Saturday, February 27, 2010

And so it begins...Growing Season 2010


Northwest Oregon has had an unusually warm and wet winter. Our daily temps have settled into a predictable pattern of highs in the mid 50's:

The crocuses and snowdrops are blooming, the frogs are making an incredible racket outside and my living room table looks like this:

The itch is too great. I can't wait any longer. It's seed starting time! Time to bring my precious box of saved seeds out of storage:

I've got the tomato and veggie seeds that I picked up in Germany last July:

Don't these look like fun?:

New sunflower varieties as well as leftovers from last year's sunflower garden are beckoning:

And I have a variety of other flower seeds that will hopefully bloom in my garden this summer:

I'm going to try my hand at hot pepper growing this year:

Our family adores fresh garden peas, Maestro shelling peas in particular, so I ordered an extra big bag of those:

I have heirloom tomato seeds that I saved from last year and some seeds saved for me by a special friend:

And this little basket holds everything else that I need to somehow find a spot for in my garden plots:

I treated myself to a small indoor/outdoor greenhouse rack last week. My seed trays are just waiting to be filled:

With as tickled as I am, Roxy wasn't impressed by any of it:

Just wait until the peas are ripe, though, and then we'll see who comes a begging!

31 comments:

  1. It sure looks like you're ready to grow a great garden and beautiful flowers! Your weather sounds wonderful. It'll be a little while before it's settled down enough to think about planting ... or maybe I could pull out my seeds and get some things started under the lights in the basement... humm ... now there's a thought! Thanks for the inspiration!

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  2. Oh I would so like one of those little seed starters! Maybe I will try to make one... hum. I've got spring fever too, but I am going to wait. We got killer frosts 3 days in a row not long ago, although otherwise it is much like your weather...

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  3. OH! Btw, we have the exact same indoor/outdoor thermometer!

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  4. How completely and totally exciting! You seriously have a lot of planting to do... holy llama. :) We can't wait to see all of the beautiful things that come from those seeds. LOVE that greenhouse rack - I'm going to have to look into one of those.

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  5. Oh my Danni!! How much fun is this!! We're still in the 20's in the morning!! When will this grip let go. I'm going go somehow someway start veggies this year. I need all the luck I can get. Dang blasted bugs!!!!

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  6. I'm so jealous! We have a pile of seeds stashed away. Our daily highs are still only in the 30's here in Illinois:( Good luck with your hot peppers this year!

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  7. We are so envious! I can just picture all those seeds sprouting in your beautiful gardens. This year will be the one we'll help our daughter get her garden going. Hmmmm — we better get started!

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  8. Your German seed packets remind me of the salad dressing packets I get at Edelweiss deli in SE (SE 12th and Powell Blvd). Not that I should be buying packaged salad dressing of any origin. But now I'm curious why you were in Germany last summer. My husband grew up there and has family there, and the last time we were there was for World Cup in '06, which seems like a forever ago.

    The thing that sticks out about Germany is that it's so clean- there is no litter ANYWHERE, and there are pretty flowers EVERYWHERE, that it reminded me of Disneyland. Weird, huh?

    But I know what you mean about not waiting any longer. I got some stuff started in the garage under lights a couple of weeks ago, and now I'm feverishly trying to get planter boxes made and filled in time for it all.

    I think they call this 'spring fever'.

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  9. You are so organized! I am no where near ready to start my seeds yet. Our weather has been cold and very wet. Actually, I should have started my tomato, pepper and eggplant seeds by now, but I just haven't had the energy to get everything together. I will. Soon.

    I too, will be experimenting with an expanded variety of hot chile peppers this year. I have always grown jalapeno and cayenne,(planted near other crops helps to keep the bugs away from those crops, by the way)but lately I have been attracted to making and eating Southwestern recipes particularly New Mexican dishes. So I want to grow New Mexican green chiles, like your NuMex seeds I spied in your photo and perhaps the Hatch variety of green chiles. Also poblanos. I always try to grow big colorful bell peppers, but never really get them as big or as colorful as I would like. I have much better success growing the hot chiles. The hotter the weather, the hotter the peppers turn out. Have fun! I'll get to my seed starting...soon.

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  10. Mike and I adore sweet garden peas, and my mother-in-law makes a wonderful pot of creamed peas.

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  11. ah, the frogs. that's one aspect of city living that i really miss. lucky you!

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  12. Hooray! Seed starting time!!! This is one of my favorite times of the year. Not that Im gonna be starting seeds anytime soon....thats okay, I will just have to come by your place and help you. :-)
    I remember your sweet peas from last year and they smelled SO good. And they were so very pretty. Are you gonna put some in the same spot, you think?
    And Oh oh oh....I cant wait to use all those German seeds. I just love looking at the packages. They make me smile. :-)
    And Roxy? Shes just getting some extra naps in because she knows Spring is just around the corner...and Spring means busy, busy.

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  13. I'm so ready for spring and seeds. I think I may get some more started today.

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  14. Oh what fun I had visiting your blog, wish you were close enough to visit your farm. I've had horses and the love of my life (don't tell my husband) donkey for a while, but just started gardening last year, how long have you been doing this? I'm doing seeds in the house for the first time and I love your rack, if all goes well I'll have to invest in one for next year.

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  15. Looks like you're going to be busy, I reckpn you'll need another mine greenhouse! :D

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  16. It's funny, I don't have the least bit of 'planting itch' this year. The last two years have been such giant disasters, that I really think I've given up.
    Please post lots of pics of your garden as it grows. :) At least I'll know that it's still possible somewhere.

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  17. Wow, Danni, that's a lot of seeds! you're going to be one busy gardener! Roxy looks pooped just thinking about it!

    I love the greenhouse rack.

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  18. Hi Brenda - Our weather is certainly nice compared to much of the rest of the country! I feel a bit badly fussing about the muddy wet that covers everything! lol

    Hi Linda- You can totally make your own seed starters - I always save those plastic pie platters, veggie platters, etc...anything that has a plastic bottom and a clear plastic dome lid. They work wonderfully! Regarding the thermometer, this is one of about 7 we have inside our house - my husband is a bit of a weather NERD. lol

    Hey morning bray :-) - I *always* bite off more than I can chew. Let's just wait and see if all of this actually gets in the ground. I tend to run out of garden space long before I run out of seeds!

    Hi Eve - What kind of veggies are you going to plant? I have a garden pest guide I can look at if you need help naturally battling your garden buggies!

    Hi Prairie Mother! Have you grown hot peppers before? I've heard they can be challenging to grow - and also that I can't grow any other type of pepper (sweet) because they will cross pollinate. I've heard the same thing about cucumbers and cantaloupe - that flavor will be impacted because of cross-pollination. Sheesh. Nothing's ever easy, is it? Hoping it warms up for you soon!

    Hey CaliforniaGrammy - What are you all going to grow this year? Will you take some seedlings in pots back with you on your annual trek back up to Oregon?

    Paula!! You aren't by chance referring to the Knorr Salat Krönung powdered dressings, are you? They are so *yummy*. I love the Gartenkräuter mit Knoblauch and the Wurzige Gartenkräuter the most. :-) To answer your question, my mom is from Germany, I spent a good portion of my childhood there and lived there for a short time after high school. My mom's entire family lives throughout Germany. My blog has a Germany "tag" in the sidebar, if you want to read some of the details about our July '09 trip.

    Heya Farmer Jen - Oooh, can we be hot pepper growing buddies? I tend to always overthink everything I do and I already have SO many questions! :-)

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  19. You are such an inspiration! A lot of work ahead but your garden will be so gorgeous once again. Looking forward to reading about your progress.

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  20. Hi Linda- You can totally make your own seed starters - I always save those plastic pie platters, veggie platters, etc...anything that has a plastic bottom and a clear plastic dome lid. They work wonderfully! Regarding the thermometer, this is one of about 7 we have inside our house - my husband is a bit of a weather NERD. lol

    Oh I know and I have, but I really want something neater and more uniform! LOL Wow 7 thermometers??? lol

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  21. By the looks of all the seeds, you may need to treat yourself to another greenhouse.

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  22. that looks like so much fun, and you have an awesome variety of seeds! I can't wait to see how those German tomatoes turn out. You took beautiful pictures of your seed packets, and you also look very organized! Love the new indoor green house seed starter.

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  23. I have so enjoyed growing my seedlings! Looks like you have quite a nice seed assortment!

    How cool to have seeds from another country to plant!!

    Your greenhouse rack is really nice... I have a greenhouse but its been so cold I have all my seedlings in my back bedroom! that rack would be handy to start my starts and then when its warm enough move them to the greenhouse! mmmmm

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  24. PS
    What type vegetable/fruit is the one seed from Germany where you said didn't it look like fun to grow and yes it does...

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  25. Hi there Sarah's friend! Yep, you're on the wet side of OR! Actually, I was born and raised in Hillsboro. The family farm is still there, which my younger brother owns now. We try to get over there at least once a year, but it's a long drive as you know. Where exactly are you?

    Your menagerie is just too cute...I think your Chester and my Stetson would have the best of donkey times together!

    Good luck with your gardening this year...I don't even get to think about it yet :(

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  26. My tomatoes have hit the top of the greenhouse lid already! LOVE seed starting time!

    Yeah temperate Pacific Northwest! Kim

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  27. Aww, look how precious Roxy is. Just love that girl of yours. Couldn't tell you are ready for the planting season to begin. lol

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  28. You are going to have one HUGE garden!!!!!

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  29. We should start a Seeds Anonymous group :) It's all i think about the whole miserable winter! I grew Jalapenos last year and i got a HUGE crop, it just wouldn't stop putting on the peppers, one plant was all i needed for the salsa i canned, 4 batches i think.

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  30. Danni,last year i grew my Jalepenos in the same row as my sweet pepper plants,unless you are wanting to save the seed it shouldn't matter

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  31. Can't wait to get everything planted this year. We have already put in our onions, and potatoes. Of course that is the eager farmer....oh and peas. Still planning the rest of the beds.

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