I knew that something like this would happen. I may not be a gardener (yet), but I know what things I can easily buy when, and this isn’t the time of year for vegetable gardening items.
I was able to find an appropriate not-dirt mix for the stock tank at a reasonable price, even if I would have to drive 50 miles to get a truckload. We were also to find some appropriate “stuff” to use as a lower layer in the tank so that we wouldn’t need so much fill. I have a roll of landscape fabric left over from some landscaping work. I have peat pots to start the seedlings in. I have plastic sheeting and things I can use to make a framework to extend the growing season if needed.
What I can’t get, at least not locally, are seeds for anything that is both something we’d eat and would grow fast enough to work at this late date. We have found some supplies of seedlings, but none of them are items we like in our diet.
Adding to that, Sunday night I did something to my back that reaggravated an old injury. I’ve been to the chiropractor and that’s brought some relief, but it’s tender and will be for a while. Not the thing when you have a pickup load of “soilless soil” to move with a shovel.
When we eat supper, conversation is normally three things-something we’ve read in the news that we find interesting, how our respective days went and what we’re going to do tomorrow. When I mentioned that I wasn’t looking forward to the drive for not-dirt and that I’d need her to go to this list of places in town and hope for seeds, Mrs. Freeholder replied with “I think we’re getting a message here and we need to listen.”
I agree. So we’ll spend the time reading, watching YouTube and buying up the various things we need as soon as they appear. I’m considering attempting a very small-scale hydroponics setup in the basement, maybe raising some lettuce if I can find a place to order some seeds.
But for now, the garden is a dead letter.
The youtube channel MIGardener is a real expert on gardening for food. I have had great results following his advice. In the last two weeks he has had several episodes dealing with planting for fall crops. I highly recommend you check out his videos.
In the spring or late winter, buy whatever you think you might need. I buy extra, just because one year, seeds were in short supply. We also grow heirlooms and save the seeds; most will be viable many years later. We save tomatoes, beans, squash, peppers, snow peas, cukes.
CV, I’ll check him out. Right now Mrs. Freeholder is very interested in this subject and I want to keep that going.
SNH, that’s advice I’ll be taking. I guess I’ll need to start stalking the seed companies now so that we’ll have what we need in the spring.
Oh boy, you really are new to this. ?
Have you tried going to your local farmer’s market and asking the farmers if they would part with some of their seed and if so, how much?
Have you thought of ordering the seeds online from a reputable source? *
have you started to save seeds from the vegetables you eat like tomatoes? Or, have you set aside a few potatoes to plant? **
* https://www.amazon.com/seeds/s?k=seeds
* https://www.gurneys.com/
** https://www.thegardenstyle.com/vegetablesherbs/how-to-grow-potatoes-from-potatoes-ultimate-guide/
Yes, this is a new thing. Something I’ve wanted to do for years, but other than some stuff in big pots, it hasn’t happened for a variety of reasons. I’m happy it’s happening, no matter how farcically, at all.
We have no local farmer’s market. Wuflu killed it. Besides, most of them sold produce from hybrid seeds, which means seed saving isn’t worth the effort for them or me.
I’m looking at seeds online, but no matter where you are, there is a season for all things, and this ain’t it for seeds, at least not for the ones we want. I want either open pollinated (preferred) or heirloom seeds that do well in the hot and humid South. For example, today it’s 93 degrees and 93% humidity in my back yard, making the heat index 141. Even with shade cloth we burn up plants. The last time I tired squash and cukes, every one died from heat stress. But we can grow some jalapenos.
At the moment, garden space is limited. If I can find someone to take down and haul off about 40 90′ tall yellow pines without trying to rip me off, that will change. If not, we’ll do what we can do in the space available.