This exact thing being said, last year got me started earlier than I ever had before. So many friends were in awe how well my garden was by the time most of them even start.
Two weeks from today, I break out my equipment, and seed starting takes over my dining room table. It is the perfect width for my grow lights and heat mat. I can fill between 2-3 1020 trays at a time. My cat likes it too. I start with onions, cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, pak choi, tomatoes, and peppers. Then I finish with mustard, chard, lettuce, basil, dill, cilantro, and assorted flowers. Cilantro has a certain odor to it that is much like stink bug spray making it an ideal companion plant for tomatoes. It works way better than onions and basil, at least for hornworms. Army worms are another matter. For them I use neem oil, or spinosad. More often, I use spinosad, as it keeps the pickle worms from ruining my cucumbers, and summer squash. BT will also work. Come about February 20th, give or take a day or two, the coldest part of winter has passed, and I start planting my cool season seed starts, and direct sow peas, radish, turnip, beet, parsnip, and carrots. A few weeks after that, I sow the last of my seed starts, zucchini (Round, Gold, Italian Gray, and Dark Green), Lemon Squash, cucumbers. cantaloupe, and watermelon. I may try sowing my peas earlier this year. It would be great if I can time it so I am harvesting shelling peas, pulling the plants (cutting at soil level), then immediately planting cantaloupe and Sugar Baby Watermelon in their place. That is my goal anyhow. I'd like to have the melons in the ground by mid May. I'll figure it out. No problems with the cucumbers, they have their own special place, next to the chicken coop. Anyway, I am looking forward to a green garden, not that I don't have plants still growing, I do, but I'll be harvesting from them soon. I will have broccoli ready to pick, and maybe cauliflower too for Christmas dinner. I also have carrots and parsnips that are about ready, maybe beets too? If nothing else, I can harvest the leaves. Also, I have to decide on what I am going to do with the red cabbage. They don't have time to form heads before the coldest part of winter hits. I can harvest and eat the leaves as is, I probably won't do that, of I can give them to the chickens. They love their treats. Bella and Goldie are laying eggs pretty steadily. Trixie is starting to squat, so any day for her now. Ariel, my Speckled Sussex, isn't quite ready yet, maybe next month? Anyhow, I am getting enough eggs, in winter of all times, that I've removed eggs from my grocery list for next week. It is a good thing too. The price of eggs has skyrocketed, and will soon be as valuable as gold. It won't be long before I can trade a dozen eggs for a new car. LOL.
When you say "plant" do you mean seed or do you mean having seedlings started inside even earlier than that and that's when they go outside? Total beginner here. :/
I plant tomatoes early. Actually started them yesterday. I start my winter garden seeds sometime around the middle of January. Winter planting goes according to forecast. I'm in AZ. We had 109 in October. I'm putting up shade cloth by April. Everything has to go according to local conditions. That's the only way I will get a harvest.
This exact thing being said, last year got me started earlier than I ever had before. So many friends were in awe how well my garden was by the time most of them even start.
Ive really been getting the urge to plant some things lately. I have to keep reminding myself we havent even hit winter yet.
It is hard to wait!
Im always trying to get the right timing thanks for this.
Two weeks from today, I break out my equipment, and seed starting takes over my dining room table. It is the perfect width for my grow lights and heat mat. I can fill between 2-3 1020 trays at a time. My cat likes it too. I start with onions, cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, pak choi, tomatoes, and peppers. Then I finish with mustard, chard, lettuce, basil, dill, cilantro, and assorted flowers. Cilantro has a certain odor to it that is much like stink bug spray making it an ideal companion plant for tomatoes. It works way better than onions and basil, at least for hornworms. Army worms are another matter. For them I use neem oil, or spinosad. More often, I use spinosad, as it keeps the pickle worms from ruining my cucumbers, and summer squash. BT will also work.
Come about February 20th, give or take a day or two, the coldest part of winter has passed, and I start planting my cool season seed starts, and direct sow peas, radish, turnip, beet, parsnip, and carrots. A few weeks after that, I sow the last of my seed starts, zucchini (Round, Gold, Italian Gray, and Dark Green), Lemon Squash, cucumbers. cantaloupe, and watermelon. I may try sowing my peas earlier this year. It would be great if I can time it so I am harvesting shelling peas, pulling the plants (cutting at soil level), then immediately planting cantaloupe and Sugar Baby Watermelon in their place. That is my goal anyhow. I'd like to have the melons in the ground by mid May. I'll figure it out. No problems with the cucumbers, they have their own special place, next to the chicken coop.
Anyway, I am looking forward to a green garden, not that I don't have plants still growing, I do, but I'll be harvesting from them soon. I will have broccoli ready to pick, and maybe cauliflower too for Christmas dinner. I also have carrots and parsnips that are about ready, maybe beets too? If nothing else, I can harvest the leaves. Also, I have to decide on what I am going to do with the red cabbage. They don't have time to form heads before the coldest part of winter hits. I can harvest and eat the leaves as is, I probably won't do that, of I can give them to the chickens. They love their treats.
Bella and Goldie are laying eggs pretty steadily. Trixie is starting to squat, so any day for her now. Ariel, my Speckled Sussex, isn't quite ready yet, maybe next month? Anyhow, I am getting enough eggs, in winter of all times, that I've removed eggs from my grocery list for next week. It is a good thing too. The price of eggs has skyrocketed, and will soon be as valuable as gold. It won't be long before I can trade a dozen eggs for a new car. LOL.
You are one of the most faithful and consistent youtuber I watch! Always giving good advice! It's inspiring and comforting. Happy to be here 🥰
Thank you so much, it means a lot!
I’m in Florida and it is trying to lure me into planting things. But I know that at the end of January there will be a cold snap for 3 or 4 days.
Thanks for sharing
You are very welcome!
Good information to have, thanks 💜
Glad to help
Up here, there is a rush!
Growing in colder climates I learned to plant and focus on different crops. It helped alot
Question: can Rutabaga be planted in the same spot or should I move them over a row . ?
I would move them to a different bed if possible
Where do u get your potato’s to plant
If I don't save them from the last harvest I get them locally
When you say "plant" do you mean seed or do you mean having seedlings started inside even earlier than that and that's when they go outside? Total beginner here. :/
Plant means seedlings in the ground
I plant tomatoes early. Actually started them yesterday. I start my winter garden seeds sometime around the middle of January. Winter planting goes according to forecast. I'm in AZ. We had 109 in October. I'm putting up shade cloth by April. Everything has to go according to local conditions. That's the only way I will get a harvest.
Correction. Winter seeds are started in September.