Even though we are about to receive our biggest snowstorm of this winter thus far, you can still make great progress on your garden by starting seeds indoors or even outside if your garden is prepared and you’re quick and can sow them tomorrow morning! You can also plant our hardy perennials, vines, shrubs and trees that have overwintered outdoors ahead of the storm. And our Onion plants – they’re very cold-hardy, and the earlier they’re planted, the larger their bulbs at harvest time! And, if you can plant in a cold-frame, or under a low tunnel of sheet plastic or Row Cover Fabric, you can plant our spring vegetable starts! Heading varieties like Broccoli, cabbage and cauliflower will give you their best results when planted early, but will require protection for a while. One easy method is to cut out the bottom of an empty 1-gallon water jug and firmly press it into the soil over your new plant. The cap can be removed but kept handy for use in case temperatures dip down into the teens.
Regardless of the snow, you can be starting your garden in the comfort of your home. We have an awesome assortment of seeds, a great seed-starting and potting mix called Fort Vee, recycled-paper pots that are also plant-able and biodegradable (NEW!), 2 ½” plastic pots, pot tags, and the best garden marking pens.
(Above and far right below photo credit: Botanical Interests.)
Some of the vegetables best sown indoors in March are the Tomato, Pepper, Tomatillo, Eggplant and Ground Cherry. We currently have seeds for the following varieties:
TOMATO
Ace 55
Artisan Bumblebee Blend
Beam’s Yellow Pear
Beefsteak
Black Krim
Black from Tula
Black Sea Man
Brandywine
Cherokee Purple
Cherry Falls
Chocolate Cherry
Glacier
Green Zebra
Italian Roma
Martino’s Roma
Mexico Midget
Moskvich
Pineapple
Red & Yellow Pear
San Marzano
Stupice
Sun Gold
Supremo
Sweetie
PEPPERS
Aji Crystal
Ancho/Poblano
Aurora
California Wonder
Golden California Wonder
Joe’s Long Cayenne
King of the North
NuMex Joe E Parker
Quadrato d’Asti Giallo
Red Habanero
Sweet Chocolate
Shishito
Sweet Banana
Thai Hot
TOMATILLO
Grande Rio Verde
Purple
GROUND CHERRY (aka Husk Tomato)
Aunt Molly’s
Pineapple
If you don’t want to start your own from seed, most of these varieties plus MANY MANY MORE will be available as Organic Vegetable Starts beginning in April! We’re assembling all of our lists with descriptions and you’ll soon be able to find them on our website.