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First Seeds of 2016

February 3rd, 2016

Yesterday I planted my first garden seeds for this year. What were they? Artichokes.
seeding artichokes 1
seeding artichokes 2
At 180-240 days these babies take a LONG time to reach maturity. I’ve also read that they appreciate a bit of a cold snap early on to make them think they’ve gone through a winter.
seeding artichokes 3
Will I be able to harvest artichokes to eat? I guess we’ll find out this fall. If Eliot Coleman can grow them here in Maine, I think I can as well.

What fund edible are you going to try this year for the first time?

9 Comments to “First Seeds of 2016”
  1. Nebraska Dave on February 3, 2016 at 9:54 am

    Susy, the fun edible is sweet corn for me and perhaps it will be the first real harvest after trying for four years. Year five might just be the year for the first harvest. I have high hopes with all the layers of protection against the raccoons that I’ll be sinking my teeth into a sweet ear of corn by August.

    Have a great artichoke seed starting day.

    P.S. The basement lettuce and radishes are ready for tender shoot harvesting. I’m hoping very young radish plants are edible. I guess I’ll find out. It’s been about a month and the radish plants are about 3 inches high with the lettuce not far behind.

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  2. Misti on February 3, 2016 at 10:21 am

    I started asparagus seeds in the fall and planted them in the ground a few weeks ago. I’m excited to try them out!

    Reply to Misti's comment

  3. Kathy on February 3, 2016 at 11:06 am

    I’ve grown artichokes successfully here in Colorado for several years now and getting an early start is the key to getting a useful crop.

    I’ve also been growing ginger and selling it locally; this year’s new crop is turmeric!

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  4. TR on February 3, 2016 at 11:19 am

    Artichokes
    Alpine strawberries from seed
    Onions from seed
    I am so excited!

    Reply to TR's comment

  5. Margie on February 3, 2016 at 11:32 am

    Where did your winter go? Can’t believe that planting time has come around again.

    Reply to Margie's comment

  6. Brian MacDonald on February 3, 2016 at 3:30 pm

    Artichokes are usually the first thing I plant as well. I have read a few places of folks getting artichokes through the winter by treating them like bulbs (i..e cut off the foliage and store them humid in sawdust or the like). I am trying this method this winter but I looked at the plants the other day and I don’t have a lot of confidence that it will work. Does anyone else have a method. Second and third year plants will be much more productive.

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  7. Andres on February 4, 2016 at 12:11 am

    You’ve inspired me to try growing artichokes as well. I’d be very excited if I’m able to get a decent yield.

    Reply to Andres's comment

  8. Colleen on February 4, 2016 at 6:34 am

    I have not attempted artichokes yet here in Michigan, but it’s one of those things I intend to try eventually. Not doing much seed starting this year since we’re moving right at planting time, so I’ll have to make do with direct-sown veggies and purchased transplants. It’s kind of driving me crazy — this is the first February in almost fifteen years now where I haven’t had at least something under my grow lights.

    So, of course, now I’m living vicariously through garden blogs. :)

    Reply to Colleen's comment

  9. Xennie on February 4, 2016 at 5:08 pm

    We had great success with Artichokes on the WestCoast. Now we have relocated to Nova Scotia and thought that we would try to repeat the results out here where it is a wee bit chillier.

    The good news is that they did fabulous! Last year was a filled with pretty dismal Summer weather but the Artichokes persevered and we had a fabulous harvest.

    Our gamble this year will be the most adorable little Cucamelons.

    Reply to Xennie's comment

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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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