This post is ridiculously premature and I know it but the daydreaming starts between harvest season and the first snowfall so I couldn’t wait to put my plans in writing any longer.
I started out gardening with the intent to only plant heirloom varieties. Slowly, I succumbed to the common names and options locally available and before long I had acquired some peculiar genetics and a lot of seeds I am unsure of. A spaghetti-zucchini, sunflowers; although beautiful, of uncertain origin, and a strangely colored oblong pumpkin- to name a few.
So I’m currently sorting through the seeds chucking anything that may have come from a hybrid or gmo plant of previous years.
Keep in mind I am not entirely familiar with the process of cross-pollination but I have found that my heirloom seeds have always produced exactly the vegetable I expected even after 2 or 3 generations!
I’ve never purchased or planted seeds that promised a squash of this appearance!
So, back to the fundamentals. I’ll be trying out seeds this year from Salt Spring Seeds. I perceive them to be a good honest heirloom seed company. It’ll be my first time ordering from them. I’m particularily excited to have found marshmallow on their website! It’s a highly valuable medicinal plant, it looks beautiful in the garden and is hardy and easy to grow:
I am also going to revert more to tried-and-true garden staples with vegetables that preserve well: Many legumes; peppers and tomatoes, potatoes, and onions and garlic. And also the kitchen garden staples: herbs, greens, grape tomatoes, cucumber, peas and carrots- also good for canning recipes.
This year I’ll be using my new pressure canner which I received just yesterday as a birthday gift from my wonderful inlaws. I’ll be sure to write a review once I’ve taken it for a good spin!
Other than dealing with inventory and simplifying the plan this year most else will remain unchanged.
I will be looking at establishing a proper raspberry patch with the wayward invasive canes that have tried to overtake the asparagus. Those things are stubbornly invasive and a lot of work to maintain. I’ll probably focus my energy on continuing to re-establish good production from the 60 year-old grapevine I’ve been doctoring back to good health over the last few seasons (we got our first fruit last summer since living here) so I can teach myself to make wine!
The season is upon us! ♡♡♡
I’ll leave you with a lovely simple manual I received from a friend for a successful season:
Happy Homesteading! Xx
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