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Talitha Purdy

In addition to being the primary vegetable and herb grower for Purdyville, Talitha is also chief pickler, canner, and bread baker. She grows flowers in between the vegetable rows and cuts them for arrangements. In her "spare" time she is developing her own sloper and sews many cool presents for her relatives--everything from capes to stuffed animals, and even a teepee! USDA Hardiness Zone: 4 AHS Heat Zone: 3Location: rural; Southern Tier of NYGeographic type: foothills of Appalachian MountainsSoil Type: acid clayExperience level: advanced beginnerParticular interests: herbs, vegetables, cutting garden

When do I start tomatoes from seed in upstate NY?

February 21, 2009

A reader contacted Cold Climate Gardening recently to ask:
I live in area between Syracuse and Ithaca… near Cortland. I have tomato seeds–many different varieties. When should I start the seedlings to grow in peat pots inside the house? Is it too early? While I am at it…what else should I be starting? Thanks [...]

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Johnny Loves Me!

December 1, 2006

I mean, Johnny’s loves me. I happened to be looking at tomatoes online tonight (which is early for me!), and lo, I discovered Valley Girl! Despite anything anyone says to the contrary, I am going to believe this tomato was developed just for me. (I am a girl, and I am living in a Valley.) [...]

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Testing Seed Germination. . . what do you learn?

March 22, 2006

Not much.
As is my habit every spring, I test my seeds to see whether they’re still any good, or if I need to buy new ones. This is a very easy thing to do–you stick half a damp paper towel in a little plastic bag, drop in ten seeds (5 if you’re starting to run [...]

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A Tale of Two Cities. . .I mean, Catalogs

January 11, 2006

So we got this new (meaning, we’ve never gotten this one before, the company’s actually 9 years old) seed catalog in the mail the other day, and I’ve been elected to post about it. They’re called Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds, and you can find them on the internet here. They’re all about rare, organic, old, [...]

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Potatoes

January 11, 2006

As I’m beginning to get started on my seed order this year, I remember that I meant to post on potatoes. Last year, due to the fascinating varieties offered by Fedco, I ordered my potatoes from them instead of Johnny’s. Most of you probably know that Fedco is divided into several distinct branches; the seeds [...]

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A “Quick” Recap

September 23, 2005

That is, if I am even capable of writing something short. Brevity just isn’t my thing.
The first frost is probably on its way tonight, as evidenced by the heaps and heaps of flowers I cut and brought in. Oh, and the still, clear night air, and the rapidly approaching chill. This is slightly late for [...]

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You never know who’s listening. . .

June 25, 2005

People who have been reading a while might remember this post of mine from a while back. Well, today we have a very similar story. Once again, it begins with me coming back from shopping–which is odd, because I actually very rarely go out shopping, only about once a month when I go out to [...]

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Weather Whining II

June 20, 2005

Our nasty, hot sticky weather–high 90s for days and days on end, coupled with so much humidity the hill across the street was covered in a white haze–has finally broken. Quite dramatically. Now we’ve been getting days where the warmest it gets is into the low 60s. There was no transition at all; it is [...]

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Notes

May 25, 2005

My ‘America’ spinach has withstood my torments much better than the ‘Olympia’ spinach. I had trouble with the ‘Olympia’ dampening off, to begin with. (I did start them inside; more on that later.) The ‘America’ looks settled in, but the ‘Olympia’ looks like it’s hanging by a thread. I actually wanted ‘Tyee’, but Fedco was [...]

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More Weather Gripes

May 20, 2005

I ought to be going to bed, so this will shorter (for me). I find it highly annoying that we can go from having 86 degree weather one afternoon to having a 23 degree night, in less than 48 hours. It just isn’t fair.
It also isn’t fair that even though it says on [...]

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Too Bad for the Broccoli

May 9, 2005

Yes, folks, this is going to be a sad post. Better get out your Kleenex. *Sigh.* Particularly sad after last year’s broccoli, which was the most wonderful broccoli I’d ever had in my life, no kidding. That was amazing broccoli.
First we must set the stage. . .
After our terrible flooding (for most of which, [...]

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Spring Can Come Now!

March 15, 2005

All of my seeds are here, so now Spring can come. In fact, I’m beginning to get impatient now. . .
Fedco had to substitute my Amish pepper for a similar variety. . .I guess a lot of people liked their discription! The things they had to substitute were cheaper, so they also sent two dimes [...]

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Cool!

March 3, 2005

Today, I came back from shopping, and found a piece of mail for me–an envelope, hand addressed. Hello! I wasn’t expecting any letters. . .what’s the return address? Fedco! Oh, no!! I sent my order in when it was only a week till thier deadline, I hope they’re not telling me I’m too late for [...]

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