Saving Galeux d'Eysines Pumpkin Seeds. 1.27.22

 The Galeux pumpkins are keeping great.  No signs of mold or drying out.  This one was hand pollinated last summer, as shown by the plastic tie - 

I really think this is my best pumpkin or squash.  The flavor is the best, it keeps well, and it is productive.  The Burgess Buttercup did not do as well, and they mostly got moldy before I used them.

I cut this one open to use for cooking.

After sectioning the pumpkin, I cut off the skin and cut the pumpkin into approx 1" chunks.  Those get used or frozen.  The skin goes into the instant pot to steam for 5 minutes, then is fed to the chickens, who eat it all up.

I scoop out the seeds, wash them (not too fussy about that), let them dry on a paper towel.

After a few days, those go into an envelope for storage.  These home saved seeds germinate faster and have more vigor, compared to newly purchased seeds.

Winter Garden Update. Garlic and Daffodils. 1.27.22

 I wondered if I had planted the garlic too deep.  The Music (hardneck) garlic cloves were gargantuan, so I planted them 4 inches deep.  They did not emerge during the fall, like they usually do.  I had the  covered with tree leaves, so I pulled the leaves aside to expose the ground to the sun.  I noticed over the last week that all of the Music garlic is up now.  So I feel much more confidant about that now.

Th Lorz (softneck) are further behind.  For some reason, one row is up and the other two are not.  Or did I plant an extra row of Music garlic there?  Last winter, Lorz waited much longer to emerge, so that variety must be slower anyway.

I scattered slug bait on the rows.  Slugs can do a job on garlic, and onions, this time of year.  I also scattered eggshells for the calcium and nitrogen benefits.

Some of the daffys are also emerging through their mulch.

Germinating Seed Starts. 1.27.22

 So far, so good.  Most of the seeds are germinating.

All of the eggplant varieties have germinated.  So have the basil, yellow hybrid onion, Red Wethersfield historic (non hybrid) onion (seeds two years old), Chinese leek (Chinese Chive, Garlic Chive), Cheyenne Spirit Echinacea (not stratified), and most of the peppers.   The Tigridia have not germinated, but at a close look, one seed might be starting.  The Thai peppers were slow but a few are starting to emerge.  So far, the only peppers with zero growth so far, are Arapaho and all of the Yellow Banana Peppers, from any packet / source.

I thought that none if the Thai peppers were going to germinate, so I used some dried pepper pods still on the plants that I'm trying to overwinter, and collected some seeds to start.

I also collected some seeds from dried Pasilla-ancho peppers, from the grocery store.

Those don't look promising, but I planted them today, anyway.

That got me thinking, I might like to try growing some other varieties, including Anchos, somI ordered some more seeds :-)

More Seeds To Start Now, And First Ones To Emerge. 1.12.23

 I know it's early, but I started most of  these early before and they grew and produced nicely.

The first Cheyenne Spirit Echinacea emerged, without stratification.

No idea what to expect with the tigridia seeds, or if they last a few years.  Those were saved from corm-grown plants in 2020.  Chives may only last a year, also onions.  I don't know about the basil either.

The first onion has emerged, a yellow hybrid.

Still  long way to go.  It gives me something to obsess over.

The temperature on the heating mats is about 5F lower on the soil surface than at the bottom of the cells.

Starting Onion And Garlic Chive Seeds. 1.8.22

 I always start onion seeds early.  They can be planted out earlier than most seedlings, clearing the way for more tender plants.

Last year's onions didn't do well, so this year I'm trying hybrids.  I really think it was  my growth conditions and not the varieties, but I want to try the new varieties for their hybrid vigor.

I also bought seeds for Chinese Chives (Chinese Leeks) to see if they do better than my 22 year old plants.

The hybrids are long-day (fir this Northern latitude), Red (Red Carpet) and yellow (Frontier).  

I planted the onion seeds and Chinese Leek seeds in the green reusable silicone seed starting trays.  

I also have some heirloom red onion bulbs planted in the garden to see if I can get seeds from them this summer.  My experience is that home saved seeds sometimes do better than bought seeds.  Also  I'd like to continue to gain seed independence, by saving more varieties.