The Christmas and Yule decorations are put away and another festive season has ended just in time for the round robins of nor’easters to start. Today’s storm is slated to drop 10″ – 18″ on us. Who knows what next week’s storm will grace us with. In the meanwhile, we stoke up the fire, throw on an extra layer, and huddle like chickens in our coop, keeping warm and fed.
The past couple years, as I’m putting away the Christmas decorations, I begin planning for the spring. However, until now, it’s all been pipe-dreams until it comes crunch time. This year the Raymond Homestead is right on the ball. So far we have all of our seeding selected and the order form ready to fill in. It’s just a matter of sending it. This season’s selection will consist of:
- Tomatoes: San Diegos and Glacier Organics
- Bell Peppers: King of the North Organics
- Carrots: Over the Rainbow Mix
- Sting Beans: Kentucky Wonders (This is the third second year growing strong beans from our own saved seeds.)
- Broccoli: Will be purchased as seedlings from Hoof’n’Paw
- Pumpkins: Long Pie Organics
- Lettuce: Organic Lettuce Mix
- Shell Peas: Coral
- Hot Peppers: Long Red Cayennes (We’re hoping to use seeds that I saved from last year to start these, but we do have the back-up option of buying seedlings from Hoof’n’Paw.)
- Cucumbers: Ministro
- Drying Beans: Ireland Creek Annie
- Basil: Sweet Organic
- Dill: Fernleaf
- Spinach: Donkey
- Thyme: German Thyme
- Beets: Early Wonder Tall Top Organic
- Radishes: Easter Egg
- Celery: Ventura
- Potatoes: Classic Keepers 12 1/2 pound mix
While this seems like a long list, I’m hoping to add more variety in the follow years as well, but this was a good start that the hubby and I agreed upon. Given that the entire north garden will be converted to raised beds, we definitely have our work cut out for us. On the plus side, all the gardens are fenced in now, so that’s one less thing on the list.
As far as where we’re going to get our seeds, the answer to that is easy: FedCo Seeds. After having very submarginal luck from store-bought seeds, we decided that this year we’re going to go with a company known for their quality – both in seeds and service. More importantly, this ensures that we’re buying from lines that are able to survive in the north east regions and we’re helping to keep other farmers going. Please, even if you’re only doing containers, buy from FedCo, not Agway, Walmart, or any place else that sells seeds!
Now that I’m done my public service announcement, what do you lovely folks plan on planting in the spring?
