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And Sow It Begins

February 8th, 2016

This past weekend I seeded my first two flats of lettuce and radicchio. I like to have a flat of seedlings ready to be planted into a low tunnel when the weather starts to warm up. For me, it’s well worth the few minutes it takes to complete this chore in early February in order to be harvesting loads of salad greens by mid/late March.
soil blocks
Cat on seedlings tra
Littles decided that the flats needed a little warmth and has decided it’s her new favorite top. Thank goodness for these heavy duty Perma-Nest trays!!!

What’s the first vegetable you seed for your garden?

8 Comments to “And Sow It Begins”
  1. Nebraska Dave on February 8, 2016 at 10:10 am

    Susy, this week the onions and cabbages will be planted. The challenge is to get the onions from seed to actual onions to be harvested. I also plant sets but I’m still fascinated by the challenge of doing the seed. I’m not sure it can be done in one season but I’m always trying. Cabbage I’ve mastered but have got to the sauerkraut yet. I might try some broccoli again this year. I must give the broccoli too much tender loving care because they always have turned out amazing plants but tiny little broccoli florets.

    Have a great seed planting day.

    Reply to Nebraska Dave's comment

    • Pat in Nebraska on February 9, 2016 at 3:52 pm

      Over here in Lincoln I sow broccoli in the garden sometime in March… anytime the raised bed is clear of snow and dry enough to rough up with the rake. That way the plants come up naturally as the season allows and beat the bugs. That way there’s a chance for florets to form up before summer heat. I leave the plants in place, watering well, through to fall when they offer up follow-up florets as the temperatures come back down again. A light row cover in spring can help keep the green worms away.

      Reply to Pat in Nebraska's comment

  2. S on February 8, 2016 at 10:45 am

    I started a flat of greens last week too for the same reasons as you, plus some basil which is way early but I’ve decided it’s fun to have a few of those plants to baby inside just because they smell like summertime. Onions will start up the end of next week!

    Reply to S's comment

  3. Brian MacDonald on February 8, 2016 at 11:57 am

    Can you do a post on how you prepare and manage your soil blocks? I have never been able to get soil blocks to work. They just fall apart. I read on your site that you use a mix of 40% peat, 40% vermiculite and 20% work castings. Is that what you use in soil blocks? Or is it something else?

    Reply to Brian MacDonald's comment

    • Susy on April 5, 2016 at 6:27 pm

      Yes, I will.

      Reply to Susy's comment

  4. Liz on February 8, 2016 at 12:00 pm

    I’ll be starting some onions in a few days I think. I can’t wait to start planting seeds! We have a later spring here so I may sow some greens in a few weeks.

    Reply to Liz's comment

  5. Lexa on February 9, 2016 at 12:06 am

    Love the Littles! What a great garden helper. We are starting to see the effects of El Nino here so things are warming up much to early. So I am thinking of direct seeding some spinach and lettuce this next weekend. If it doesn’t work, I am only out a bit of seed. If it tales and grows I will have salad 6 weeks early.

    Reply to Lexa's comment

  6. PennyAshevilleNC on February 9, 2016 at 10:30 am

    I love the Littles! My husband cleaned out the shed this weekend so I can have my flat surfaces back for starting seed. So excited.

    Reply to PennyAshevilleNC'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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