? I mean, yes, I know the science of it, but it’s still miraculous too.

    Reply to itchbay's comment

  14. deb on February 5, 2012 at 6:24 pm

    So glad to have found you blog through Soiled Again.

    Reply to deb's comment

  15. MamaBear on February 5, 2012 at 7:58 pm

    Every year I say I should start more plants from seeds but time gets away from me and I question my ability to get anything to grow. I’m worried I will invest in growing seedlings myself only to end up having to buy plants in the spring. This will be our 4th year growing in strawbales so I hope I’ve finally learned enough about gardening to give it a shot. I’m so glad Kelli linked to your site so I can read through all your great posts!

    Reply to MamaBear's comment

  16. Lexa on February 5, 2012 at 11:22 pm

    It is such a miracle that any tiny speck of a seed holds all the information to become a plant. But I do think the most amazing to me are the squash. A seed 3/4 inches high produces a plant 15 feet long with fruits up to 50 lbs each. Amazing!

    Reply to Lexa's comment

  17. Texan on February 6, 2012 at 11:35 am

    I think I have to agree with all of them. Such little miracles they are :O). I always am so excited to see them come up!

    Reply to Texan's comment

About

This is a daily journal of my efforts to cultivate a more simple life, through local eating, gardening and so many other things. We used to live in a small suburban neighborhood Ohio but moved to 153 acres in Liberty, Maine in 2012.

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