How fast the world has changed. Even in our little corner of the world, we are mostly housebound. This year, more than ever, we are anxious for the snow to go away so that, while staying isolated and maintaining distance, we can go in our yards, on our decks, in the bush and on the water. This might be a good year for projects in our yards, if we can get the required supplies. Also a good time to start a vegetable garden or expand an existing one. Flowers in our yards will help to lift our spirits.
When shopping for vegetable seeds, read the package information for days to maturity. Many vegetables can be seeded as soon as the ground can be worked. Radishes, lettuce, carrots, kale and peas come to mind. Try some new ones this year. Butterhead lettuce, red leaved romaine or leaf lettuce and even endive make great salads. If you have not tried them yet, plant some snow peas and sugar snap peas. Beets can be seeded next. Try cylindrical or golden beets for variety. Many Chinese vegetables are short season and can be direct seeded. Beans, squash and cucumber need a warm soil to germinate, so they are last. There are several varieties of zucchini to try. Grow bush beans and pole beans, green or yellow, or scarlet runner beans. We can even grow short season soybeans.
Some plants need to be started indoors. Tomatoes, peppers, cabbage, cauliflower and broccoli are the primary ones. You could also try ground cherries and short season eggplant. Purple cauliflower adds some interest. For plants that are started early, days to maturity means from the time they are planted out. This may be the year to try starting your own from seed. The next article will go into detail on seed starting.
I don’t know if bedding plants will be readily available this year. Many favourite flowers can be started indoors from seed, but there are several that can be direct seeded, even in planters. The smaller marigolds bloom earlier. Cosmos, bachelor buttons, annual poppies, zinnias, nasturtiums, baby blue eyes and California poppies are some. Pick up a few of these seeds, and you will have flowers.
If you are not able to go seed shopping locally, or if you want a wider selection, shop online. Short season varieties are available from T&T Seeds, Veseys, William Dam and Lindenberg. Lindenberg, based in Brandon, is still working on their website, but you can order a seed catalogue from the website. You can also order sterile seed starting mix from some of these sites. Have a cup or glass of your favourite beverage, sit in your favourite chair with your cell or tablet and peruse seed catalogues. They are full of information along with the seeds.
