Melinda at One Green Generation has issued a new challenge. It is a tweak of her challenge last year. Since I'm a newcomer into this blogging community, I missed out on last year's challenge- but this one is going to be great! The challenge is to grow something from seed to seed. That is, plant from seed, harvest and save seeds for next year's garden.
I did a little bit of seed saving this year but am far from an expert. This should be a good learning experience for me. I need to do more research on it- it seems so natural but I'm sure there are tricks to the trade.
I really need to get together with Roger to plan the 2009 garden. Time's a wastin' and I'm impatient for spring. I've got my list and I know he's got his- we just need to make them work together.
I saw that. I already save seeds for some my stuff that I can sow right into the ground. Unfortunately, as I have the darkest house in the world an no money or space really for indoor growing systems. So, I leave it to other Master Gardeners and the Project Green folks to grow my plants.
ReplyDeleteGood challenge! I am planting my first garden this year--how sad is that? I have done containers and helped ALOT at my fathers market garden but never my own. So now I plant a garden when I really hope I won't be here to harvest it?? Call me crazy-i'm game to plant nonhybrids and leave instructions for the NEW owner! Kris
ReplyDeleteI don't think I am ready for that full scale now (as a relative beginner at the growing process) but I'm looking forward to reading your posts on the process and how you know what to save/what is viable, etc.... and maybe next year I can take part!
ReplyDeleteStephany- I have a small desk in the basement with fluorescent lights hung over it that I use for seed starting- it really doesn't take up that much room. But yeah, it is definitely fun to pick up a few odds and ends at the farmer's market to round things out.
ReplyDeleteHickchick- can you put something in a big container? We've got a pepper plant that we've had for several years- we even bring it in the house in the winter. I feel fortunate that I don't have much garden at our house since we're hoping to sell as well.
Localzone- You can start with something easy and small- even things that you direct sow into the garden count. We always have a few radishes that manage to go to seed so I leave a some and then collect the seeds.
I finally did this with my garden two years ago. I had a hard time letting things go to seed... it felt like I was wasting the food/plant.
ReplyDeleteBut, I let some of the peas and beans dry on the vine, and let the basil plant blossom and set seed. I has changed my perspective and now I consider it 'saving' the plant for the next year!