Let’s get caught up on what’s going on with the 2023 garden, which is of course mostly seed starting, but, in addition, some transplanting too. Rather than visualize the season, this year will be a bit different. I am sorting it out in pieces by making rather quick decisions when certain types of seeds need planting. The last part, the main batch of tomatoes, is targeted for planting tomorrow, but I won’t decide on which until tonight!

Our backyard magnolia in bloom a full month sooner than our last three springs here in Hendersonville.

I planted the first seeds on January 31. I planted 7 cells of flowers, 1 of rhubarb, 3 of beets, 2 of chard, 1 each a mustard, kale and collards, three with spinach and 5 with lettuce. Of the flowers, Echinacea, Balcony Petunia, and Blue Wood Aster are yet to germinate (seeds are a few years old). One each seed of yellow canna and pink canna, 2 rhubarb, and some pansies in snapdragons are up and growing well. Golden and Crosby Beet are in good shape, but Detroit Beet was older seed and didn’t germinate. I’ve got plenty of chard, mustard, kale, collards, Seaside, Space and Nobel spinach, and Gabriella, Green Ice, Rouxai, Magenta and Cherokee lettuce. I’ve already separated out and transplanted all of the above into 3.5 inch pots or (for the beets and snapdragons), 1 inch cell plug flats. The greens are in 3.5 inch pots with up to 6 plants in each. They’ve been spending most of the time outdoors, being cool weather plants, and will come into the garage if a frost is likely.

Here come the greens described in the above section

On February 20, I planted 49 cells - a few random flowers and herbs (Thunbergia, Coral Nymph salvia, a few baptisia, a purple leaf basil and a celosia), but mostly wanted to test germination on a slew of hibiscus that were collected in the wild and grown out since 2014. I had no idea how these (mostly Swamp Mallows) kept their viability. As of today, 5 of 7 varieties saved in 2014 (9 year old seed), 3 of 7 saved in 2015 (8 year old seed), 6 of 7 saved in 2016 (7 year old seed), 5 of 8 saved in 2017 (6 year old seed), and 3 saved in 2022 (1 year old seed) popped out of the planting mix. I have at least one plant of each of the types that I want to grow out this year.

Finally came a major planting of older tomato seeds, and fresh pepper and eggplant seeds, on February 20. I wanted to use my tomato family trees tracking genealogy and see how older seed as close to the received seed as possible for each variety would germinate. This flat is still on a heating mat, so this is work in progress.

So far, Big Sandy saved in 2012 and 2013 is up and growing. Lucky Cross from 2011, Cancelmo Family Heirloom from 2016 and 2017, Cherokee Chocolate from 2011 and 2012, Cherokee Purple from 2011, Gallo Plum from 2009 (the oldest seed that is up - 14 years old), Giant Syrian from 2012 and 2013, Hugh’s from 2013 and 2014, JD Special C Tex from 2012, Lillian’s Yellow Heirloom from 2015, Monticello Mystery Tomato from 2013, and Yellow Brandywine from 2011 are up.

I’ve no growth yet from Anna Russian (2012, 2013), Bisignano #2 (2011, 2013), Brandywine (two from 2011), Coyote (from 2011 and 2013), Dester (from 2012 and 2013), Eva Purple Ball from 2011, Hege German Pink (two from 2012), Indian Stripe from 2011, Rasp Red from 2008 and Red Brandywine from 2006. All of the peppers and eggplant are up and growing. As far as days to germination, peppers ranged from 6-7 days, eggplant 6-7 days, and tomatoes 6 days for 2016 and 2017 saved up to 11 days for seeds saved in 2011. I will keep hope that more will appear and provide an update in a few weeks.

That’s it for the update. As far as what I will plant tomorrow, the parameters I am using - a set of standard indeterminate varieties that are favorites (choosing from most colors), a set of works in progress or newly sent indeterminates - and ditto for the dwarfs (some favorites, some works in progress). My other decision will be which to grow at the Veterans Healing Farm greenhouse (I can probably fit 80 indeterminate and 40 dwarf there), and which to grow here in our back yard in straw bales (probably 20 -30 varieties).