Garden like it counts (cuz it might) 2020

3b here. Still have quite a bit of snow even with the warmer temps.

So as I went though my Massive Seed Collect (and man do I have like to try new things) Even for those with very shorter season.. have a hard look at your seed packages and see what your date counts are..

While it will take a little work on your part, the smaller seed houses and even the bigger like OSC now have a huge selection of very short season producers.. Hubby was able to find a melon that is a full 15 days shorter then anything I had in my own collection the other day by always stopping and checking the seed area.

FarmGal, wondering what your take is on short seasons. It seems like the fewer “between frost” days are balanced by significantly longer days of daylight. Do you think the 2 offset each other’s a bit?

Hi, It depends on where you are in Canada to be honest as that is what makes a difference on how the sun hits the area and there for does the length of sun.. so yes in Yukon or Yellowknife.. you have shovel the snow off the garden to help it, cover at least some things with frost protection but once they kick off they can grow so hard due to the longer daylight hours.. but they still need to be bred to finish their cycle in the time available..

Hey all!!! You bet Farmgal! Last year was horrible-if I had been counting on it, I would have been hooped. Garden was hit by hail, water well pump (fried) struck by lightning and all roofs destroyed by hail. SO....lets get it on!!! Looking forward to the 2020 gardening. Have two hives (lived thru the winter) they sit in the garden. Goats, chickens and horses have been working on the fertilizer. Need to put up a couple more garden boxes and add some more medicinal plants/flowers to the mix.

Hey all!!! You bet Farmgal! Last year was horrible-if I had been counting on it, I would have been hooped. Garden was hit by hail, water well struck by lightning and all roofs destroyed by hail. SO....lets get it on!!! Looking forward to the 2020 gardening. Have two hives (lived thru the winter) they sit in the garden. Goats, chickens and horses have been working on the fertilizer. Need to put up a couple more garden boxes and add some more medicinal plants/flowers to the mix.

Welcome to the thread Dakota.. Look forward to seeing how your and mine garden season goes this year..

So I have a WOW on your post and Ya.. I get it, my farm got nailed with gale force winds (same time frame as all the tornado's going though my local area) and it did damage to say.. We spent a crazy amount of time, effort and money on the 1st year of the yard rebuild, and we are moving into the second year in 2020..

Lots of good stuff coming in from those critters for sure.. .. Water Well struck by lightening.. still wow!

Looking forward to swapping garden Picts again and success stories!!!
All the best farmgal and stay safe!

April 15th and I was working a bed.. its a mini micro climate but I turned it yesterday (sunday) and I think I will be planting my first spring pea's this week.. that would be a solid!! month earlier then I have ever been able to do so on my farm..

but not to worry, move over to the rest of the yard and its still knee high snow lol

Noticed one of those monster tractors with tiller on it and full of mud, so some fields south of ottawa area must be loosening up enough. I remember one year they had already seeded by now! I kid you naught

I know. it was crazy early spring, and the worst summer drought ever! I am hoping very much to not have a repeat of it! this year.

Well, got a interesting couple emails.. local garden centers and greenhouse's are sending notices that they are being impacted by the closing off of their work force and the social distancing and they are making the choice RIGHT NOW to limit their risks and they are NOT STARTING Their plants..

They are letting regulars know that they will not be open this spring.. So many thousands of "gardeners" count of weekly shipments of all their pre-started plants they buy and put in the ground in on those last weeks of may..

So folks.. here is your heads up! this might be coming to a area near you as well.. start your own plants this year.. there is still time to do winter sowing for some things.. but for those with a shorter season.. get those early starters going sooner then later..

For those with little ones home.. now is a perfect time to check them about seed selection, gardening, growing their own food, harvesting, cooking, preserving and so forth! Make it part of their schooling programs.

Well, got a interesting couple emails.. local garden centers and greenhouse's are sending notices that they are being impacted by the closing off of their work force and the social distancing and they are making the choice RIGHT NOW to limit their risks and they are NOT STARTING Their plants..

They are letting regulars know that they will not be open this spring.. So many thousands of "gardeners" count of weekly shipments of all their pre-started plants they buy and put in the ground in on those last weeks of may..

So folks.. here is your heads up! this might be coming to a area near you as well.. start your own plants this year.. there is still time to do winter sowing for some things.. but for those with a shorter season.. get those early starters going sooner then later..

For those with little ones home.. now is a perfect time to check them about seed selection, gardening, growing their own food, harvesting, cooking, preserving and so forth! Make it part of their schooling programs.

Thanks for heads up, passing along to family members who do some serious gardening but who use these shortcut

Before reading this, I’ve started another 4 tomato plants, 2 more pepper plants and 2 more asparagus plants. I’ve also started a tray on lettuce for indoor growth for, you know, the month to come if things go crazy (what good are those 8 bottles of salad dressing stashed in the pantry if there no lettuce?!?!)

I already have more tomatoes and peppers than I will be able to plant, but I thought I could always gift them, seeds are cheap and so is seed-starting soil. Now, I might just go full tilt and plant all my seeds.

Picked up a couple of 24” grow light at Peavey Mart last week as they were on sale. Have one installed and one spare. I might need need them both!

Thanks for the heads up farmgal.

Pretty much all the seeds started have started. Usually when out and about around planting time, will pick up an interesting plant or two and a few extra types of flowers. We have picked up a couple of grow lights over the last couple years and use them both now. The plants do seem to grow better with them. Used to just depend on daytime sun/light and constant turning the trays.

This week will probably go through the seed supply and see what else could be started, as have a number of different type of things just haven't taken the time before to play with.

Wonderful Learner, so glad to hear all that..

So I read a couple articles that have come on line in the past 24 hours about the food supply and fresh foods.. they are talking about what they are going to do for the "imported" garden/farm workers.. they normally bring in 50,000 to 80, 000 yearly to plant the fields and greenhouses and work them and harvest and pack the produce.. they need to start planting in some cases in the next three weeks and the borders ae closed, the flights grounded.. and everyone who could be got in needs a min of a 14 day lock down.. this is going to be interesting to say the least.

We need to step up our garden plans, because this might be the year, that when something fails, you can't go buy it by the bushel at the farmers market or the bulk cash and carry store etc..