I’m planning to try a 3′ x 3′ of broccoli so I stopped by Common Ground and picked up a few seedlings today, 1/18.  I got some very nice looking Marathon (F1) starts (68 days) and some much smaller De Cicco seedlings.  Organicgardening.com says:

De Cicco’(48-65 days) This early-maturing, open-pollinated European heirloom produces small heads and abundant sideshoots ideal for freezing. It is less uniform but also more productive than most hybrids and may be planted in spring or fall. 

Funny how things turn out.  My planned 3′ x 3′ ended up being a 1′ x 16′ U-shaped end of the front garden bed.  I know my grandmother is turning over in her grave, but, it’s official, I’m farming my front yard!  

1/24/2009

I was over at Summer Winds in Sunnyvale earlier today, looking for some individual containers for the Dirt to Dinner kids to use that were inexpensive but still big enough to really grow something. No luck with that, but I did find some nice Sugar Snap seedlings and brought home three six-packs.  I put them in the raised bed where the beets never did come up with some nicely amended soil and a support to grow on.

The little stick in the six-pack says:

SUGAR SNAP  PEAS  (AAS) Plump tender pods can be eaten fresh or steamed.  
MATURITY: 68 days.
HOW TO GROW: Plant in full sun.  Space in double rows 8″ apart.
Grows to 4′ or more.

Four feet!  I find that hard to believe but if it’s true, they are going to need a taller support than the cage I have out there for them now.

I filled in the inside of the cage with French Breakfast Radish seeds.  They will be up fast and out of the way before that patch is completely shaded by the snap peas.  

Romeo Round Baby Carrots

And since I had such a gorgeous deep light patch of dirt in front of the cage, I spread out some of the Romeo Round Baby carrots that I like so much and patted down some potting mix over that.  The great thing about these carrots is that you don’t have to peal them.  You can just give them a good wash and the skin isn’t the least bit bitter.  They are also perfect for places where the really good part of the soil is shallow.  You can easily grow them in a bed that’s only 6″ deep.  They are kind of a pain to cut up, but they worked well in stews and soups this winter and I’ll be happy to have more of them in the Spring.