Friday, February 27, 2009

Gardening fever

Today, I'm going to order some Jerusalem artichokes to plant and I'm sure that won't be the only thing. I have saved a lot of seed from last year, but there's always something else to try.

Every year my enthusiasm runs ahead of energy and time, and this year is no different I suppose... but this year, I'll get out there a little every day and keep up with it. This year, I'll get a few more canning jars and spend a few days just canning. This year... will probably be a rerun of last year and the year before.

Good intentions.

The results are usually pretty fair and there is garden produce enough to give away, but still. If I'd stay in control of the garden (or of myself, in reality), just think of the garden I could have!

Anyway... for today, I dream. My list gets longer and longer and I know very well that there isn't room for everything and some of it will hardly grow here. The list will have to be pared down again and again until I'm left with the basics: tomatoes, lettuce. Onions and squashes, beans, peppers...

Why don't I just start with those and call it good? Now, what would be the fun in that?

3 comments:

  1. Good intentions - if you make it a job, scheduling even just 15 minutes a day, it gets done. Now, if I could just do that myself :)

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  2. I'm always saving seeds from year to year as well, but I often wonder: how many years can you save seeds? What's the usual time limit before they won't sprout anymore?

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  3. Jeffrey, that depends on the type of seed as well as how it's been stored. Some corn seed sprouted after being stored in the high deserts of Arizona for about 300 years. Most seed will be fine for anywhere from 2 to 10 years if they're kept cool and dry. If in doubt, test a few in a damp cloth to see if they'll sprout.

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