Christmas is over and it's time to think about seeds....

Well it is the day after Christmas.  The tree and decorations have been taken down and put away and my thoughts have already turned to my garden.  I know....winter has barely begun and I'm thinking about gardening.  But then again, when am I not?  


My goal for 2012 is to have a less crowded garden than in 2011.  However that might prove a bit of a challenge considering all the seeds I'm planning to start/plant next year.  I did, however manage to weed out a few of the seed packets but even with that I still have 55 varieties.  I did forewarn my hubby that I've claimed the side yard that has the grass dying for the 2012 squash patch.  I can only hope it's big enough!


So how could someone possibly come up with 55 different seeds to plant in a small back-yard veggie patch?  Well here goes:

2012 Garden Seed List

1. Artichoke - Imperial Star
2. Beans - Lima Bean
3. Beans - Kentucky Blue
4. Beet - Detroit Dark Red
5. Broccoli - Di Ciccio
6. Brussels Sprouts - Falstaff 
7. Brussels Sprouts - Long Island Improved
8. Cabbage - Golden Acre
9. Cabbage - Ferry’s Round Dutch
10. Cantaloupe - Heirloom variety
11. Carrots - Danvers Half Long 
12. Carrots - Kaleidoscope Mix
13. Cauliflower - Early Snowball A
14. Cucumber - Sumter
15. Cucumber - Poinsett 76
16. Corn - Precocious Hybrid
17. Dill - Standard Dill
18. Fennel - Zefo Fino
19. Lettuce - Oak Leaf
20. Lettuce - Salad Bowl Green
21. Lettuce - Cimmaron
22. Lettuce - Red Sails
23. Lettuce - Salad Bowl Red
24. Melon - Cuban? variety 
25. Okra - Clemson Spineless
26. Onion - Evergreen Long Bunching
27. Onion - Red Burgundy
28. Parsnips - Hollow Crown
29. Peas - Mammoth Melting Sugar Pod
30. Pepper - Anaheim
31. Pepper - Cayenne
32. Pepper - Giant Marconi
33. Pepper - Jalapeno
34. Pepper - Keystone Resistant Giant
35. Pepper - Poblano
36. Pepper - Sweet Banana
37. Radish - Lady Slipper
38. Radish - French Breakfast
39. Spinach - Bloomsdale Long-Standing
40. Squash - Winter - Butternut
41. Squash - Winter - Delicata 
42. Squash - Winter - Turks Turban
43. Squash - Pumpkin - Galeux D’Eysines (Uncle Fester) 
44. Squash - Pumpkin - Rumbo
45. Squash - Pumpkin - Pie 
46. Squash - Pumpkin - Mini
47. Squash - Summer - Early Prolific Straightneck Yellow
48. Squash - Summer - Black Beauty
49. Tomato - Rutgers
50. Tomato - Sweetie Cherry
51. Tomato - Thessaloniki
52. Tomato - Red Zebra
53. Tomato - Black Krim
54. Tomato - Big Rainbow
55. Tomato - Carbon

The craziest part of this list is it's leaving out the perennial herbs and veggies that are already in the garden...the chives, oregano, thyme, asparagus, strawberries, artichokes (if they survive the winter), raspberries and blueberries...not to mention the three grape varieties.   My garden hobby definitely has the possibility of outgrowing my back yard!  But I could imagine worse things.  

How Does My Garden Grow

Well, since this blog is also my online gardening journal for 2011 it only makes sense that I should list out what I plan to plant in my garden this year.  Here goes...

Veggies to plant in the 2011 Garden  (All started, or to be started, from seed)

• Alliums: Evergreen Long White bunching onions and American Flag Leeks (direct seed) and Red Onions (sets)
• Artichoke: Imperial Star variety (ordered and will start seedlings on 2/5/2011)Broccoli: Di Ciccio variety (seedlings started 1/8/2011)
• *Brussells Sprouts:  Bailey variety (ordered and will start seedlings on 2/5/2011)
• Carrots: Danvers Half Long and Kaleidoscope Mix (ie: red, purple, orange, yellow and white) varieties (direct seed)
• Cauliflower: Early Snowball A (need to start seedlings on 2/5/2011)
• Cucumber: Straight 8 (because I found the seeds in some of my mother’s old stuff), Poinsett 76 and Sumter varieties (direct seed)
• Egg Plant: Black Beauty variety (seedlings started 1/8/2011 - seeds are old and taking a while to germinate - but they’re getting there!) and Twlight (a hybrid I just ordered and will start seedlings on 2/5/11)
• Fennel: Zefo Fino variety (seedlings started 1/8/2011)
• Green Beans (Bush): Heavyweight & Royalty Purple varieties (direct seed)
• Greens: A Mix of: Red Salad Bowl Lettuce, Green Salad Bowl Lettuce, Black Seeded Simpson Lettuce, Tendergreen Mustard, Bloomsdale Long Standing Spinach, Bull's Blood Beet, Grand Rapids Lettuce, Oakleaf Lettuce, Prizeleaf Lettuce, and most importantly - Arugula because the bunnies hate it & it keeps them out of the lettuce & spinach! (direct seed)
• Melon: Heirloom Cantaloupe (variety unknown) (direct seed)
• Okra: saved seeds - variety unknown (direct seed)
• Parsnips:  Hollow Crown variety (direct seed)
• Peppers: California Wonder Bell, Jalapaneo and Sweet Banana (seedlings started 1/8/2011 - seeds are old and taking a while to germinate - but they’re getting there!)
• Radish: Sparkler, Champion, d’Avignon, Pink Beauty, Purple Plum, and Snowball varieties (direct seed)
• Shallots: standard yellow variety (sets)
• Summer Squash: Zucchini (Black Beauty) & Yellow (Early Prolific Straightneck) (direct seed)
• Swiss Chard: Bright Lights (direct seed)
• Tomatoes: Sweetie Cherry, Red Brandywine, Pink Brandywine, Black Krim, and Red Plum varieties (seedlings started 1/8/2011)
• Turnip: Purple Top White Globe (direct seed)
• Winter Squash: Acorn, Butternut, Carnival, Turks Turban, Rumbo (Cinderella type pumpkin), and Mini pumpkins (if I have room!) (direct seed)

I still need to buy:

• Herbs: Basil, Sage, Parsley, Cilantro, Chamomile (will probably buy the plants)

Other Perennial Plants already in the ground:

• Cabernet Franc and Petite Syrah grapes 
• Asparagus
• Strawberry
• Blueberry 
• Raspberry 
• Chives
• Dill (it might re-seed itself - if not I have seeds saved from last year)
• Garlic  
• Greek Oregano
• Peppermint (however, I think I might have killed it last year if that’s possible - they don’t like being behind Hot Tubs!)
• Thyme
• Beebalm and Echinacea (I plant them for their flowers but technically they are medicinal herbs)

Next on my list to post is a diagram outlining how I plan to actually make this all work since I’m going to use 4 to 6 4x4 raised beds.  My mother-in-law and her significant other have promised to make a drive up to our place to see my garden - assuming I can actually make it work in such a small space.  So there's my challenge!

Thank God I have a great husband who humors my idiosyncrasies!  His only two requests are to make it ‘look good’ and make it easy to mow around!

More to come...