I started my seeds indoors this week. Love putting on some tunes, gathering my supplies, and that smell when you add water to the organic seed starting mixture, dirt dust circling up from the bucket and dissipating into the smell of damp earth, pungent newness. Such good stuff.
Once planted, I move the tray to the top of my dryer. This warm, dark space works great for sprouting. Once sprouts appear, I move the tray to a south facing window that gets really good sunlight most of the day. Of course grow lights would be ideal. For example, my plants are usually much leggier at transplanting time than my neighbor's plants who uses grow lights. But for now this method of mine works so I'll keep going with it. One of these years (ahem) I'll carve out a little space in the basement to set up a table with lights.
This weekend I'm planning on planting sweet peas, beets, radishes and carrots in the raised beds, and starting a big pot of arugula. I've added a few new things to my garden this year, planned anyway. Bread and salt tomatoes, golden bantam corn, cimmaron (a blushing red romaine!), golden zucchini, charentais melon, and an assortment of flowers. Of course there will inevitably be the handful of starts at my local nursery that will just beg me to bring them home and plant them, and I will.
How about you? What new seeds are you trying this year? Also, I tend to order my seeds from Baker Creek (love them!), but have been noticing some other companies that have piqued my interest. What are some of your favorite seed companies? ps. preferably heirloom
