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March 6, 2011 at 9:50 pm #598208
ChristineMemberI don’t know about everyone else, but this bit of sunshine has got me thinking about getting started on my vegetable garden. I didn’t have the best luck with seeds last year, so am hoping to find somewhere with a large selection of vegetable starts. Any suggestions? Thanks!
March 6, 2011 at 10:10 pm #719454
NTParticipantI, too, have had terrible luck with seeds (my own inattention probably the culprit!). A couple of places/resources:
West Seattle Nursery, though perhaps a little early for them now.
Seattle Tilth has a big sale coming up in a couple of weeks for ‘cool season crops’, plus another big sale in May for hotter weather crops
I was surprised at the selection at Home Depot last year, though it was much later in the spring
And last, SSCC’s horticulture dept. sells starts, too. I think there is a blog or some such thing that had details for last year’s season, but I can’t seem to find it anywhere.
I’m sure others will have some great ideas to share, too – I’m a relative newbie to this!
March 6, 2011 at 11:20 pm #719455
transplantellaParticipantMaybe you should give seeds another try?
I’ve always had pretty good luck with all kinds of seeds, and they are so cheap.
However I have never had much luck with seeds sown directly into the ground. Something terrible always happens.
It’s pretty easy to duct tape/plastic/some kind of box cold frame in which to start seeds so they they are warm and moist in the early stages, then when a bit larger and less delicate, they can be transplanted into the ground.
Many years ago I rented an old house which had some cement frames in the back yard. I filled the frames with dirt, planted my seeds, and covered the frames with old cast off windows I found somewhere. It worked so well I used it for years.
Doesn’t take much in materials to throw together some kind of makeshift cold frame.
March 7, 2011 at 12:34 am #719456
QueMemberVilliage Green Perennial Nursery is going to be specializing in edibles this year. They are on 26th, just south of Roxbury. Right now, they have garlic, kale, arugula, shelling peas, and some herbs, but as the season progresses, they will have more and more that come in. They aren’t open to their full regular hours yet, but they will be soon, as it warms up and it is safer to plant stuff.
March 7, 2011 at 6:15 am #719457
ghar72ParticipantOh good, Que. So glad you mentioned Village Green. I love Vera and her kids! And don’t forget about those lovely chickens! I always try to support her during the season. And so glad to hear she’s going to have a larger selection this year.
I’ve always had great success with Karen Mallin’s starts. She lives off of Thistle on I think 26th or 28th, somewhere in there. She does plant sales in the spring and again in the fall. She puts out sandwich boards on Delridge and also on Thistle when it’s a sale weekend. I’m on her email list and will try to remember to post here when I get the next notice. She sells a huge variety of veggie starts, very reasonable prices, and just a nice person. Love supporting her too!
Hooray for shopping local! And how lucky for us in WS to have two excellent small businesses to get our veggie gardens off to happy starts.
March 7, 2011 at 5:15 pm #719458
helihuParticipantWe had great luck with tomato and patty-pan starts from the Farmers Market last year.
March 7, 2011 at 6:00 pm #719459
furryfacesParticipantThis is Furry Faces Foundation’s 11th Annual Plant Sale Season and we have become very well known for our organic vegetable starts, which are grown and donated by Karen Malin, ‘The Backyard Gardener’, here in West Seattle. We constantly get RAVES about her veggies, especially the tomatoes!
Whether you wait to purchase her veggies at our May and June plant sales, or go to one of her earlier sales (think they start late March and/or early April), think you will be very happy with the veggies that the plants produce.
Just a heads up…although we see tomato plants on sale during April, it’s best to keep tomato plants inside until AFTER Memorial Day weekend. You’ll have a bigger, happier, more productive plant. Cheers, F3
Remember, It’s Hip, To Be Snipped
March 7, 2011 at 6:05 pm #719460
dmcMemberI typically do everything from seed outdoors EXCEPT tomatoes, peppers, sometimes basil, and sometimes oregano. I love that Village Green is going to do edibles this year. We had had wonderful luck with their products in the past. Plus it is such a cool location. My best starts have come from PCC, the WS farmer’s market, and the vegetable stand down in Burien near Glen Acres golf course. Not incredibly convenient but the stop can be added when going to Trader Joes. I have researched a lot on the Internet and found really great information on our anticipated last day of frost-for those plants that need it a bit warmer. Another thing that is incredibly helpful is The Maritime Northwest Garden Guide done by Seattle Tilth. I grabbed one at PCC last year. One more thing-the Tilth sale is AMAZING but get there early and take a wagon. The lines are long and you need something to transport everything you purchase. Good luck and happy planting!
March 8, 2011 at 3:53 am #719461
ChristineMemberThanks to all for the great tips and words of encouragement. I will explore several of the suggested options….especially since I am planning on doubling the size of my vegetable garden this year. :>
March 8, 2011 at 5:04 am #719462
Genesee HillParticipantChristine,
I absolutely second dmc’s comments. It is still too early to plant most seeds outside.
NOW is the time to start tomato seeds indoors.
I always planted my tomato seeds in fairly large peat cups, placed the pots on the home water heater (hot water tank), and checked them EVERY day. As soon as they emerge, and I mean as soon as they emerge, put the pots in a south facing window sill. It is important to do this IMMEDIATELY, otherwise they get too leggy. Plant outside, IN LATE MAY, in a warm, south facing spot, ideally next to an outside, south facing wall. MAXIMUM SUN. Period.
I also planted lettuce in peat pots. They do not need the warmth that tomato seeds do to germinate. As soon as they emerge, put them outside, in direct sunlight, otherwise they get too leggy. This time of year, you can take the peat pots (lettuce) in at night, if the temp approaches freezing, but put them back out immediately at daybreak with close to full sun.
Yes, it is time consuming and requires vigilance.
However, I have always felt that not starting your garden from seed was sort of cheating.
Honestly, there is nothing quite like picking super tomatoes in August/September that were started from seeds in March.
My, and my wife’s, favorite tomatoes: Fantastic and Brandywine.
Quite prolific, even last year when it was cold until almost July.
March 8, 2011 at 7:27 am #719463
QueMemberHowever, there are totally some things that can be started from seed here already. I have totally had success with seeds for carrots, kale, peas and beets that I have planted at this point in the year. I always take the attitude that if I plant early I am gambling and may end up with early veges, but I also may have to replant later. But the possiblity of early veges gets me out there to throw some seeds in the earth on the chance of cooperative weather.
I always use starts for my tomatoes and last year I started my zucchini from seeds 3 times and they were defeated every time by bugs/slugs/coldsnaps and I ended up resorting to starts for those too.
March 8, 2011 at 7:28 am #719464
QueMemberHowever, there are totally some things that can be started from seed here already. I have totally had success with seeds for carrots, kale, peas and beets that I have planted at this point in the year. I always take the attitude that if I plant early I am gambling and may end up with early veges, but I also may have to replant later. But the possiblity of early veges gets me out there to throw some seeds in the earth on the chance of cooperative weather.
I always use starts for my tomatoes and last year I started my zucchini from seeds 3 times and they were defeated every time by bugs/slugs/coldsnaps and I ended up resorting to starts for those too.
March 18, 2011 at 8:18 pm #719465
ghar72ParticipantJust got the email from Karen Mallin about her next sale. She usually has a few sales in the spring, selling starts as they become ready to planted, like tomatoes in May. Here’s the info she sent…
Backyard Greenhouse
7939 28th Ave. SW
(between Holden & Thistle in West Seattle / 98126)
Cool Weather Veggies / Perennials / Herbs
Organically Grown
Sat., March 26, 9:00-4:00 / Sun., March 27, 10:00-3:00
Bring neighbors, friends and family!—Come rain or shine!!
March 20, 2011 at 4:52 pm #719466
NTParticipantghar72 – thanks so much for the Backyard Greenhouse information! I hit the Tilth sale yesterday and am pretty well-stocked for now, but I woudl love to get on that email list. Did/do you just attend a sale and add your name in person or can you do it online? I googled, but couldn’t find her directly. Thanks!!!!
March 20, 2011 at 5:37 pm #719467
furryfacesParticipantKaren Malin, ‘The Backyard Gardener’, who provides the veggies at Furry Faces’ plant sales, is having her first veggie/plant sale of the season next weekend. She lives in West Seattle. We constantly get RAVES about her veggies, especially the tomatoes! Here is the info regarding her upcoming sale:
Backyard Greenhouse; 7939 28th Ave. SW
(between Holden & Thistle in West Seattle / 98126)
Cool Weather Veggies/Perennials/Herbs
Organically Grown
Sat., March 26, 9-4/Sun., March 27, 10-3
Bring neighbors, friends and family!—Come rain or shine!!
March 20, 2011 at 7:10 pm #719468
ghar72ParticipantNT, Yes I got on her list at the sale. Pretty low-key affair. Also if you drive on Thistle E of 35th or Delridge south of Home Depot, she puts signs out on the street on the weekends she has sales. That’s typically how I remember, even if I’ve received an email!
March 20, 2011 at 10:59 pm #719469
NTParticipantThanks a million!!
March 20, 2011 at 11:26 pm #719470
B-squaredParticipantI second the thumbs up for Karen Mallin’s Backyard greenhouse sales. if you bought things at the Tilth’s edible plant sale, you may have inadvertantly bought some of Karen’s plants as she is one of their suppliers. but certainly more convenient to get them at her sales;)
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