As the Spindle Turns . . .

It happens that the Lunar New Year comes with the new moon of January. Randomly YouTube suggested a video about what plants I could start indoors if I lived in USDA zones 5, 6, or 7. I looked through my seeds. Further research by reading the back of the seed packets led me to come up with my own list, based on what I already have. I know how slow things grow because of temperature and the amount of artificial light I have available.

Each day, I chose to plant one type of plant from my list. The video recommended that some be planted closer to the end of January. The vlogger based this on when plants would need to go outside, under a low tunnel. Some varieties of plants are better suited for this type of growing. I'm going with what I have.

1. Chives
2. Leeks
3. Winter Density Lettuce
4. Parsley
5. chard
6. Spinach, be wary because it has a long taproot and doesn't transplant well.
7. Thyme
8. Lavender
9. Foxglove

Some of my seeds may be crop failures. I am planting multiple varieties of leeks, lettuce, spinach, and chard. We'll see what I get. It is not crunch time where I have to worry about a crop failure. If they don't come up, I just need to acquire more seeds. There is plenty of time to replant.



The indoor lettuce is doing well. The variety is Freckles from Baker's Creek. I need to harvest again. The Baker's Creek Spinach is also doing well. I use other seed companies too but last year's seed swap involved a lot of Baker's Creek seeds. I planted the lettuce to grow all winter indoors under lights. It was planted just after Thanksgiving. I was mad that the stores had no decent lettuce after the holiday.



We dispatched the 9 pound Butternut squash for soup this week. Tonight I rinsed the seeds and set them aside to dry, labeling them, of course. Sometimes, if you wait too long to cook your winter squash, the seeds will actually start growing inside. We have two small pumpkins and another butternut left to go.



This will be my very first time gardening in January. It is really early for starting.Normally, I start plants that take a long time to grow in February closer to March. Next month I'll be starting eggplant, celery, summer savory, and maybe cabbage or another herb. Because we have a serious issue with cabbage beetles, I'm not quite sure when to plant so that my crop misses them entirely. Some people say to plant late, but then the slugs get them. It's all an experiment.

However you plan to spend your Lunar New Year, have a good one! We are entering the Year of The Rabbit.

April has been a weird weather month. It hit 70 degrees today. I have the compost fermenting under some old storm windows in the second raised bed garden. Not entirely happy with the loose bricks on that hill. Hoping the promised rain arrives. Otherwise I'll have to turn on the hose. I suppose I will have to turn it on eventually but it hits 20 degrees still some nights. Topsy turvy. Don't know if the peas will come up. Something was out there this morning. The cat freaked out and came upstairs, doing his best Lassie imitation. "Come quick, Timmie fell down the well!" All this at about 5 or 6 am. So far in the seed dishes, I have brussel sprouts coming up, cauliflower, and a Nasturium. No tulips this year. That rabbit ate them all. Not sure what to do about him. At least he has only eaten in the front yard. I'm thinking fencing.