Snowball Self-Blanching Cauliflower

Purchased from:  Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds for $2.50/200 seeds
Type: Cauliflower

I'll be honest- I have not had the greatest luck with Brassicas, despite the fact that they are supposed to be fairly easy to grow.  But someone else at Pea Pods did grow cauliflower last year, and would have had great luck had they not been out of town when it needed blanching.  I'm skeptical about the self-blanching claim that this cauliflower makes, but I will be going to the garden enough to cover the heads if needed.

There's really nothing else particularly special here; I considered growing a purple cauliflower or something similar but decided against it and instead picked a classic old variety.  I plan to do both a spring and a fall planting of these as well as the other "cool-weather" crops in the garden, since sometimes a fall or spring planting will work better than the other. 

curious about my impressions of Baker Creek?  click here for my original post!

Rich Sweetness 132 Melon

Purchased from:  Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds for $3.00/15 seeds
Type: Melon
Growth: Vine

If you are thinking at this point that I went a little melon crazy this year, you'd be right.  I am really excited about this one, too.  This is another one you're going to want to click the link for, because the melons for this are just gorgeous- orange with yellow stripes.  And small.  And supposedly pretty tasty, also.  Same deal with this as with the watermelons- I will start a few indoors and a few out, and we'll see what happens.  This is apparently a Russian heirloom, though, so I am optimistic that we'll have luck with it here in Montana.

I also kind of like this packet design, which I think may be something they use for a "generic" type, since the website indicates that Rich Sweetness 132 is a newer acquisition for them. 

curious about my impressions of Baker Creek?  click here for my original post!

Cool Gardens: Penn & Cord's Garden

Sometimes you just stumble on something awesome while you're browsing the great world wide web, and in this case, it's the website of Penn and Cord, a couple of Colorado residents with an amazing high-altitude homesteading/gardening setup that I am in awe of.

Before I dive into the nitty gritty, can I just say- these two seem like awesome people and I totally wish I lived near them so I could be their friend?  Seriously.  Apparently Cord is a master blacksmith, to add to the list of cool things.  They employ "bio-intensive gardening" techniques (not entirely unlike Square Foot Gardening, either) to get the most out of their space and limited water supply, and the website has some great pictures of how they've integrated their gardening space into their environment.

Penn's Blog has even more great info and pretty much makes me just insanely jealous of this awesome pair.

I don't really have much else to add, but you should definitely take some time to browse around and soak in the great pictures, information, and attitude of Penn and Cord.  They're definitely on my list of garden inspirations.  I may not be able to have something as awesome as they do right now, but someday!

2013 Preliminary Garden Planning

It may still be early, but since I'll be starting some seeds this week and I have just about all the seeds I need this year, I've been working on garden planning.  I have not sketched out the garden space we have here at home, but I did start on the two garden beds I'll be renting at Pea Pods this year.

Obviously this is a rough sketch.  Once I get it pretty much 'down' I will make a spreadsheet and printout which I'll then paste into my gardening journal/notebook.  I'm not doing strict Square Foot Gardening this year, because we have these great irrigation systems at the garden which roughly divide the length into thirds rather than fourths, and I found that doing the square foot layout was just too much of a pain to keep with the irrigation system.  Last year I did not bother with the irrigation, but this year I definitely want to use it, so I am dividing the garden up so I can use the irrigation apparatus as a partial divider.

At this point I still have a chunk on the top bed, which you can sort of see has no plants indicated in it.  I haven't decided what I'm going to do with that section yet.  I am considering putting a zucchini plant there, next to the other summer squash, but I may change my mind and decide to grow more types of peppers or something.  I'm not sure yet.  It's interesting to note that with this, even though I feel like I have SO many different things picked out to grow- I am still left with space after I've slotted everything I'm planting at the community garden for sure- which is most of my seeds!  It is amazing how much you can fit in a small space if you have the ability to intensively manage the crops.

You probably can't make out my handwriting, but the bottom bed is going to be my "early planting" bed.  I plan to get a floating row cover and start this one up in April sometime by planting all the cool-weather crops.  I should probably consult the local extension office (*makes note to self*) to find out when the general planting times are if you don't use any season extenders, and then just plant a couple weeks earlier than that.  I've tried to group everything that I can put in the ground fairly early in that one spot, though there are a couple other cool season crops in the top bed- namely ones that I won't need to cover (kale, cabbage) in the first place.  I hope that getting an early start means I'll have better luck this year with some things- like peas.

Cosmic Purple Carrot

Purchased from:  Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds for $3.00/300 seeds
Type: Carrot

Carrots are one of those vegetables that I could probably do an entire garden full of and still feel like I did not have enough.  I love them, and there are such wonderful colors available that it was really hard to narrow this down to just one that I wanted to grow- I may pick up a very basic variety later, but for now, this beauty is my number one choice.

These, unfortunately, are only purple-skinned, which is pretty standard for purple carrots.  I've yet to see a purple variety of carrot that is purple all the way through, though white, red, and yellow carrot varieties can indeed be colored the entire way through, as I found out several years ago when I grew a "rainbow mix" of carrots back in Rochester.

Speaking of the "rainbow mix," that is one thing I wish Baker Creek offered.  It would be so much less stressful to choose if I could just get a variety mix and roll the dice as to what I end up with! 

curious about my impressions of Baker Creek?  click here for my original post!

Golden Beet

Purchased from:  Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds for $2.50/250 seeds
Type: Beet

I'll be honest, I'm not really a fan of beets.  I keep trying them because tastes change and I may find a variety I like, but in general I find that they taste too much like, well, DIRT.  I picked this variety because it supposedly has both tasty greens and tasty roots.  I figure if I don't like the "Golden" beets any better than the red ones, I may enjoy the greens.  I'm all about new experiences.

Some of my family members enjoy beets, also, so again, no waste here!  In addition I actually do enjoy beet chips, so I'm hoping these work well for that.  It's interesting how many vegetables become palatable (or just tastier) when you dehydrate them into something crispy and wonderful.  Kale being the big one, but lots of other things as well.

One thing I have to say, also, is that Baker Creek has an insanely big selection of beets.  Seriously.  Some are considered better for feeding livestock, but still- it was a rough choice.  

curious about my impressions of Baker Creek?  click here for my original post!

Purple Top White Globe Turnip

Purchased from:  Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds  $1.50/600 seeds
Type: Turnip

If you don't click my link to the product page for any other veggie here, you should still click the link for this one.  The adorable photograph with the little girl is pretty much the entire reason I picked this variety.  I've never grown turnips, and my grandfather (my gardening inspiration- I'll have to talk about him someday) did not either.  At least, he didn't while I was helping him garden.  I'm not sure what to expect, but we'll see.  I'm sure that if no one in this house cares for the turnips that I'll be able to unload free produce on someone else, so I'm not worried about "waste."

This variety seems to be quite old- according to the description, pre-1880, which appeals to me.  I do think that "modern" varieties, hybrid or not, have a place in the world, but there is something fun about growing something from what I used to call "olden times" when I was a kid.  "Tried and True" can be better than "New and Improved" depending on the situation.

curious about my impressions of Baker Creek?  click here for my original post!

Rocky Top Lettuce Mix

Purchased from:  Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds  $3/1000 seeds
Type: Lettuce!

Last year's Burpee lettuce blend that I purchased from Wal*Mart was sadly a bust, which is part of the reason I'm not purchasing any seeds from physical stores this year.  Nope, not even from garden centers.  I will purchase plants from the local nurseries (Probably Bundi's, as I was quite happy with the plants I got from there last year), but all my seeds are mail-order only.  Why?  Because physical store locations, especially ones like Wal*Mart, really have no concept of keeping temperature correct for seeds, and as a result my germination rates are crap.

That little rant aside, Baker Creek claims "With more brightly colored and unique lettuces, it makes a flavorful and brilliant salad." and that the mix "Includes some non-listed rare varieties."  For a few bucks, this is a great buy for me.  Where I'm paying a premium for some of the other seeds this year, this is just a fabulous deal.  The added excitement of seeing what pops up from this little packet is just an added bonus.

Additionally, I'm also kind of hoping that I might be able to get my fiance's uncle to help me set up a cold frame or two so that I might extend the season a bit, and have fresh greens for longer.  Supposedly there is a guy nearby that grows greens from February through November.  Yum!

curious about my impressions of Baker Creek?  click here for my original post!

White Sugar Lumps Watermelon

Purchased From: Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds  $3.50/15 seeds
Type: Watermelon
Growth: Vine

I'm taking a bit of a risk with the White Wonder watermelon, but this beauty is the really risky one, because I've got absolutely no idea how long the season on these is supposed to be!  Unfortunately, Baker Creek does not give a harvest time on these, though the description claims that they ripen early, so I'm optimistic.  The only reviews are utterly unhelpful, as one person grew them in a greenhouse, and the other is in zone 9.

I'll admit, too, that I kind of am growing this one just for the sake of rarity.  The description on the website took me in, I'll admit, and I just want to try it out.  If it works out, I'll save seeds and be able to give my friends this rare beauty so they can try it out in their gardens.  If it doesn't work out?  C'est la vie!  Which is why I think gardening is a great pasttime for people who have trouble "going with the flow."  No matter how well you plan, you're going to have to just roll with the punches because some things are just beyond your control.

As with White Wonder, I'll be starting these indoors and outdoors to experiment with the best method for getting them going.

curious about my impressions of Baker Creek?  click here for my original post!

Laurentian Rutabaga

Purchased from:  Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds  $1.50/400 seeds
Type: Rutabaga (aka Swede)

"Laurentian" isn't exactly an uncommon variety, but when it comes to rutabagas, there isn't exactly a lot of choice in the first place.  I am a fan of roasting these bad-boys, and my grandmother used to slice them and fry them, which was also very tasty.

This is the second type of seed packet I got in my order, and as you can see it has a bit more of a vintage feel than the black seed packets with photos on them, and has some lovely artwork of the bulb that I'll be growing.  I can say that they don't generally look quite as pretty as the picture, but really, it's a rutabaga!  It isn't that exciting in the first place, though I'm not any less excited to be growing them.

I have grown rutabagas in the past, and I'm pretty relaxed about it.  My grandfather used to let his get GIGANTIC.  I mean, HUGE.  I wish I had some photos, but alas, I do not.  They would be way bigger than softballs, though, which seems to be the metric used with this particular root vegetable.

curious about my impressions of Baker Creek?  click here for my original post!

White Wonder Watermelon

Purchased from:  Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds $2.50/15 seeds
Type: Watermelon
Growth: Vine

This one.. I am taking a risk on.  According to the description, this should be ready to go in about 80 days, which should give me enough time here in Great Falls.  I'll be starting them indoors, even though melons are notoriously not good about that sort of thing, and I will also start a plant or 2 outside after frost has passed.  I figure this will cover my bases.

A few things- I enjoy watermelon, and I LOVE the small watermelons, so I'm really hoping this one turns out well.  If it does, of course, I'll be sure to save my seeds so I can share the love.  According to reviews, the flavor is light and sweet, which in my book is just another bonus.  You don't see these melons much even at farmer's markets because they have a very thin rind, which you can see even in the picture.  I'll admit that I'm imagining them as kind of being like a pawpaw, but that's the way my brain works.  I hope you'll send me oodles of good vibes, because I really want these to work!

curious about my impressions of Baker Creek?  click here for my original post!

Poona Kheera Cucumber

Purchased from: Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds  $2.50/25-35 seeds
Type: Cucumber
Growth: Vine

I can't just grow a "normal" vegetable, can I?  No plain cucumbers for me, no siree- I had to try something new.  The reviews for this cucumber were what sold me on giving it a try.  I pretty much exclusively eat cucumbers fresh, though I am not averse to pickles, I tend to not actually be up for making my own (though I'd love to try). 

This cucumber is supposed to not only be very productive, but also very tasty, which are two things I'm looking for after a disappointing year last year in regards to cucumbers.  I'm hoping this year will turn out better, and in addition to these I'll also be trying again with the Lemon cucumbers from Fisher Seeds.  Of course my seeds could end up being completely bad, but I'm optimistic that I'll be able to get enough to germinate that I can also grow them.  Last year, my cucumbers were all but shaded out when I stupidly planted them nearby tomatoes, which I should have, of course, known were going to be problematic since those were transplants.  That isn't a mistake I'll make this year.

curious about my impressions of Baker Creek?  click here for my original post!

Patisson Strie Melange Squash

Purchased from: Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds $3/20 seeds.
Type: Summer Squash
Growth: Bush, according to reviews

I'm pretty excited about this one- I mean, wouldn't you be?  Just look at it!  I adore summer squash for eating, so I WILL be picking these young, but I am also going to probably leave some to get bigger for ornamental use, because it's a shame to *only* have something so pretty go for food.

The picture on the right is the seed packet- as you can see, it's fairly basic, but I kind of like the design.  I've never seen a black seed packet before.  Not all of their seed packets look like this, as you'll see in the coming weeks- some are white with hand-drawn artwork and more "old timey" font on them.  For once, though, I am actually planning to save the seed packets past the point when they are filled with seeds- so that says something.  I like that they're a bit different.

I will of course try to keep you updated on how this little beauty actually ends up growing, but I can say this is one of the plants I'm really looking forward to trying this year!

curious about my impressions of Baker Creek?  click here for my original post!

Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds

In an effort to combat the late start I got last year when it came to gardening, I've already gathered most of my seeds and am now in the scheduling mode- later this month I will start a few things indoors, and hope for the best.  We have moved to a different house, but we still have essentially no "sunny" area, though there is a small window in the basement (I know!) I'm going to try to make use of for some of my seedlings.

This year I've primarily ordered from Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds, which is not a catalog/site you want to go to if you're at all fond of "interesting" varieties, heirlooms, or old-timey stuff and would like to avoid spending a huge amount of money.  I am currently awaiting my physical catalog in the mail, but my seeds arrived already and the packaging- as you'll see in my posts about each specific variety- is just to die for.  The prices are not too bad, either, and since I'm still doing square foot gardening (new house has *some* gardening space, but it is still quite limited), even the smallest package (which was a rare watermelon with ~15 seeds) is going to be more than enough for me.

If you peruse the Baker Creek site, you'll find in addition to their wide variety of available seeds, they also have a lot of information about heirloom varieties, gorgeous photos from their pioneer village and headquarters in Missouri.  If I ever make it down there, I'm certainly going to be visiting because it looks like a blast.  I've been following their Facebook Page for a while, so I get wonderful updates about events they host and photos of their harvest throughout the season.  It's really just a wonderful place, as far as I can see.

I will update this post later with photos and more information once I get my physical catalog, which is quite popular as well.