January 4, 2014 - The Gardening Year Begins

When I typed the date in my title, I put "December".  That's how far behind I am!  Not only am I still in 2013, I'm not even in the correct month yet.  But....it IS 2014 now, and time to start planning my garden.  The first thing that must be done is to place my seed order.  I've decided to try Fedco this year, because so many others have mentioned how they like them.  I had to work a bit to get my order up to $30, as I really do like "free shipping".  I'm afraid the shipping costs at most catalog companies makes me turn the other way.  I'd love, for instance, to order from Johnny's.  They have so many varieties that I'd like in my garden, but I find them a bit expensive.  Yes, I am a cheapskate!  In the past I've usually ordered from Ed Hume seeds, or purchased them from the seed rack when they go on sale each spring, but I've had some mislabeled seeds the past two years, so I've decided to go with another seed source.  I must say, the Ed Hume seed company was quick to refund my money when I notified them about the problem, but that didn't turn my "rose colored" nasturtiums from orange to pink, nor did it give me time to replant the "sugar snap peas" that turned out to have inedible pods.



Varieties I've ordered for 2014 (varieties new to me are preceded with  * )
*Beans (bush), Jade
Beans (bush), Provider
Beets, Red Ace
*Broccoli, Fiesta
Cabbage, Early Jersey Wakefield
*Carrot, Mokum
*Carrot, Sugarsnax
Corn, Honey Select
*Cucumber, Calypso  (sold out)
Lettuce, Anuenue
Lettuce, Buttercrunch
Lettuce, Jericho
*Lettuce, Sierra
*Onions, Copra
Onions, Walla Walla
*Pea, Cascadia Snap
Radish, Champion
Spinach, Tyee
Squash, Early Summer Crookneck
Squash, Jackpot Zucchini
Watermelon, Sugar Baby OG

I think I have all of the rest of the seeds I need for sweet peppers, Fortex pole beans and butternut squash, as well as miscellaneous herbs and flowers.  Dan is sending some melon and tomato seeds, and I also have quite a few tomato seeds left or saved from last year.

I HEART the Colonel.  Normally I shun fast food, but Mr. Granny came home from KFC with a couple of these one day last fall.....

Did I see the crispy chicken strips and fat laden potato wedges?  No.  What I did see was this:

 A 4" seed starting pot with room for two seedlings.

 Two dimples in the bottom to mark the spots to add drainage holes with my hot glue gun.

 A very sturdy 3" clear dome that comes with a small vent hole in the top.  That's 7" of combined depth and height for the seedlings.  Perfect.

I may have encouraged him to consume a few orders through the winter.  So far I have 20 cups, enough for 40 seedlings.  I think another four might do for this year  :-)

Happy 2014!



33 comments:

  1. I love the re-purposing! How is Mr.Granny's weight-loss programme shaping up...?

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    1. Mark, after 20 orders of chicken and potato wedges, we do NOT discuss Mr. Granny's weight. On the other hand, I'm getting very close to 300 consecutive days being under my desired weight. I don't eat any of the KFC Go Cups!

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  2. Great use of those cups, Granny! But what about tomatoes? Do you have your seeds for those already? Do you save seeds from your own? Happy 2014!

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    1. Alison, did you miss "Dan is sending some melon and tomato seeds, and I also have quite a few tomato seeds left or saved from last year.", LOL? As soon as I get the seeds from Dan and get my saved seeds out of the freezer, the 2014 list will be updated.

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    2. LOL Granny, I did miss that.

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    3. Alison, I have begun my 2014 seed inventory. Lots more to go, but the list can be seen at

      http://tinyurl.com/n7mehv2

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  3. Those containers are perfect! I think you will be pleased with Fedco. I have ordered from them off and on and have always had great results. The are very generous with their seed packages too. I've been enjoying their catalog this year. I love the witty seed descriptions.

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    1. Rachel, I've never ordered from them before, but Daphne has added my order in with hers a couple of times, and I've been happy with their seeds. I just finished ordering online, so I'm anxious to get the seeds. It will make spring feel so much closer!

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  4. I love your creativity with the containers! And I get what you're saying about Johnny's seeds. I love them but they are expensive and their shipping charges are crazy. That's why I go with Fedco for my main order, although they can be a little quirky. Alas, I have no trouble at all making the minimum 30 dollar order, because I am crazy about ordering seeds. Kind of an addiction, but it could be a worse one. Happy 2014 Granny!

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    1. Nutmeg, I hit $32 with that order, but I have a lot of seeds left from last year, plus all the Mike the Gardener seeds I've received this winter. I know I'm going to go crazy trying to figure out what tomato varieties to grow this year, I have a couple of new (to me) ones as well as some old favorites, and there is only so much room in the garden! Last year was not a great tomato year, so I'm hoping it's better in 2014.

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  5. I used to hate the end of the holiday season but now love it for the excitement of garden planning. I took a garden (and blogging) hiatus for the last few months because the kids had so much going on and I just couldn't find the time to fit it all in. I was sick earlier in the week and pulled out the seed catalogs and got everything ordered and now I'm so excited, I can't wait to get back to it. I ordered the Quadrato Rosso D'Asti and Quadrato Giallo D'Asti pepper seeds that you recommended and they should be here next week. Here in Florida, it's time to start tomatoes and peppers or else be forced to purchase pricey transplants from the big box stores. Good luck with your choices this year!

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    1. Jen, I know what you mean. I inherited some African violets a couple of weeks ago, and I repotted them yesterday,. That's all it took to get me in the gardening mood! There isn't much else I can do util next month, when I start the onion seeds. The fun will really begin in March for me!

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  6. You are so organized! Very inspirational :) I have a lot of seeds left from last year, but I need to organize and determine where the holes are in my inventory. Happy Planning!

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    1. Jennifer, my leftover seeds (and some new packets) are deep in the bottom of my freezer. I need to dig them out and do a complete inventory! That will satisfy my gardening urge for a day or two
      ;-) I'm procrastinating on the cosmos, marigolds and nasturtiums, because I have a feeling there will be a million volunteers this year.

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  7. I've tried to comment twice already today and it's not working right. Know it's something on my end but ... ARG at figuring it out. Going to try and comment from my Blogger account and see if that works.

    Forget exactly what I was saying in earlier attempts. Hoping for a great year of gardening, too. Would love to go ahead and buy seeds but that's Mike's dept. He actually knows what he's doing, lol.

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    1. Whatever you did worked, Teresa. I was just over commenting on your blog! Love the new blog, btw.

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  8. Great eye on the containers for growing seedlings! A true gardener at heart :O).....I totally agree with you on the shipping from seed companies. My friend and I were just talking about this. We would have both ordered from several different companies but when we saw shipping of 4.95 to 7.95 for a couple packages of seeds, had to say not to that. They are shooting themselves in the foot with that. I have never ordered from Fedco. I will have to go look them up. I don't need many seeds this year, but its surely fun to add some new things each year.

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    1. Texan, Fedco has very reasonable prices, and no shipping charge on orders of $30 or more. It just happens the seeds I really needed came to $32! I have only ordered from Ed Hume Seeds and Ohio Heirloom Seeds in the past, as both have very reasonable prices and shipping in the $2 range. I can handle that, but those $6-7 and even higher, sometimes with high seed prices to boot....no thank you.

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  9. I laughed out loud when I saw your mountain of KFC Go Cups (which I've never seen before, so I learned something new today).

    I just placed most of my seed order today as well. I moved and took a year off from gardening, so I pretty much have to replace everything...I could meet the minimum order a few times over.

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    1. Liz, I got my seeds out of storage last night and began taking inventory....AFTER I placed my order! I discovered I doubled up on a couple of things. I really didn't need two packets of cabbage, LOL. That'll teach me to do the inventory before I buy.

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  10. It's my first year ordering from Fedco---and I confess-I originally got the catalogs because I had read somewhere that it was a WEALTH of info--and it was. But the prices are what convinced me--several items were only a buck and I loved the varieties. Got my order placed and am excited to receive it. Now I'm poring over their tree catalog. Heck, just the info on varieties, pruning, etc makes it an excellent read.
    And KFC used to give these little plastic containers for the potatoes/slaw/etc and I saved those for freezing individual applesauce , etc. Loved them...........and now they discontinued doing that here. Bummer. Love those containers you get. Hmmmmm

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    1. Heck, Sue, some of the seeds were only 80-cents! I didn't get their catalog. I peeked at it online, thought it was the ugliest garden catalog ever, and just ended up doing the online seed search and ordering.

      Mr. Granny loves the chicken and potatoes. I think he gets tired of eating chicken just grilled or roasted here at home, 'cause I don't do hardly any frying any more. He hasn't complained a bit when I tell him I need a few more containers, so get his butt down to KFC! He won't tell me how much weight he's gained this winter.

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  11. I think that is why I order from Fedco too. I'm cheap I even go through the Pinetree catalog and the Fedco together and find out which one gives me more seed per dollar for a variety if they both have it.

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    1. Daphne, how is Pinetree on shipping? I thought I got their catalog, but evidently not. I'm glad you turned me on to Fedco. I just hope they send all of my onion seed order. Didn't you have a problem with that once?

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  12. Also checkout this revolutionary gardening system www.99aquaponics.com

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  13. I guess I will have to see if I can get a catalog from Fedco. I have never ordered seeds before because I have such a small garden but sometimes I can't find things I want to try in the stores.. It is snowing, blowing and cold out there and I was working on a small order of seeds for a change from Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds. Maybe I will hold off and check into Fedco. Nice containers from the Colonel. You will work the cholesterol back down this summer gardening! Nancy

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    1. LOL, Nancy, I haven't eaten a single bite from those KFC containers! They have all been consumed by Mr. Granny and a couple of the grandchildren, so I don't have to worry about my cholesterol. I'm not an eater, I'm an enabler ;-)

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  14. I love FEDCO seeds, but it is better to order from them in December since often they run out of seeds by the time they get to your order.I usually get a note they are out of stock, so I have learned to be the first to order in the season ( early in december). I understand seed getting expensive. I try to save seed from my own seed rotation system, but sometimes I just can't isolate my crops , so I have to depend on seed companies.
    You are so funny + RESOURCEFUL with your plastic containers! We get our chicken wings with those potatoe wedges when my son comes home for a visit---boy you can't eat too much of that stuff-lol:-)

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    1. Robbie, I hope they aren't out of the onion seeds! Those are the most important for early planting. After taking inventory of the seeds I already had, I found I shouldn't have ordered cabbage and radishes. I guess I'll have to make lots of sauerkraut this year, LOL!

      I don't eat any of the KFC chicken or the potatoes, so I have to depend on Mr. Granny and the grandkids to get my planters. I tried to talk him into checking out the garbage cans at KFC, but that was a no-go (ha-ha, he thought I was kidding).

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  15. looks like you are well on your way for the 2014 planting season!

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    1. Mrs. P, not really well on my way, but I have 2 tomato plants and 2 lettuce plants growing, and a container of onion seeds planted. That should keep me happy for a week or so :-)

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  16. Love the use of the Togo cups...not about to start eating from there, but the idea of repurposing is fantastic! As for seed orders, I'll look into Fedco...I normally use Territorial as the are just down the coast always...

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    1. Urban Homestead, I won't eat that stuff either, but I'm just shallow enough to let my family eat it so I can have the containers! After I get 2 more containers I'll make Mr. Granny revert back to healthier (grilled) chicken. The cups and domes are really sturdy, so they should give me several years of use. I've not ordered from Fedco before, but others have nothing but good to say about them. I like the free shipping on orders of $30 or more.

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