This Season

So I read a little stat in Time magazine today
that said seed sales were up this season by 20%.
A recent poll I read reported that there will be a
large increase in first time gardeners this year.
I think this is so exciting! Whether it is due to the
economy, the focus on "green living" or a desire for
a more healthy lifestyle, I don't know. I imagine it
may be a combination of all three for many.

As I await my seeds to arrive in the mail, I've started
getting that overwhelmed feeling of the work I have
ahead. I still need to wash out my old seed planters,
buy the soil and figure out a better labeling system this
year. I saw a picture today of a potting room a lady has
off of her kitchen and it made me oh so envious. This is
another thing that makes me anxious - where am I going
to put all these seeds? I didn't mind too much moving
them around last year from window to window, but am
just not really looking forward to that this year. With the
growing belly and all, it's getting harder to bend over!
I'm also envious of those gardeners who have room to have
shelves for their planters - - and ones with lights! to top it
all off. Maybe someday.

THE PLAN

This is the list of seed plantings I have created so far - I know it seems REALLY ambitious!!!:

Vegetables

• Lettuce: leftovers from last year, Black Seeded Simpson; new, Waldman's Dark Green (Seeds of Change); new, Red Deer Tongue (S.o.C.); new, Heatwave Blend (Cooks Garden)
  

• Pole Beans: leftovers, Kentucky Wonder Pole.

• Peas: new, Oregon Giant Snow (S.o.C.)

• Tomatoes: I am trying these from seed for the first time this year...new, Caro Rich (slicing, S.o.C.); new, Ladybug (cherry, Cooks Garden); new, Big Mama (Sauce, Cooks Garden)
  

• Carrots: all leftovers, Sweet Salad Hybrid; Little Finger; Danvers Half Long; Nantes Half Long; Big Top
  

• Swiss Chard: new, Bright Lights (Cooks Garden)

• Kale: leftovers, Red Russian. Radishes: new, Easter Egg

• Purslane:leftovers, Golden.

• Arugula: new, Sputnik (S.o.C.)

• Fava Beans: new, Broad Windsor (S.o.C.)

• Red Pepper: First time from seed...new, Yummy Sweet (Cooks Garden)

• Cucumbers: new, Bush Crop Hybrid (Henry Fields)

• Zucchini: new, Jackpot Hybrid (Henry Fields)

Fruit

• new, Top Hat Patio Blueberries (Gurney's)

Herbs

• Basil: First time from seed...new, Lettuce Leaf (S.o.C.); new, Sweet Genovese (Cooks Garden)
  

• Mint: store

• Cilantro: store

• Borage: new, store

• Chervil: new, store

• Thyme: leftovers, Common.

• Dill: leftovers, Fernleaf.

• Lobelia: new, Great Blue (S.o.C.)

Flowers

• Zinnia: leftovers, Shades of Pink; Red Candy Cane; new, Pastel Dreams (S.o.C.); new, Ruffles Mix (Cooks Garden)
  

• Alyssum: collected seeds. Lavendar: new

• Sweet Peas: new, Cooks Custom Mix (The Cooks Garden)

• Cosmos: leftovers, Sensation; Bright Lights; new, Mixed Seashell (S.o.C.)

• Candytuft: new, Snowflake (Seeds of Change)

• Sage: new, Jerusalem (Seeds of Change); new, Nemorosa (S.o.C.)

• Echium: new, Vipers Blugloss (S.o.C.)

• Kiss Me Over the Garden Gate:new(S.o.C.)

• Larkspur: new, Beauty Spire Mix (S.o.C.)

• Poppy: new, White Peshwar (S.o.C.); new, Falling in Love (The Cooks Garden)

• Balloon Flower: new (S.o.C.)

• Daisy: new, Shasta (S.o.C.)

• Mullein: new, Phonician (S.o.C.)

• Primrose: new, Evening (S.o.C.)

• Goldspray: new, Ridlfia (Cooks Garden)

• Verbena: new, Bonariensis (Cooks Garden)

• Mina Lobata: new, (Cooks Garden)

**if it's listed as new, it just means new to my garden**

THE BUG

It's that time of year again. Actually, it's been that time of year for me since January!! I've got the bug - the gardening bug. I've been back to my researching, perusing of seed catalogues, re-designing the containers' layouts, reading gardening blogs and making my purchasing lists.

Everybody's been asking me if I'm going to do as much this year since the new baby will be here May/June, and yes, I think I am - - and actually more! Since I start off most of my plants by seed anyway, that means the work begins next month and will be in a great place by the arrival of the new one. I know I would really regret it all summer if I didn't.

While in Oregon for Christmas, I found a really great container gardening book - actually the best I've ever found for what I enjoy. Most container books I've found talk mainly about flowers and/or creating containers and the layout of container gardens. This book, The Bountiful Container, lays out every fruit, vegetable, edible flower and herb that can thrive in containers. It is detailed and creative. I have read it from front to back and LOVE IT!