I Had A Dream.. No, A Nightmare!

With Christmas close at hand, it isn't unusual for me to have an anxiety dream. Usually it is something about trying to run, but my legs are moving in slow motion... or I have one about forgetting to put a baby on solid foods, and the next thing you know they are walking.. just anxiety dreams. Well, this year, I dreamed it was early spring and I had forgotten to start any plants under lights in the basement. I was frantic!

I've received my 2006 catalogs from Stokes and Chilterns, and more will be on the way by the first of the year. I hope to have my order lists compiled and order online by mid-January. By late January or early February, I'll have several flats going downstairs... unless it really wasn't a nightmare... it's still December, isn't it???

This year I succumbed early. I already have ordered all the seeds I want and have received most of them, except Chiltern's (awaiting delivery) and Jelitto (catalog is due out this week or next). This year I will be much more organized than last. Famous last words...

Some of the 2006 catalogs are not out until after the 1st of the year, so it is difficult to order from those catalogs early. I have to go through my seed tote before I order, or I'll buy things I don't need.

I started sowing seeds last night - yes, seed-sowing will begin in earnest now!

Bad dream!!
I had forgotten what it's like to live in your zones- I am 9 to 9b and some folks start their veg. seeds in doors so that they can harvest before the intolerable heat sets in, I don't usually do that because I have killed more seedlings than I care to think about.
Our growing season is very long here- still have plants that are blooming and setting blooms this day!
Good luck to you guys.

I started late Oct. sewing trees and shrubs seeds. I'll start some perennials after the new year and it esculates from there. I find,my biennals do better if I sew seeds from June to early Aug.so I have tons of hollyhocks,lunaria(sp?),foxgloves,dianthus and the likes in plug trays to bump up to 4"starting as early as mid.Feb.

My bad dream is that I keep trading and buying more seeds.....Oh? Wait a minute...that's not a dream....LOL

Peggy

Oh now I AM frantic....I am not done xmas shopping yet and now I find that I am behind on seed starting!! Someone help me!!

You are not alone in the Christmas shopping! Yikes and some of my packages will not arrive until next week! Oh well some of my family will have additional presents- I haven't sent my Christmas cards either! Where does the time go?

My Christmas cards are mailed out, the presents are under the tree, and our Christmas rib roast is thawing. The house is about as clean as it's going to get, and I've just about caught up on the laundry. I guess that's why I'm obsessing about the seeds!

We can't set out plants until late May here, and June 1st is the safe date for last frost. Most everything has to be started indoors, including lettuces, etc. Our summers are so mild that nothing seems to mind being in full sun. Of course, it's all pretty much over by September 1st. with first freeze occurring by late September to mid-October.

I'm going to take pics today (Christmas) and send out happy new years cards....that way I will either be way behind or way ahead.....tomorrow I'm starting some seeds....

Wow, you do have a short growing season. I can see why starting seeds indoors is so important- although I don't envy you the short growing season, I do envy you your mild summers! I will be green w/ envy when you are in the midst of your summer, here we will be suffering w/ temps in the high 90s and humidity @ about 90%- and that lasts from June through mid October. Occassionaly we have it last through the end of October.

Stay warm and Happy New Year.

Wow! Heat and humidity! I don't think I could get used to that kind of weather. I've been an Alaskan too long. I would have thought you would have dry heat in Texas... are you coastal?

Yes we are a stones throw from the Gulf of Mexico- and I have been here for about 26 years and still haven't gotten used to it- would love to move but can't get my husband and kids to agree to leave here.
Where did you move from/where did you live before you moved to Alaska and what made you move to Alaska- if you don't mind me asking.

I was born and raised in Northern Indiana... some hot humid weather there in the summer, as well! I moved to Alaska with my first husband and my two sons back in 1974. We'd visited the year before and decided to make the move as soon as we could save some money, pack up, and head out. I've never regretted it. I've always lived in Seward. We live in a coastal town, as well, but I guess we don't get enough heat to create humidity issues! LOL!

Very cool, very brave. I am sure it must have been exciting to move to Alaska. I spent some summertime in Peru Indiana as a kid and that was where I first learned about hummidity- I grew up in Southern California and we don't or at least didn't have hummidity there. I am making up for it now.
April

Due to our short season, we're always looking for the veggies with fast maturity ratings. Even though tomatoes are a greenhouse plant, I still grow the early types... usually cherry tomatoes.

I've always wondered how the Alaskan's get all their gardening in...I'm planning on visiting [cruise/land tour] in '07. I'm told the best time to go is June/July. Would you agree with that?

~Anita

That's funny, we look for short season veggies to avoid the worst of our brutal summer heat and sun!

Yes, I would think June/July would be a good time. Earlier than that, it would be rather chilly, and later than that, rainy. Many of the cruise lines offload passengers in Seward, but they just shuffle them onto buses and take them to Anchorage to fly out.

Yes, April, I often forget that warmer climes are avoiding the heat of summer for some of their plants. I can grow lettuce all summer here.

Wheezy, you said you grow mostly cool weather crops. Have
you grown brussel sprouts? I'm wanting to try them, but need
to find someone who will send me just a few seeds that they may
have left over. Can't really afford to order seeds that I'm not
sure I can grow. thanks

Yes, Peggie. We can grow brussells sprouts. Often our season is too short for them to develop well. D-mail me and I'll see if I can send you some seeds.