I started this post a few weeks ago. When I reopened the draft, I realized just how much has changed.  Last year was a bit of disappointing growing season. Between work, bad weather, and a number of other things, a lot didn’t happen.  This year, my original plans were to focus on the infrastructure our garden and scale back on growing. Well, beyond just my inability to actually cut back on seed starting, current events have made me realize the importance of my garden. Even though garden centers are still open, who knows what the next few months will bring.

Just before the COVID-19 crisis began, I put my two weeks notice in at Target, where I had been working just over a year. My last day was March 21. It was a bit surreal to be in the thick of the panic buying. I am thankful that we have to opportunity for me to stay home this summer. Todd is a railroader and he is deemed essential, and there is  a lot of stress there during the best of times! So, this summer it really is going to be about our house, garden, and spending quality time together (and hopefully some family history sleuthing too).

We plan on expanding beds, building the raised beds, and just working on a lot of the projects that need finishing up. While we do plan on going to the hardware stores and garden centers, Todd and I have been diligently making lists and checking inventory, to make as few as possible trips. Only Todd is going to the hardware store and I do the grocery shopping.

So….here is how my ‘cutting back’ on seeds went and how I’m growing them this year:

This past fall, I used some pre-made supports and 1″x 6 “boards, stained with deck stain, to create two different plant stands. Since, I can’t quite reach my little green houses, and don’t want to completely take over the kitchen again, I’ve added an extra shelves to the larger of the plant stands. I also, for the first time ever, bought grow lights. These ones on Amazon.com.  They have several different options and the best part is how affordable they are! It took me only about a half hour to have mine set up and going. So far, I love them.  Here is my set up this year…

I started a few of my flower seeds earlier, then the majority of peppers, tomatoes, and herbs on the first day of Spring.  I decided I should start more. So, I added one more flat of herbs, peppers, and tomatoes. It’s a little late for a few of them, but I’ll give it a go. I also have all my summer bulbs potted up. While it’s a bit early for them, I typically just let them relax in there dirt and gradually pick up on watering as I get closer to plant times. So far, my set up has worked pretty well. My biggest complaint is not having quite as much control over the humidity and temp as I do with my little green houses.

Here is what I started this year  with links to where I’ve purchased them!

• Little Fingers Eggplant
• Sweet Pea Windsor
• Sweet Pea Bix
• Marigold Kilmanjaro White (This is where I bought my orignigal seeds. The seeds I started this year, I saved from last year’s flowers)
• Marigold Bambino
• Twinny Mix Snapdragon (This was a packet of seeds from Jung’s leftover from another year. No link, as I don’t think they carry it anymore)
• Chantilly Sherbet Toned Mix Snapdragon
• Summer Jewel Pink Salvia
• Lime Basil
• Greek Dwarf Basil
• Genovese Basil
• Dark Purple Opal Basil 
• Thai Sweet Basil
• Lemon Bee Balm
• Aunt Molly’s Ground Cherry
• Blue Berry Blend Tomato (This seed packet from Baker Creek is from 2012. I had great germination rates for the age!)
• Brad’s Atomic Grape Tomato
• Nebraska Wedding Tomato
• Amish Paste Tomato
• San Marzano Lungo II Tomato
• Artisan Tiger Mix Tomato
• Cherokee Purple Tomato
• Celebrity Tomato
• Sugar Rush Cream Hot Pepper
• Dieghito Jalapeno Pepper
• Sugar Rush Peach Pepper
• Sandia Green Hot Chili Seeds
• Aji Charapita Hot Pepper
• Aji Rico Hybrid Pepper
• Habanada Pepper
• Mucho Nacho Jalapeno Pepper
• Carolina Reaper Hot Pepper (These seeds were given to my husband by a coworker and lover of the super hot. I’m growing them for my brother-in-law)
• Flaming Flare Pepper
• Gypsy Pepper
• Georgia Fire or Flame Pepper (given by my husband’s coworker)
• Extra Curled Dwarf Parsley
• Double Curled Parsley
• Rosemary
• Summer Savory
• Sweet Marjoram
• Fern Leaf Dill

Here are my seeds I have picked out to direct sew (if it actually happens):

• Calima  Bush Beans
• Maxibel Bush Beans
• Purple Teepee Bush Beans
• Golden Rod Yellow Bush Bean
• Oregon Giant Snow Pea
• Mango (Vine Peach) Melon
• Blacktail Mountain Watermelon
• Minnesota Midget Melon
• Pak Choi Toy Choy Hybrid (This is another Jung seed they no longer carry)
• Black Magic Kale
• Early Jersey Wakefield Cabbage
• Red Rubine Brussel Sprouts
• Sugar Ann Snap Peas
• Purple Plum Radish
• German Giant Radish (seed tape)
• Japanese Wasabi Radish
• Honeybaby Hybrid Winter Squash
• Honey Boat Delicata Squash
• Tendergreen Burpless Cucumber
• Costata Romanesco Squash
• Parisienne Carrots
• Calendula Summer Carnival Mix

• Milkmaid Nasturtium
• Cacapo Light Blue Morning Glories
• Florist Pepperbox Poppy
• Salmon Janina Aster
• Black Swan Poppy
• Feverfew White Stars
• Apricot Lemonade Cosmos
• Pandora Poppies
• Rubenzo Cosmos
• Danish Flag Poppies (saved from last year’s flowers)
• Lady Bird Rose Nasturtium
• Zloty Lan Chamomile
• Jet Black Hollyhock
• Summer Dreams Cosmos 
• Painted Lady Runner Bean

I also have big dreams to put in lettuce/greens, grapes, strawberries, garlic, potatoes, onions, and start an asparagus bed also. We will see. I currently have five urban and columnar apples planted. Two of the apple trees were cast-offs and may or may not survive. The other three are planted into my flower beds. I’m hoping for a first small crop on the Scarlet and Golden Sentinel apples.