A long winter is not for sissies. If you are new to the tribe of hardy plants and hardy souls, here are 10 time-honored ways to beat cabin fever. How many do you already practice?
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Two Plant-Related Children’s Books
March 10, 2011 – Posted in: Book reviewsI have pretty high standards when it comes to children's books. I don't like them to be preachy or didactic or otherwise disrespectful of the reader, who may or may not be a child. Last night D., my eight-year-old daughter, and I read two children's books by Kathryn O. Galbraith that I received as review [...]
High Mowing Seeds Giveaway
March 4, 2011 – Posted in: Seeds and Seed StartingCold climate gardeners save themselves a lot of grief and aggravation if they purchase their seeds from companies in similar climates who grow, or at least trial, at their location all the seed they sell. If a company has successfully grown a seed in its cold climate, you can be pretty certain it will do [...]
Sweetheart Seed Giveaway for Your Valentine
January 31, 2011 – Posted in: Seeds and Seed StartingCosmos For The Cure Botanical Interests wants more people to know about their special seed packet, Celebration in Pink cosmos. With each purchase of one of these packets, Botanical Interests will donate one dollar to the Susan G. Komen for the Cure organization, with a minimum donation of $15,000. However, these packets will only be [...]
Seed-Starting: Online Help
March 30, 2010 – Posted in: Seeds and Seed Starting, Spreadsheets in GardeningSeveral years ago I decided to quit starting plants (ornamental and edible) indoors from seed. It was always a great way to appease my impatience for spring's arrival, but a seedling massacre occurred every May, as my attention was diverted to the many garden tasks outdoors needing completion. Inevitably, I'd forget to water, or take [...]
Siberian Squills From Seed
March 28, 2010 – Posted in: Seeds and Seed Starting, What's up/bloomingSo often we're told that a certain bulb multiplies by seed, but how often do you see it in action? In the photo above, the Siberian squill seedlings look almost like grass, but many of them still have the brown seed coat on their tips. Also, they are not flat like grass blades, but round [...]
Seeds for Cold Climates
January 14, 2010 – Posted in: Seeds and Seed StartingSeeds of vegetables grown in cold climates need to have a short length to maturity and an ability to tolerate cooler than typical temperatures--day and night. You can look in any general seed catalog for terms like "short growing season," "early-bearing," "tolerates cool evenings," or even the magic words, "especially bred for northern growers." It's [...]
Botanical Interests Seed Collection Giveaway
January 12, 2010 – Posted in: Seeds and Seed StartingBotanical Interests was a new seed company for me when I hosted a giveaway of their seeds last year. Since then I've had a chance to grow their seeds. My favorite has got to be the Lauren's Grape poppy. It is gorgeous paired up with 'Dark Towers' penstemon. Over 300 Kinds of Seeds But Botanical [...]
Renee’s Garden Seed Giveaway
March 1, 2009 – Posted in: Seeds and Seed StartingAs a result of my membership in GWA, for the past three years I have received a media packet from Renee's Garden. A free packet of seeds is always included in the mailing, as well as an order form listing every seed they're selling that year, with an invitation to mark off which seeds you [...]
When do I start tomatoes from seed in upstate NY?
February 21, 2009 – Posted in: Mailbag, Seeds and Seed Starting, VegetablesA 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 a [...]
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