Ok, I know there are more seeds in each packet than is needed for planting, but I wanted to actually use the whole packet of seeds for once. They age, you know and as they age, germination isn’t guaranteed by planting time next year. SOOO, I planted the whole packet of Calabrese Organic Broccoli. It did say “guaranteed to grow”, but hey, they all say that. I planted somewhere between 2-4 seeds in each peat plug I had soaked and ready. I prepared to wait the 10-14 days to germination…I went to bed….I got up, made my tea, looked at the peat plugs and a dozen sprouts overnight. Today, a short 3 days later I have 71 broccoli sprouts. What in tarnation am I gonna do with 71? I only wanted….no, needed about a dozen to feed me, Bruce and Itty for the whole winter. I’m thinking I’ll be putting them in 3″ newspaper pots by next weekend and handing them out to any unsuspecting people who are sorry enough to feign interest. They will be ready to plant outside in 4-8 weeks. (I’m thinking 4 at this rate). If I don’t have any takers, they may end up in a paper bag on your front door or in your unlocked car when you run in the grocery store for milk.
I did the same thing with the okra seed!
I will see if broccoli is in my garden plan and maybe take some off of your hands.
You said a magic word that seems to trip me up every year. Plan. It’s like Christmas to me. I know it’s coming and I put off shopping until Thanksgiving when prices are at their highest. What’s that old adage? If you fail to plan you have planned to fail? My problem, it seems is that I want to plant too much for the room I have. For instance, it takes approximately 20 broccoli plants to feed a family of 4 all winter. I have room for 10 plants, but I want an abundance of broccoli to share…and there you have my dilema. So, I turn it over and over in my head trying to work it into a plan, only to end up squeezing an arrangement out at the last minute. Really sad.
How is your broccoli re-homing project going?
Itty has culled it severely. She has eaten perhaps 30-40 plants when my back was turned. I’ve started hardening them off (a little early because there were so many). I set them outside for an hour one day, 2 hours the next, 3 hours the next, etc…, well, I set them out at 5 when I get up, and then I get ready for work. While I’m brushing my teeth, she’s chewing off the baby leaves of whatever she can reach. Leaves nothing but a tiny stalk sticking up. Dang dog. I finally figured out a solution just today. I have to put them inside the pool enclosure. Our pool is gated and that’s the only place she can’t get to. I’m gonna have to use chicken wire to keep my chihuahua out of my new plantings when I plant them. Just never thought it would come to this. Perhaps I should plant a sacrificial border of marigolds just for her to eat. Are marigolds edible? I’ll have to look that up.
Time is right to put up some broccoli for adoption. I’ve got about 6 broccoli starts waiting for you, Lamont. If you want them. They are ready to go into the ground. Want some?