As we enter the winter holiday season, many have put their gardens away for the year and are taking a much needed break from the work but hopefully benefited with an abundant harvest. I wish you the best of what the season has to offer and hope to see everyone again in a few months.
My last tip of the year is for those who want to get an early jump on the spring season. It requires no work after seeding the tray. Simply take a plastic container of your choice (Costco rotisserie chicken carton is great), moisten some potting mix and then fill the container up to the top. Spread seeds generously over the surface, cover with a fine layer of soil, water in gently, and then cover it up. I take a screwdriver and heatit over an open flame on the stove to then push through the top in order to create holes to vent. At this point, place it outside in the area that gets the most sun during the winter months. Do no work. It will be slower to germinate at this time of year but it’lll work. Especially as the days start to get longer during the last week of January.
The time will come when you’ll want to seperate your seedlings up to plant in the garden. You’ll have so many transplants! Like maybe 75! One of the best things is they require no hardening off. They’ve been accustomed to and have grown in the harsh weather conditions for months. Depending on your weather, you won’t need to water until late February or early March. It may be earlier if you live in a warmer climate. Just don’t let it dry out in the spring.
For those interested, I will have many new classes available next year. All virtual so you can learn from the comfort of your home. These will include: square foot gardening 101 for beginners, 201 for advanced square foot gardeners, making compost, seed starting, the earliest spring garden, growing micro-greens at home, the fall garden, and the winter garden. Lots of work to be done on my end but I think you’ll enjoy them. Especially as we go to the market and discover lettuces are now $4 a head! More for organic. And, probably going higher. Learn how to be a great gardener without the hard work and hassles of the traditional garden. Square foot gardening really is the way to go. No heavy digging, no hard work, no thinning, no weeding, no kidding. See you on the other side.
