Our big winter storm system finally cleared out today and left us with warm temps, melting snow, 80 degrees in my greenhouse, and cabin fever. So, since I couldn't really do a whole lot outside, even though it was warm, due to the 12 inches of snow we still have, I found my favorite seed catalog and, having a few precious quite moments, I flipped through the pages and start selecting my garden for this coming year.
If you are not familiar with the FEDCO seed catalog, I recommend getting on their mailing list. Their magazine is awesome!
The magazine is paper and published in black and white, so if you are feeling artistic you can color the numerous pictures found throughout.
The seed descriptions are very well written, informative, and humorous, as well as educational.
I find their little historical tidbits especially interesting. This particular magazine had a short history lesson on where each species of plants originally came from.
If you flip the magazine over you have another magazine. This offers all their soil amendments, livestock supplements and seed potatoes.
Another cool feature of their magazine is their supplier codes. They have a number, or two to three, next to each seed description letting you know who supplied the seed to them and where they are located.
Actually the crayons weren't for coloring, they were the only thing I could find readily with which to mark the items I wished to purchase. For some reason, even though I home school our boys every morning, I still can never find pen or pencil when I need one for my own project. I can't count the number of times when the phone has rung and I have needed to take down an important message and I have had to do it in CRAYON. Okay, rant over, back to our originally scheduled programing.
We try and choose seeds that have a high yield, are temperature hardy, and have good storage and canning traits and most important, ones the family likes.
Winter squash is a favorite, it stores well, and last most of the winter for us.
And our favorite pie pumpkin is Winter Luxury. We've grown it a couple years, and it is absolutely fabulous in pies. A must try!
Throughout the magazine they have planting charts and cultural information on all the seeds and species etc. It details at a quick glance height of plant, depth to plant, sunny or shade, days to fruit or flower etc.
They also have a flower section.
So this year we are looking at: dry beans, beets, brussel sprouts, cabbage, cucumbers, kale, lettuce, onions, Boc Choy, peas, peppers, pumpkins, radishes, spinach, squash (summer and winter), tomatoes, and miscellaneous herbs.
Oh, and we will be harvesting for the first time, since we planted it, ASPARAGUS! We planted between 400 and 500 crowns a couple years ago. And we have all been waiting PATIENTLY to be able to indulge in the fruits of our hard labor.
So, what is on your garden list for this summer?