This is the Grow It Forward Friday post that I have been waiting to write for two whole two months. As of this week, the first round of heirloom seeds are in the ground! The excitement I expressed over my indoor seedlings pales in comparison to the excitement and anticipation I have for the days and weeks to come as my raised beds start to fill in with sprouts and leaves, and soon enough, baby vegetables.
For the first time, I'm planting a few things outdoors well before our typical frost free date (usually around Mother's Day), and for that reason I'm splitting my seed planting up into a couple of phases this year. I'm planting the cool weather tolerant crops in now, and holding off on the crops that prefer warmer weather (like the beans and squash) for a least a couple more weeks.
Here's a look at the heirloom varieties I planted this week:
- Parris Island Cos Romaine Lettuce: a romaine-style lettuce that is supposed to form beautiful heads of lettuce. I made sure to plant it where it would get a little shade, just in case we get some early stretches of hot weather.
- Watermelon Radishes: the inverse of a traditional radish, with white-green skin on the outside and pink flesh on the inside (sometimes called "red meat" radishes). Since radishes grow so quickly, I'll be doing a few successive plantings to extend the harvest.
- Atomic Red Carrots: a bright red carrot that is supposed to be excellent cooked. Sweet roasted carrots anyone?
- Cosmic Purple Carrots: a spicy-sweet purple carrot with an orange-yellow core. I can't wait to find out how a spicy-sweet carrot tastes!
- Lunar White Carrots: a creamy white carrot with mild flavor. These were supposedly all the rage in Europe during the Middle Ages.
- Early Purple Vienna Kohlrabi: a purple skinned kohlrabi that will add a welcome pop of color to the garden.
- Bulls Blood Beets: these beets are known for their dark red leaves and pretty rings inside the beet itself. The greens, err, reds, are also supposed to be excellent micro greens; thinning these guys should be a tasty chore!
- Crimson Forest Bunching Onions: a red onion variety that does bulb, but I planted them at a higher density to use them as scallions and spring onions in salads and fresh salsas.
Now I feel like this adventure has officially begun!. These are all new-to-me varieties, so I'm looking forward to watching them grow. This weekend I will also be ready to transplant a few of my heirloom seedlings into the garden as well. The Calabrese Green Sprouting Broccoli and Long Island Improved Brussels Sprouts are definitely ready to stretch out in the garden.
The gentle rain yesterday came at a perfect time. Hopefully I'll have some sprouts to ooh and aah over in no time!
Labels: beets, broccoli, carrots, garden plans, Grow It Forward, kohlrabi, lettuce, scallions, seeds
