Squash!

Less than 1 week after I started my butternut squash seeds they are already coming to life! So far 7 or the 12 seeds I planted are pushing through the soil. Looks like it's going to be a fall full of squash--provided the pests don't get to them!

Spring Seedlings

Somehow winter and early spring seem to always fly by and last year by the time March came around I hadn't even begun to think about planning for spring plantings. This year I've attempted to start earlier and I decided a couple weeks ago that I want to make more of an effort to try to start my own seedlings. Since the slugs and other pests have been devouring my veggies lately I’ve decided I need to be planting more plants if I want to actually eat anything we’re growing and seeds are much more cost effective than purchasing seedlings. I have also been saving seeds from some organic peppers and squashes we’ve eaten over the last couple of years, so this first round of seeds aren’t costing me anything. I’ve also been saving seedling six packs from previous purchases which make perfect pots for starting your won seedlings.

So far I’ve started some butternut squash seeds, small sweet peppers, gypsy peppers and red and purple lipstick peppers. Last year the gypsy and lipstick peppers didn’t sprout at all, but I’m giving them another shot. I’m a little worried that they are hybrid varieties that don’t reproduce from most seeds. Since I saved them from peppers we ate, I don’t know anything about their origin. So if they don’t sprout this year I’m going to toss the seeds and look for new ones next year. I’m hoping to plant pumpkins and beans this spring as well, so those are next on my list.