…or at least, what I'm planning to plant. Early days yet.
It is an unseasonably mild (11 degrees) and sunny January day in
the thriving metropolis. The driveway is
a skating rink under a half inch of water.
Getting the mail this morning was an adventure. Even Karl, our neighbour’s cat, took a tumble
walking with me to the mailbox.
The warm weather has resulted in early-onset
Spring Fever and with it, the desire to garden.
Now. I decided to root through my
binders and boxes of seeds to sort out what I will grow this summer.
"The Plan", as it
stands. Anything new for this year is
red. Everything is heirloom or
open-pollinated unless otherwise specified.
Tomatoes
Cherry – Green Doctors Frosted,
Sweetie Red, Black, Pink Bumblebee
Paste – Mazarini, San Marzano,
Opalka
Other - Emerald
Evergreen, Eva Purple Ball (pink), Moskvich (red),
Northern Lights (orange/yellow marbled), and Paul Robeson (black).
Carrots
Scarlet Nantes
Jaune Obtus du Doubs
Turnips – An Amish heirloom variety received from my online
friend, Michael, in Arkansas
Beets
Detroit Dark Red
Detroit Dark Red
Cylinder
Detroit Golden
Beans
Dry Bush – Vermont Cranberry (can also be a shell bean),Beka Brown, Kenearly Yellow Eye, and Marrowfat if I have room!
Dry Bush – Vermont Cranberry (can also be a shell bean),Beka Brown, Kenearly Yellow Eye, and Marrowfat if I have room!
Snap/Wax Bush – Buerre de Rocquencourt, Topcrop, Royal Burgundy, Provider
Pole - Snowcap (dry)
Greens
Spinach - Bloomsdale
Spinach - Bloomsdale
Kale - Lacinato, Red Russian
Lettuce - Romaine lettuce “Baby
Star” (hybrid), Mesclun mix, Black Seeded Simpson
Mustard - Ruby Frills Red
Mustard - Ruby Frills Red
Swiss Chard - Fordhook
Peppers
Nardello Italian
Sweet Chocolate
Early Sunsation (yellow
bell hybrid - thanks, Sharon & Eddy!)
Peas – Green Arrow
Cabbage - Red and green, from the local greenhouse
Broccoli - From the local greenhouse
Cauliflower - From the local greenhouse
Cabbage - Red and green, from the local greenhouse
Broccoli - From the local greenhouse
Cauliflower - From the local greenhouse
Potatoes – A Russet of some sort
Leeks – Giant Musselburgh
Eggplant
Ping Tung
Vittoria (hybrid)
Black Beauty
Zucchini – Unsure what
kind, I received the seeds in a trade
Herbs
Borage
Dark Opal basil
Summer Savoury
Lemon Balm
Italian Parsley (flat leaf)
Sweet basil
Flowers
Nasturtiums
Swiss Giant Pansy
Zinnias – Polar Bear (hybrid),
Starlight Rose (hybrid)
Sunspot Sunflower (hybrid)
Dwarf Hollyhock, Majorette Mix
(hybrid)
Hoping the calendula, Scarlet Flax, gomphrena, and rose mallow that went to seed at the end of last summer comes up again!
I think I might forgo trying to grow winter squash this year. It takes up so much space. If I do, I will probably try an hybrid variety because our season is so short. If I really cave, I'll grow an heirloom: Red Kuri.
...and maybe, just maybe, some multi-hued quinoa...!
...and maybe, just maybe, some multi-hued quinoa...!
(updated February 11/14)
