SoS: Seed Share – Seeds Glorious Seeds!

It’s not been gardening weather this week. High winds, heavy rain, and squalls are not exactly conducive to going outside to the garden beyond making sure everything undercover is watered; the snails and caterpillars aren’t harvesting my kale, spinach, and lettuce, and nothing has blown away. I am a fair-weather gardener. I am not moaning–we desperately need the rain.

It’s time to start planting seeds! I have boxes of them, saved, shared, and commercial. During COVID, I ordered seeds online like the world was about to come to an end and we all needed to become self-sufficient. Remember those days when we were all locked up within the four walls of our house and garden?

Yes, I buy a lot of vegetable plugs early in the season because they are easier, and I don’t have a greenhouse or sheltered area to bring on seeds (or the patience).

1. Processor Beans

These bushy plants only grow to 30-35cm high, so they are perfect for my small vegetable plot. The growing instructions indicate planting the seeds directly into the ground, but as I’ve not cleared a space yet, I’ve planted them in pots that I can plant on without disturbing the roots. According to the packet, the ideal pH is 6.0-6.5. I will need to test my soil. I should be harvesting in May.

The brand I usually buy is Judia Braimar. Looks like I picked up the wrong seeds.

2. Seed Sharing

I hooked up with a fellow blogger in Northern France, who prompted me to unearth (no pun intended) all the seeds I’d either saved from my son-in-law’s amazing vegetable garden in France or from locally grown squash and tomatoes. Grow, save seeds and pass them on. I usually share any excess seedlings and always have takers. (I do get annoyed that the takers don’t think to reciprocate).

Full of beans

3. Charlotte de Metro Beans

My son-in-law in France shared these dried beans with me last October. He calls them kilometre beans. I call them spaghetti beans because they resemble spaghetti.

4. Black Tomatoes

I saved these seeds on kitchen towel in March 2023. I cut the paper into several strips. Place on moistened soil and nature does the rest. These tomatoes are delicious! Last year I managed to squeeze in two harvests.

5. Mystery Tomatoes

My collection of tomato seeds from last year. I discreetly scraped out the seeds onto my plate and then transferred them onto a tissue or kitchen towel to dry out. Over the next few months, I will plant in different pots and see what happens. Note to self: Remember to stagger the planting so I have a steady supply throughout the summer.

6. Growing a Mango Tree from a Seed

Last November, my SiL (son-in-law) wrapped a mango seed in damp tissue and then placed it in a sealed plastic bag. After a few months, it sprouted a healthy root system and a green shoot, so I planted it in a pot and put it on my kitchen window ledge. I’ve kept the soil moist, and so far, so good. I need to move to a sunnier location…gradually. I managed to kill my baby avocado tree last year by planting in the sun. Its tender leaves shrivelled, and no amount of tender words of persuasion would revive it.

That’s my Six for Saturday this week, folks. This is more of a post of hope and seed planting planning.

For more Six on Saturday gardens and tales of woes and happiness, check out Jim’s Blog over at Garden Ruminations