Gardening is a challenge, but it pays big dividends.
Recently I provided you with tips for planting and harvesting vegetables from 10 different kinds of seeds. I’m going to do the same thing in this blog with another 10 open-pollinated, non-hybrid, non-genetically modified, heirloom seeds with high germination rates.
First, though, I want to remind you about how important food independence is. As you know, food and water disappear quickly from stores when a potential weather disaster is predicted, and even more rapidly when an unexpected storm strikes that knocks out power.
The next storm, natural disaster, terrorist attack or other emergency could produce a crisis that lasts considerably longer than previous ones. In addition to stockpiling food and water, the best way to prepare is by growing your own food in your own garden, then saving some seeds for the next planting season and storing other seeds for the future.
Here are those additional tips I promised:
When selecting the seeds of Corn, closely examine both the plant and the ears of corn. Choose the best ears from the earliest-bearing plants.
A cool weather crop, Lettuce can be eaten early but has a long season for seed saving. Lettuce seeds don’t all ripen at once.
Let Peppers ripen beyond the eating stage before collecting their seeds, which will be ready when the fruit is no longer green.
Harvest Tomato seeds when the fruits are fully ripe. Save the seeds from the fruits of several plants.
Beets will provide plenty of seeds. In fact, what may look like a single seed is probably several seeds in a ball. When they turn brown, they are mature.
With Eggplant, when the fruit turns from firm and glossy to dull and somewhat puckered, the seed is ready to harvest.
The pods of Radishes won’t split open when they mature. When the pods turn brown, remove the seeds, which can be sown as soon as the ground can be worked in the spring.
The seeds of Carrots should be harvested when they turn brown in the early fall. Seeds in the top branches will ripen before those of the lower branches.
Cauliflower seeds should be planted in the late spring or early summer. In the second year, seeds in pods will be produced on tall stalks, and they should be harvested when the pods turn brown.
Parsley plants produce an abundance of seeds. They can be harvested when they are observed maturing in the fall.
Have you had experience with growing any of those 10 vegetables? If so, maybe you have some suggestions to share. Or how about some other vegetables I haven’t mentioned? Please feel free to share your expertise. It would be much appreciated.
Is it to late to start planting tomatoes?
By having your own garden you help yourself and your family by augmenting your food consumption by providing your own vegetables. Your garden doesn’t have to be very large, just a few large pots placed on your patio can do a great job. You will have great pride in your own accomplishment. You can use it as a teaching tool for your family, especially the kids. Whats more if you choose the right vegetable, like tomatoes, it is the plant that just keeps giving almost year round.
Last year, I was canning tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers of all kinds, carrots etc. The kids and grandkids had a whole-lot-of-fun that they will remember for the rest of their lives. Now, they eat their vegetables because they grew them and canned them.
I was born and raised on a ranch @ about 7,000 feet elevation. Mom used to say that in our valley there were 2 seasons — Winter & July! She still grew a big garden every year. No tomatoes or corn (the summers were to short) , but every year we had LOTS of peas, carrots , swiss chard, spinach, and many other cold hardy veggies. I now live where I can grow many other things – like Squash, Tomatoes, Corn, Beans, as well as the cold hardy plants. I have about 1500 square feet of former lawn space dedicated to grow boxes. Some of them have a trellis to be used for things like Peas, Pole Beans, Squash, Etc. With a little work and good info. from places like – your county agricultural agent, seed companies, and natural living magazines, and so on, most people can go a long way to achieving independence from the glut of genetic modified seeds and super market junk that they sell as GOOD? food. It takes WORK and time, but all our children marvel at the great variety, taste, and food value of our garden. We always have plenty to dry, put into storage, freeze, and share with family and friends. Is it hard work? YES! Is it worth it? As my rancher Dad would say — OH HELL, YES!!!