16 Weeks and Counting

Today was the first day of planting! It really feels good to touch soil and open seed packs. I can hardly wait for spring but I suppose I don't have much choice. Nobody ever ask me when spring should arrive.

I planted three varieties of onion which are Mustang F1 Hybrid, Red Wing F1 Hybrid, and Evergreen Hardy Bunching onions. I tried to order more heirlooms and open pollinated vegetables this year but I am new to growing onion from seed so I decided to put the odds in my favor by using hybrids. I don't have anything against hybrids in fact there are many I love but I do like the idea of supporting traditional vegetables when they are productive and disease resistant enough for my needs.

I planted them in flat trays in a 'broadcast' fashion. I have them under two sets of fluorescent tubes and underneath I have two heat lamps to warm the soil. Now it is time to wait two weeks and see what happens. Hopefully I can report back with pictures of seedlings.

At the end of the month I will also be sowing celery and peppers. Then at the end of February I will plant the biggest crop to be started indoors which includes broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, tomatoes, ground cherries, and asparagus. The title refers to the last day of frost. For my area it is May first which means on Saturday it will be sixteen weeks away. Hopefully by then I will already have potatoes, onions, and many greens in the ground.