Garden Memories

Have you ever tried starting plants from seed? Do you have animals or kids or both? Then you know that although starting seeds is rewarding in it’s own right and cheaper than buying live plants, it can also be time consuming and full of frustration. Although the packages all say just pop those babies into some dirt and wait two weeks, it’s just not that easy. No one tells you to soak the seeds for the best results. There is no advise column that tells you to keep them above your childs’ reach. I haven’t found a single packet that explains how much your cat will love to dig in the one spot that you’ve just prepped.


My answer; grow beans.
Almost without attention beans will grow. Within a day or so of germinating a new plant exisits. You can plant 20 or thirty and within a week you’ll see real live growing healthy plants. You can get growing advise anywhere on the Internet so I’ll not bore you here. What you won’t find is this cautionary note. Plant beans to protect your more difficult crop. They give the kids and the animals something to destroy, while you are seeding the tomatoes. And some will survive. Of course once the plant is at a certain size the novelty wears off and your little ones are no longer intrigued by the green things and the cats have long since given up the notion that you’ve dug a new litter box for them. In the meantime, you’ve grown something and there is the evidence. If this is the first time you tried to start your garden from seed, I would suggest a few other ego boosting plants. You can also use these seeds to hijack that sense of curiosity your children have displayed. They grow fast, and a give kids a chance to learn a skill that will not come from a school curriculum.

Sunflowers
Sunflowers will sprout in a week and become a seedling in two. Just plant a few, since sunflowers take up a a lot of room. If you plant confectionery sunflowers they will dry naturally in the late summer sun and you can use the the seeds roasted for snacks. Save a few for next year.


Radishes
Radishes germinate in three to ten days. They have a very short growing season of up to a month. Place them close together, no more than 6 inches apart. They can be planted anytime; a spring planting will give you a milder tasting vegetable.

Peas
Peas take about 10 days to germinate and mature in about 60 days. Peas prefer cooler, partially shaded locations in the garden and should be sown closely, about 1″ apart at most. Snow peas are popular because the pod is edible and since they are a dwarf plant they can be grown without a trellis.


Nasturtiums
These flowers are easy to grow and yield results quickly, which encourages the young gardener. Nasturtiums bloom about 50 days after the seeds are planted, with orange, yellow and red flowers. They prefer sunny, dry locations and do well in poor soil. Choose the shorter varieties for garden beds. Nasturtiums are also pest resistant, which ensures a successful planting. The flowers are also edible, and can be used to add colour to a fresh garden salad.