#51 Seeds are the New Toilet Paper
The madman got a call from his friend Bill the other day saying he couldn’t find his dandelion seeds. He calls them dandelions, but they are actually Radichetta. We’re the only ones who eat dandelions and they are starting to bloom now so they are starting to get bitter. The madman replied, “You know, Bill, seeds are the new toilet paper.”
Victory Gardens
Since that time, we have read a lot of articles about people starting gardens, similar to Victory Gardens of the past. Although many people associate Victory Gardens with the war effort of World War II, they actually began during World War I. In 1917, the government encouraged Americans to plant their own gardens to take the pressure off commercial agriculture.
The concept was simple, people could “sow the seeds of victory” by planting their own gardens. Instruction pamphlets, much like today’s “How to Garden” videos were distributed by various groups. Watching seeds sprout, grow and mature is a great morale booster. And, under the spectre of world war, Americans needed all the help they could get. By the end of 1918, more than 5.2 million garden plots were cultivated – men, women and children could contribute to the war effort without carrying a gun. The Victory Gardens as they were called had been successful.
Rationing Spurs 20 Million Gardens
During World War II, Victory Gardens re-emerged to the tune of 20 million plots. The rationing of certain foods helped fuel this explosion. Any empty spot became a Victory Garden – backyards, window boxes, rooftops and even vacant lots. Not only did these gardens feed Americans, they made Americans feel good. The wartime Victory Gardens were promoted by the government. But, today there is an interest in gardening that seems to be a grassroots effort. People are growing because they want to, not because they were told to.
And, as more people plant gardens, we are hearing a lot about seed companies running out of seeds. In fact, Fruition Seed Company said that demand has been so high that they actually ran out of their trademark colorful seed packets. Luckily they still had seeds, so they have been very innovative about their seed packaging.
Frost Should be Gone
We’ve come to the conclusion that this year the best seeds you can grow are the seeds you can get. The madman’s last frost date is May 15, which is the last frost date according to UConn. So, it’s time to get your hands dirty.
In our last blog we talked about siting your garden. You should have already been thinking about what you want to plant. Remember, if you don’t eat it, don’t plant it. Stick with what you like. Really, if you don’t like Okra, don’t plant 20 Okra plants. Granted, the flowers are nice, but…
Transplants Vs Seeds
For your summer garden, some vegetables are best started as transplants, and others directly seeded. The madman always felt that tomatoes, peppers and eggplants belonged in the first category. He used to include broccoli, Brussel sprouts and cabbage in this group, but the Imported Cabbage Moth is such a problem for us that we have given up on these plants.
If you haven’t started these plants from seed, don’t despair. Local farm stands and garden centers have been busy. They have been growing these plants for you, and the good thing is they grow what will do well in your area. Visit them, but remember to practice social distancing.
There will be other small transplants available, like squash, cucumbers, beets and a myriad of salad greens, but the madman feels that these will do just as well with seeds planted directly in the ground. Unless, like Bill, you can’t find the seeds.
Don’t Plant Too Early
Let’s talk about your Victory Garden. Hopefully you weren’t fooled by that spell of warm weather we had as May began. Temperatures were in the 70˚s. I tried to keep a reign on the madman. Like the rest of you, he is desperate to get his plants in the ground. We all need the kind of lift that can come from gardening. But, Mother Nature knows nothing about our current pandemic – May 15 is May 15 – don’t plant until then! Of course, I caught the madman covering up four pepper plants that somehow ended up in a garden row. When I confronted him, he reminded me that, like fellow master gardener John Carlson, he needed a couple of suicide plants. If they didn’t die, they’d have a head start. I just rolled my eyes. Thank goodness they don’t live next to each other!
In all reality, you should not have planted any warm weather crops. The madman and I remember our mothers waiting until Memorial Day to plant. The weather was warm and the soil was dry. We suspect that they used this long weekend because there was extra help available, i.e. a husband with an extra day off.
Plenty of Time
With this year’s quarantine in place, getting a garden started should be easier. You’ve had time to prepare the beds. You know what you’re going to plant. Now it’s time for the easy part – putting the seeds and plants in the ground.
Again, the madman suggests direct seeding of beans, cucumbers, squash, radishes, beets, carrots, salad greens (Bill’s dandelions fall in this category) and herbs like basil, dill, cilantro and parsley. Also, now is the time for seeding summer blooming annuals like zinnias, nasturtiums, sunflowers, marigolds, etc.
Seeds Require Care
A common mistake is thinking you can just stick seeds in the ground and walk away. Since different seeds have different requirements, the madman suggests that you read the seed packet and follow planting directions. Seeds need moisture to break through the hard seed coat, so make sure you keep the seed bed consistently moist. Don’t count on Mother Nature – she’s better at drying the soil out than providing rain at this time.
Transplants
Whether you purchase or grow your own transplants, they should also be ready to go in the ground. Again, like seeds, they require some special care. The madman gathers his plants and waters them thoroughly before he starts planting. He digs a hole and mixes in a handful of fertilizer. Then he takes the plant out of the container, breaks up the root ball and slides the plant through a paper cup to protect the stems from cutworms. He then puts it in the hole. I water it in while he fills the hole with soil. As each bed is planted we go back and water again to make sure these plants won’t dry out while getting established. Water will help our plants grow into their new environment. It will also encourage the growth of weeds.
Here, you have some choices. Send the kids out every day to pull the weeds or mulch. We have tried both and can speak with some authority that the first choice doesn’t work very well. There are as many ways to mulch as there are books and articles telling you how to do it. Mulch not only stops weeds, it also helps conserve moisture.
Mulch
Throughout our gardens we use a variety of materials for mulch. Red plastic helps our tomatoes grow. Newspaper and straw keep our peppers and eggplants happy. Last fall’s ground-up leaves mulch our other vegetables and flower beds. Wood chips cover our paths. You can use what you want – any mulch is better than no mulch. Avoid grass clippings that have seeds or chemicals in them.
As we finish writing this, we realize how much gardening has helped us through these last few weeks. Like you, we have no idea what this summer will bring, but we know that we will be able to walk into the garden for enjoyment, relaxation and a bite to eat.
Speaking of a bite to eat, it’s time for a break. We are still drinking cocoa because we can’t get to the store to buy lemons.
Stay safe.
