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Ilona's Garden Journal

Tip-toeing into Spring

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I went to the Home and Garden show last Wednesday – it sure was crowded. One benefit was that I purchased some tomato seeds to start. This year is particularly good year to have a later start on indoor seeds, since the harsh winter is still with us here (even though temperatures are rising and feeling pretty good this week). I still have some piles of snow, and the fields and parts of my landscape are still white. For me, that means the ground will stay cold, the thaw will keep the soils wet, and the vegetable garden space will not be workable for a long time yet.

Starting the seedlings later will avoid the legginess that holding them inside for so long would produce. Hopefully, I will have thrifty plants just the right size for transplanting into the garden at the right time.

This year I bought some “Black Krim” and “Pink Caspian” heirloom seeds to try them out. After reading on some forums this winter, those were two names that stood out among the recommendations for good flavor. I had planted ‘Pink Caspian‘ previously, and it had been successful, so it made the short list for this year. And I will buy a pack of ‘Better Boy‘ plants from my neighbor’s green house. Just to make sure I get some healthy homegrown tomatoes. It isn’t cost effective for me to start seeds of a commonly available hybrid like ‘Better Boy’, and I buy those locally.

I will have many more tomato plants than usual. I have to figure out where to put them, since I need to rotate space after last years problems. I might just use some of the “decorative plant” spaces! I have some bulb flower beds out front, in raised boxes. Last year I didn’t put anything in them for the summer, and maybe this year, with tomato tepees I could plant them for food crops.

This is the year of the food crop.

I saw an organization idea (not new, but a reminder of seventies re-purposing) @ In The Garden. Block and Two by Four Shelves and her Gourd tree. Our winds here would make short work of the gourd tree, but I could really use the shelving for some of my extra pots, etc, out by the garage. This is something to add to my list and post on the Gardenfile.

Things I’ll be using this week:
Burpee Ultimate Seed Starting System

The New Seed Starter’s Handbook

Gardening with Heirloom Seeds: Tried-and-True Flowers, Fruits, and Vegetables for a New Generation

About Ilona Erwin

I was a garden blog pioneer, and began writing on this blog in 2003. Before that I had begun a garden website that has been at its own domain since 2006, Ilona's Garden.

I still love writing, gardening, and art after all these years, although travel and grandchildren have become a big part of my life, now.

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Comments

  1. tina says

    Why thank you for the link. I am honored. My little shelf works well and yes, an old school thing.

    I have heard a lot about the Black Krim tomatoes. I do think starting them late will work out well. I’ve been enjoying this winter to be able to relax but with the sun shining looks like it is time to get dirty. Have fun starting your seeds.

  2. Teresa O says

    You’ve been busy, busy. I grew Brandywine heirloom tomatoes last year. What a burst of flavor came from that variety of tomoato. We still have snow on the ground here, too. It’s into the 50s, but we’ve a long way to go.

    Happy Spring!

  3. Ilona says

    I will Tina 🙂 Your idea was just the right thing for me this year- I’m looking for ways to re-purpose or get rid of … and I have some blocks and 2x4s to repurpose.

    Long way to go is right, Teresa. I still see white- but the rains this week should disperse all of that. then it is time for mud and muck. Working my clayey soil is a ways off…