Gardeners get bored, so we keep trying new varieties to keep things interesting. This spring at Gardenerd HQ, we’re trying out several new seeds for 2015. We planted seeds a week or so ago, and now those seeds are sprouting and the excitement is really kicking in. Let’s take a look:
Basil
Every year we grow Renee’s Garden Seeds Salad Leaf Basil. It’s rumply-rumply and prolific in coastal climates (and probably elsewhere). We love it. It never gets old growing this gem. This year, she sent us her strain of Mrs. Burns’ Lemon Basil to grow side-by-side the original seed from Native Seeds / Search.
Both the Aurelia Basil and Purple Opal Basil are Renee’s Seeds, and the Aurelia is a new one for us this year. We’re excited to see how they do in the garden, nestled up to our tomatoes.
More…
Whenever we’ve heard of ground cherries, it has always been with a distant affection for places where those plants grow (like peonies…we can’t grow those here in So Cal). Mostly growing in northern climates, we recently discovered that they have been known to survive and even thrive in southern areas. So what the heck! We’re giving them a try. We planted a sprinkling of seeds and after a week, what do you know? They sprouted.
We’ve transplanted them to a 4″ pot to give them more room to grow before subjecting them to the rigors of our Southern California warm-season climate. Fingers crossed on this one!
Loofah
You’ll notice in the photo above, behind Aunt Molly, are two loofah sprouts (spelled any way you like it). We gathered these seeds from a loofah that someone brought to Seed School last year. Just the thought of being able to grow something you can then use to scrub down with in the shower is exciting. No synthetic scrubbing scrunchies here!
Aren’t those leaves beautiful? Now to find a spot for them with a sturdy trellis.
More, more…
Next up, our Tohono O’odham cowpeas and Country Gentleman corn are just peeking out of the soil. We’re sprouting these Grow BioIntensive-style, all in one seed tray to be pricked out individually and transplanted in the ground in the next week or so.
We also transplanted our tomato seedlings into 4″ pots. But more on that later…
Hey gardenerds, if you’ve grown ground cherries before, please post your favorite tips for growing them, as well as your ideas for how to prepare and preserve them.
