It's a very modest beginning, but our 2016 gardening is underway...

February 1...that is DAY 1. I went into the garage, cleared off the working bench, found a used plug flat, filled 18 cells with some leftover planting medium. I gave the cells a good drink of warm water, smoothed the surface, and planted some seeds. Dry medium was sprinkled over the top to provide a bit of cover for the seeds, followed by a brief drink of water - then off it went, upstairs, into my office and onto the table that, until a few days ago, was packed with African Violets. I draped some plastic wrap loosely on top, and set the seeds on their way toward germination. 

I didn't use a heat mat because these are cool weather crops that will germinate just fine with the heat of the sun shining in through the window. (in fact, there is already some growing going on after just a couple of days). The other experiment is in not closing the door. So far, our three cats, though curious, haven't decided that the world's perfect napping spot just magically appeared.

This was a pretty ad hoc activity for me...many of the seeds came right out of packets yet to be logged in to my seed catalog. It's a pretty busy time and I am just working to fit in what must be done when I can, so there will be some remedial work to be done.

Oh yes - I should mention what I planted. The flat of 18 filled, planted cells hold several types of beets, Red Russian Kale, Bright Lights Swiss Chard, and some heirloom lettuce varieties generously shared with me by my Michigan friend Jeff.

In a few days, it will be time to seed eggplant and peppers. A few days after that, I will plant tomatoes and basil, and perhaps a few types of flowers. Before that happens, I must decide exactly what varieties I am going to grow - that will take some time to figure out.

It's about to get "real(er)"....

Yes, it's been relatively quiet (for me) on the blog front; I posted only two entries in January so far, and February is knocking at the door. Things behind the scenes haven't really been quiet, though. From doing a few radio and podcast spots, sorting logistics for upcoming gardening seminars, identifying others, sending out seeds for the dwarf tomato project, to finalizing slides and determining my own gardening plans, it's show time for 2016. And I can't wait!

Looking ahead, my first opportunity to share my stories with other gardeners will happen on Monday February 1 in Apex, followed soon after by a trip to Morehead City for an event on Thursday February 4. The month will also find Sue and I in Seattle for two talks at the Northwest Flower and Garden Show, and a week later, I will be in Chicago for a blogger lunch, seminar and seed swap. Details for all of these events can be found on this website at the Events button toward the top of my website, or by clicking here.

If all goes well, the first seeds that will produce plants for our 2016 garden will be planted in the next few days - most likely lettuce, beets, chard and kale. I may get some slow growing peppers going as well; it is going to be a bit of choreography around my upcoming trips, assessing  my presence here at home to tend to young, fragile seedlings. Thankfully, our dog and cat sitting daughter is a really fine gardener herself.

The act of planting seeds guarantees more frequent blogs, because I love to share the excitement of seeing things grow. This start of the gardening season kicks off months of daily change, surprises, and just the fun and "therapeutic mental benefit" of watching things grow and sharing the results.

For anyone looking for links to my activities to date, see below.

Garden America radio show from January 2 - listen here - this will probably be around for only a few more weeks.

America's Home Grown veggies - two appearances - January 9 is here, and January 16 is here.

The Ruminant podcast - two appearances -  first and second.

Happy listening, and please send me any questions that you have.

In between, and on the cusp....

In between - as in birthdays...mine was yesterday (I turned 60...yikes!), my wife Susan's is tomorrow. So I am sitting here, looking forward to cooking her a nice breakfast, and later on, dinner, on her special day. 

In between, as with gardening seasons, firmly between 2015 and 2016. I am still pondering last year - what went well, what didn't, what I want to try this year, or do differently. And I am planning this season - what to start when, and for what purpose. It is like trying to solve a big Rubik's Cube - this year made more challenging because of the decision to stop selling seedlings, but have some to bring on appropriately timed tomato events.

On the cusp... of a storm! If we were to ponder Sue's birthdays during our 35 years together, I bet that more often than not we have wintry messes on that day. We will likely be - yes! - in between the various lines of snow, sleet, freezing rain and rain. As usual.

On the cusp.... of hitting the road and spending time with gardeners talking tomatoes, container and straw bale gardening, swapping stories and experiences and seeds, and making new friends. Last year was just amazing - and this year is not going to be much less packed, especially between very soon and mid summer. Apex - Morehead City - Seattle - Chicago - and that is just February. Power Point and I are about to become very familiar again. And once more, I will end up wishing I had a better, more organized system for my gardening pics.

And it is after midnight, so I am now on the cusp of going to bed. I hope to start sharing my garden plans very soon in an upcoming blog....because it is time to get some seeds planted, seedlings started. I just love this time of the gardening season!

Dreaming of tomatoes on a gray January afternoon. Random thoughts...

Does anything instill energy and excitement on days like this (gray, drizzly, raw) as much as thinking about the gardens to come? I could spend hours scribbling on pads, going through my options (which takes a bit too much time spent in spreadsheets), and narrowing down what will hopefully be appearing in our meals in a few months.

I just finished saving seeds from a tomato. That is a sentence that I've never, ever written in early January! The tomato was the result of a cross made between one of our new dwarf varieties, Bundaberg Rumball, and a large pink heirloom, Dester, early last summer. The cross took, seeds were saved from the small, chocolate colored tomato growing on the dwarf plant, fermented, dried, and planted in early August. The plant grew, flowered, produced a handful of tomatoes. Because of the cold weather (and the occasional relocation of the plants from driveway to garage), any fruit formed on this and nearly 20 other new hybrids were picked when I thought they were sufficiently large to ripen indoors. The pale color and rather firm texture didn't tempt me to take a bite, but just the aroma of fresh tomato was enough to energize me for the rest of the day. 

There is something really comforting, looking out back, seeing the soft greens, browns and greys. (no, Bambi is not in that particular picture - they are thick in our neighborhood, though).

In the coming days, I will be continuing to decide what's next, and who gets what, for the Dwarf Tomato Breeding Project.  I've got to plan my garden (and will share my plans here, in a future blog). My tomato talks begin soon - in early February, so I've got logistical considerations to nail down and slides to prepare. There's lots more to do, but I will leave that for another time.

Happy New Year to you all!  Let's see what 2016 brings!

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays 2015

What an odd December 25. This was the reading on our thermometer yesterday afternoon - today was similar.

Shorts to church last evening was a real possibility (but, no, I didn't follow through!). Our post dinner walk was quite a muggy event. As a New Englander, I have to admit that colder, more seasonal temps and a few flakes of snow would be nice. But with the possibility of kayaking on the lake tomorrow and Sunday, I can't complain.

It has been a remarkable year for me, and I want to express my sincere thanks to the many, many people that helped make it special and memorable. To those who purchased my books or seedlings or attended talks here and there, thank you so much.

I am about to turn to thoughts and plans of 2016 - in terms of tomato talks, the Dwarf tomato project, my own gardening plans, as well as other ideas I've toyed with, such as a new Podcast, and revised tomato videos. Watch for more information and updates to the Events page soon; that is where I will be starting.

We hope you are having a wonderful, memorable holiday and look forward to seeing you next year. Thanks again for your friendship and support - it means everything.

....and off we go! Welcome to my garden!

This feels just like opening up a new journal and writing on a crisp, fresh page. Although I can still remember the first time I used a computer at my former job, our first home computer (a monstrous tower that fit under the desk), my first laptop, blogging is still relatively new to me; I set out to record my gardening experiences in 2009. And here I find myself on a new site in which to share my gardening thoughts and experiences. Fun stuff, for sure.

Let's start with some news items - one of them quite significant. 

• For my wonderful annual seedling customers, you will not find a "From The Vine - Seedlings" page on this website. For many reasons, I've decided to call it quits after more than 15 wonderful years. I'll share thoughts about the major decision to step away from offering seedlings in a future blog post. Thanks to everyone for your years of business and friendship. Please drop me an email if you wish to know more.

• All who looked for my former websites - From the Vine and Epic Tomatoes - found that you ended up here, my new website. With my first book Epic Tomatoes now in circulation for a year, and the decision to cease our annual seedling offerings, it made sense to take the journey to a new website, new format, new content. I have some new projects in mind - including audio and video content - and this platform will make things easier when those are ready.

• Thanks go to my daughter, Sara, and her friend, Catherine Howard, for working with me to create this new place. I am really new at finding my way around and look forward to learning more about using this platform to its best functionality.

That is enough to digest for the moment, and I am sure there will be lots of questions. Moving to a single website will certainly make things easier for me to manage, and I hope to return to regular blogging; as the seed catalogs arrive in the mailbox and 2016 speaking events are just around the corner, there will be no shortage of things to talk about and share.

Mostly, I want to thank my readers, those who attended a talk, purchased my book, or stopped by for seedlings. All of the contacts and friendships I've made over the years are special to me. But I enjoy change, the challenge of new things - and it will become clear how such a preference will color my future activities. It will be fun...it always is!

Mid December tomatoes in our driveway. Unprecedented!