The Growing Gardener Cool Tip #1

Easy, Free and Recycled Seed Markers

Three of The Growing Gardener's favorite things. The next time you're throwing out some old mini-blinds, don't. Cut them into 4 inch pieces and use them to identify your plants. Write the name of the plant on the inner side of the curve, along with the starting date, sprouting date, harvesting date, etc. They can travel from your sprouting shed to the garden right inside your peat pots, or better
yet - homemade newspaper pots (I'll show you how to make them later).

One small mini-blind will give you and all your closest friends enough markers for about a lifetime. And if you're really frugal, you can turn the marker over and use the other end for next year's garden.

Why I Garden, Part One of Many

I remember picking a sweet pepper last summer. Big and heavy - much larger than my palm. It had shiny polished skin a dark emerald color with some patchy chocolate brown. I carried it up to the house and it was warm in my hand, warm from the sun.

I got out my favorite old knife, the one with the worn wooden handle, the one that has been sharpened so many times that the blade has taken on a new shape. The pepper was firm and crispy when I cut into it and made the most delightful crunchy sound - a sound to make your mouth water.

But the coolest part, the reason I remember this, is that when I cut the pepper it was juicy. It actually leaked water - about 1/8 cup. I picked up one of the halves and there was this amazing clear pepper juice inside it. It tasted like sweet pepper tea.

Now I've cut up a lot of store bought peppers - you have too I bet. But never one fresh enough, or rich enough, or pure enough to be juicy. That's why I garden.

Growing List

My seed order came in the mail yesterday. A few things were out of stock - get your orders in early. Here's what I'll be planting this year.

Red Seeded Asparagus Bean
McCaslin 42 Pole Bean
Chinese Red Noodle Long Bean
Blue Lake 274 Bush Bean
Envy Soybean
Crosby's Egyptian Beet
Cylindra Beet
Waltham 29 Broccoli
Brunswick Cabbage
Amarillo Yellow Carrot
Muscade Carrot
Parisienne Carrot
Japanese Long Cucumber
Diamond Eggplant
Rosa Bianca Eggplant
Serpente Di Sicilia Edible Gourd
Flamingo Pink Chard
Lolla Bionda Lettuce
Val D' Orges Lettuce
Mereveille Des Quatre Saisons Lettuce
Parris Island Cos Lettuce
Russian Red Kale
Canton Bok Pak Choy
Rouge D'Hiver Lettuce
Amish Deer Tongue Lettuce
Henderson's Black-seeded Lettuce
Dark Green Gailan Chinese Kale
Garden Cress
Arugula
De Louviers Endive
Di Firenze Fennel
Mizuna Oriental Greens
Golden Honeymoon Melon
Charentais European Melon
Yellow of Parma Onion
Giant Musselburgh Leek
Sugar Ann Snap Pea
Oregon Sugar Pod II Snow Pea
Quadrato D' Asti Giallo Sweet Pepper
Tequila Sunrise Sweet Pepper
California Wonder Sweet Pepper
Red Marconi Sweet Pepper
Tam Jalapeno Hot Pepper
Pink Beauty Radish
White Hailstone Radish
Green Bush Vegetable Marrow Summer Squash
Bennings Green Tint Scallop Summer Squash
Yellow Scallop Summer Squash
German Red Strawberry Tomato
Tappy's Heritage Tomato
Bloody Butcher Tomato
Amish Paste Tomato
Cour Di Bue Tomato
Vegetable Spaghetti Winter Squash
Golden Delicious Winter Squash
Ground Cherry

It's going to be a busy year.