Monday, 26 January 2026

Nothing available on the farm table…

The long keeping onions (planted on 10 January) are now straightening up their tubular leaves thus doubling their height.

Yesterday, I planted snow and snap peas! See the peas page for varieties that may be available in a few weeks (depending on germination success, of course). I planted 44 large 6-packs with 3 seeds in each cell for a total of 792 seeds.

I am trying a couple of new things. One is growing a handful of micro dwarf tomato seeds started on 14 January to see if I can get a fruiting tomato plant extra early. They are growing slower than normal which is to be expected since the greenhouse is not heated and night temperatures have been below freezing. They are on the seedling heat mats day and night which keeps them from being killed by the frost. Their mature height is 8 to 10 inches, so I will easily be able to fashion a warm lighted little “room” for them within the greenhouse if they continue to grow well.

The other experiment is starting radish seeds in the greenhouse in egg cartons. The method involves punching a large hole in the bottom of each cell of the carton (to allow for full root development), filling it with soil and planting a radish seed in each cell. With the warmer conditions in the greenhouse they should germinate faster. After sprouts are well developed, the whole carton is planted in the garden. This allows perfect spacing, more control over germination conditions and possibly slightly earlier harvest. We’ll see! I will also try the method with carrots and beets.

It looks like there will only be 4 or 5 artichoke ‘Colorado Red Star’ plants because of poor germination (which the seed supplier admitted to and gave me extra seeds).

I’m still populating the plant pages with the varieties I may be offering in 2026 as I have time, but I’m not yet finished! Keep checking the website for further updates.

I would like to apologize for the disappearing information on the plant tags last year. Foolishly, I used the markers that were included with the tags, and the information I had so carefully written on many of the tags faded away in the sun. Not good! This year (hopefully) that won’t happen. I have new markers of a couple of brands that seem more trustworthy. (Thanks to Nancy H. for some that she gifted me based on her daughter’s experience growing flowers in California.)

I overwatered the newly planted onion seeds, so they are lid free and drying out a little today. Rookie mistake!

I’ve been growing lots of various micro greens during autumn and early winter, mostly for the hens. Wheat, broccoli, radish, mung bean, lentils, alfalfa, kohlrabi, cabbage, kale. (See the banner image.) That project will be phased out as the 2026 vegetable plant starts begin taking over the greenhouse space.

On 10 January, I started the first seeds of the 2026 garden season!

For the first time, I’ve planted onions. Not my usual bunching or small bulb onions. Large bulbing onions. They have to be planted early to have enough time to properly form their bulbs. Just a few varieties, but I will have plenty to share. In total I planted 414 onion seeds. The onion plants will be offered in sets of nine.

One variety, ‘Candy’ is a huge, savory yellow onion, with thick, succulent flesh and a delicious flavor both sharp and sweet which also stores well (according to Park Seed).

The other onion seed packet contains a mix of three different varieties: ‘Cherry Mountain’, ‘Saffron’, and ‘Diamond Swan’.

Also planted yesterday: Two Italian parsleys, ‘Dark Green Italian Plain’ and ‘Gigante D’italia’.
(I will also be offering ‘Mitsuba’, a Japanese parsley family member which apparently tastes a bit like a combination of parsley and cilantro. The leaves, stems, roots, and seeds are all edible and excellent in stir fries, soups, salads, and other Asian-inspired dishes, according to Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds. It is not planted yet as those seeds require a refrigeration period to assure good germination.)

One variety of artichoke will also (hopefully!) be offered. Extra seeds were included in the packet because the germination rate when tested was only 48%. Artichoke ‘Colorado Red Star’ is a specially bred variety that will develop buds early. The result: a 2- to 3-foot tall edible ornamental that produces stunning purple globes easily in the first season, according to Baker Creek Heirloom seeds.

Of course, all this depends on good germination, but I am pretty good at growing plants from seed. :)

I will be adding the 2026 varieties to be offered on the plant pages (first up will be the ones mentioned here). Keep checking the website for updates. I have piles of seeds packets in front of me, lots of fun new varieties of vegetables to try this year!