Park Seed Garden Journal

And the Winners Are...

We ask for savvy seed-starting kits and you did not disappoint us! Thank you so much to all of you for sharing your clever ideas for homemade seed-sprouting tools. You've proven that gardeners can take everyday objects and turn them into something cost-effective and quite useful!

As much as we would have loved to award prizes to everyone who entered, we could only pick 5. Our Grand Prize winner is Starr Pease, of Calimesa, California! Congratulations, Starr, you'll be receiving a $50 Park Seed Gift Certificate.

And the 4 Runners Up are Denise DeVault, of Morgantown, WV; Harley Frederickson, of Sexsmith, AB; Dawn Pannozza, of Naugatuck, CT; and Sherry Post, of Fairview, PA. You will each receive a $25 Park Seed Gift Certificate. Congratulations to all our winners and thank you again to everyone who participated! It's time to go get those seeds started!!

And here are the winners' savvy seed-starting ideas!

[Grand Prize] My friends are envious of my vegetable garden and always ask for small plants started from seeds. However, they are not always as quick to recognize which plant is which. Therefore, after I start the seedlings and they are ready to be planted into the garden, I recycle aluminum cans with the seedlings, and they are presented as a gift. A tomato paste can will contain roma tomatoes. Diced tomatoes will hold my patio tomatoes, etc. I use salsa cans to hold everything they need for a salsa container -- onions, bells, jalapenos, and tomatoes. When they're ready to put the plants into the dirt, they know which plant is which! And a great gift for friends are containers filled with salsa vegetables, chinese stir fry, etc. — Starr Pease 

I'm a little too eager to start my garden. I just want to grow something even if it's inside! I don't know how "savvy" it is, but this is my seed-starting idea. I had several empty cardboard egg cartons lying around and was getting ready to take them to recycle. My son wanted to cut them apart to make various things and I thought the little "cups" would make a decent substitution for a peat pot. I had no idea if it would work or not. I cut a small slit in the bottom of each and them set each cup inside a styrofoam egg carton. I put potting mix in each one and planted spinach seeds. I still had a problem with light and heat, until I spotted the aquarium tank. A couple weeks back the last fish died, and I hadn't yet cleaned out the tank. In less than an hour that thing was emptied and disinfected and ready for my seeds. I placed small empty boxes upside down in the tank and put my carton of seeds on the top so they would be closer to the light. I also had an old temperature/humidity gage from when we had hermit crabs, and I put that in the bottom. When the light is on, the temperature stays at 68 degrees and the humidity fluctuates between 50 and 70%. Well, it actually worked! The seeds sprouted! But now I have no idea what I'm going to do with them because it's January 31st, and it's way too early to plant them outside! At least I know it works and I can use the rest of the cartons and seeds later. — Denise DeVault

Wonderful idea Park Seed. Old Socks seek New Home. Old socks, old mismatched "cotton" socks. Fold sock back on itself to form seed pot. The sock pot helps to retain moisture and is easily planted in designated areas. If you like you can cut/slit the bottom one layer with scissors. The old "cotton" sock returns itself back into soil. Hail to the "Old Cotton Sock."— Harley Frederickson

I'm pretty resourceful when it comes to using recycled things to start my seeds. I collect my 14-lb kitty litter jugs and cut away the top 1/3 to use the bottoms as seed starters/planters for my herbs. I use the 28-lb kitty litter pails (and their lids to cover) to start/grow tomatoes and peppers. I've made a whole bunch of "paper pots" (instead of using peat pots) out of my old newspapers to start seeds in. I collect yogurt cups, cut down the 64 oz plastic juice bottles (Juicy Juice, Ocean Spray, etc.), reuse the plastic containers that store-bought mushrooms come in to start my seeds. I reuse Windex bottles as water spray bottles. I've found long wood boards to put over my radiators where I put all of my "pots" to keep them warm in south-facing windows. I reuse the plastic bags (bread, rolls, etc.) to cover my pots.— Dawn Pannozza

I make my own seed-warming trays from two "waffled" flats used to carry plants home from the nursery/garden center and a string of C7 Christmas lights. I clip the lights onto the inside of the tray and anchor excess wire with plastic cable ties or twisty ties. Then I turn the tray over (see left) and cover with a cookie sheet to catch any drainage water from the plants. The lights are for indoor or outdoor use, so they won't short out if they get wet. I can control the temperature by slightly unscrewing some of the bulbs to turn them off.— Sherry Post

Mark Your Calendars In March!

Weekly:

March 1-7 – National Words Matter– This annual observance is sponsored by the National Association of Independent Writing Evaluators, and its purpose is to highlight the importance of words in communication.

http://www.naiwe.com/words-matter/national-week.php

March 7-15 – Iditarod Race– Called the "Last Great Race", mushers and their dogs race across 1,150 miles of Alaska's beautiful yet rough terrain. They cross frozen rivers, dense forest, desolate tundra, rocky mountains, and windswept coast, enduring storms, encounters with wildlife, and subzero temperatures. The race takes anywhere from 10 to 17 days.

http://www.iditarod.com/

March 15-21 – National Agriculture– This week is spent in an effort to show the importance and contribution of agriculture in the everyday lives of Americans. Producers, corporations, agricultural associations, and student and government organizations participate.

http://www.agday.org/index.php

March 16-22 – National Spring Fever– Let's celebrate the coming of spring by doing some spring cleaning or just getting outside and enjoying the warmer weather! Hey, maybe you should think about starting a garden…

Monthly :

Employee Spirit– Create positive energy and boost workplace morale, which will result in a fun atmosphere, increased company loyalty and cooperation, and decreased absences and turnovers.

National Caffeine Awareness– For us coffee and soda drinkers, we don't really want to hear about the health risks of too much caffeine, but that's what this month of awareness is about, so maybe we should listen up. Too much of this addictive substance can result in anxiety, dizziness, headaches, irritability, insomnia, gastrointestinal disturbance, and more. Wow, maybe I'll switch to decaff for a while!

http://www.caffeineawareness.org/viewnews.php?id=54

American Red Cross– Every year the President of the United States declares March to be "Red Cross Month." During this time, the American Red Cross promotes its services to the public and holds fund-raising events.

http://www.redcross.org/museum/history/marchis.asp

National Women's History– Each year, hundreds of thousands of events are held all across the country to acknowledge the accomplishments of women. This celebration began in 1980 when National Women's History Week was declared by Presidential Proclamation. It was expanded to an entire month in 1987. It offers an opportunity to educate the public concerning the significant role women have played in American history and contemporary society. This national celebration has led to changes in school curriculums and the recognition of women who have been vital members of their communities.

http://www.nwhp.org/whm/history.php

Zinnia's Make Great Cut Flowers!

Whether you're looking for a wedding bouquet, a prom corsage, or you're just trying to brighten up your dismal decor, sometimes you simply need the perfect flowers. We have gotten letters and pictures from customers who have grown our sunflowers, roses, tulips, and more for just about every occasion possible.

If you are looking for the perfect cut flower, I have a suggestion. The Zinnia 'Profusion' line is an amazing group of flowers in a huge array of colors. The full, luscious blooms stay beautiful for a very long time (I've still got one in my freezer from last year). The most popular Zinnia this year is Zinnia 'Profusion Knee High Red,' a hardy plant with long stems and bright red blooms, perfect for your cutflower bouquets.

Another one of my personal favorites for cut flowers (which also happens to be a Park Best Seller) is the Cockscomb 'Bombay' group. 'Bombay Pink' and 'Bombay Orange Tip' are actually in the Bio Dome (seed-starting kit) on my desk right now. I will keep everyone updated on their progress as they start to sprout.

Newsletter Contest! Savvy Seed-Starting Ideas!

There was a new contest in our newsletter this week for the cleverest seed-starting idea using recycled materials. The Savvy Seed Starting contest winners will be announced next Tuesday 02/24. Subscribe the Park Seed Newsletter, and you may be our next winner. The winner of the particular contest will receive a $50 gift certificate - not too shabby, especially for someone with awesome cost-saving ideas.

I've read through some of the entries - The most popular ideas seem to include reusing some type of food packaging for the seed-starting containter: the plastic clamshell containers that bakery and deli goods are sold in - parfait cups and plastic salad containers from McDonald's - the term "mini-greenhouse" was used a few times. Some of the alternative heat sources are pretty interesting too, from recycled water-bed thermostats to old Christmas lights.

Here is a picture of an example we've got going here in the office - It's a plastic egg container on the left and, on the right, one of those baked-potato containers from Wendy's!

Award-Winning Hydrangeas and New Exclusive Roses!

Hydrangea Pinky Winky™ and Hydrangea Limelight® both recently received the Royal Horticultural Society Award of Merit for 2008. The two products were already very popular - the Royal Horticulture Society is just affirming that the notoriety was well placed. Limelight® is one of the most cold-hardy Hydrangeas around, and with those dazzling, multi-color blooms, it's hard to find a better shrub. Pinky Winky™ is also very cold hardy, but it also blooms tenaciously despite climate, soil pH, and pruning.

You can find both of these great plants at ParkSeed.com.

We've also got a couple of great exclusive roses - that's right, you're only going to find these beauties right here at Park Seed. And appropriately, they have playful, Carolina-themed names. You may have seen Rose 'Shag Dancing' and Rose 'Carolina Girl' yesterday, if you subscribe to our newsletter.

A little Carolina Trivia:

The Carolina Shag is the state dance of both North and South Carolina. As the legend goes, it is a version of the Carolina Jitterbug modified for dancing to beach music in the sand.

Make Great Sandwiches & Salads with Organic Lettuce!

Growing your own lettuce is a great way to really make your dinners at home more exciting. It's fun, you will save money, and your salads and sandwiches will taste better.

One of the exciting things about visiting a deli or a nice cafe is they always have ingredients that you can't buy, high-quality meats, cheeses, sauces, and fresh gourmet produce. While we can't offer you any help in the meat or dairy departments, we know where you can get those fresh delicious organic greens - Your Own Back Yard!

Butter King - a succulent sweet lettuce that's never bitter. A gardener's favorite, Butter King is one of the best lettuces for salads. Matures in just over two months. It is a vigorous plant that will adapt to varying climates.

Lobjoits- Named by the Royal Horticulture Society as the best lettuce, and who can argue? this compact and crisp romaine delivers loads of flavor and texture for the perfect salad every time. Matures in 60 to 65 days, and it is really easy to grow.

Deer Tongue - very tender and sweet. Deer Tongue matures quickly (withing 50 days) and germinates well. This variety is easy to grow and tolerant of both high and low unseasonable temperatures.

Lettuce is a cool-climate vegetable that can be grown in the spring or fall. Caring for lettuce is straight-forward: plant in rich well-drained soil; water regularly; and keep pests off the tender leaves. To try a variety check out Park's Organic Lettuce Collection.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Park Seed wishes you and your loved ones a
Happy Valentine's Day!

Cabbage, Delicious and Easy to Grow!

Cabbage is wonderful and versatile, with many varieties eaten all over the world prepared in hundreds of different ways. And, you can grow them right in your own backyard!

This nutritious and filling biennial vegetable from the family Brassicaceae is characterize by a short stem and a dense clump of leaves or "head". The inner, immature leaves are often the most sought-after part for culinary uses. Ornamental cabbages are also very popular for adding cool-weather color to seasonally drab gardens.

Cabbage is easy to care for if given good soil, plenty of moisture, and lots of leaf building nutrients.

Soil for Cabbage:
A well-draining, sandy soil with enough organic matter to hold the necessary moisture is best. The soil must be able to wick the excess moisture from the roots and prevent the plant from becoming water-logged.

Watering Your Cabbage:
Cabbage likes moisture but will start to become unhealthy if it is kept soaking wet.
To obtain the thick luscious leaves with the perfect crunchy texture that makes cabbage such a treat in the kitchen give your cabbage plenty of water.

Feeding Your Cabbage:
Cabbage responds well to both synthetic fertilizers and natural organic fertilizer like rich compost. Since the quality of the plant depends on fast growing, thick, healthy foliage, some kind of nutrients supplement is recommended for the best results.

3 Things to Remember for Great Pepper Plants

All peppers need three things:

1. Full sun
2. Good Soil
3. Moisture

Full sunlight - Most pepper plants thrive in full sunlight. But remember, they still need protection from scorching caused by evaporation during hot or dry periods.

Soil That Drains Well - As with most garden vegetables, soaking wet roots leads to disease and rot. Use a loose, loamy soil that drains excess moisture away from the roots.

Regular Moisture - Pepper Plants suck up a lot of water, and need to be watered every 3 days or so. Use a good organic mulch to maintain moisture levels during hot or dry periods.

For more helpful pepper hints check out: How To Grow Great Peppers

Peppers are easy to grow - many first time gardeners will often choose peppers and tomatoes because the effort is minimal and the reward is abundant. Check out Park Seeds great Selection of Spicy, Mild, and Sweet Peppers for 2009.  Whether this is your first time gardening, or you're an old pro looking for some variety,  we are sure these pepper plants won't disappoint.

If you ever need any gardening tips or advice you can leave a comment or email me, and if I don't know the answer, I promise someone here does. Happy Gardening!

Garden Resolutions Contest Winners Announced!

The winners of the resolution contest I mentioned last Thursday have been announced! They are each receiving a Park Seed gift certificate and bragging rights for their much appreciate participation. There were hundreds of entries, and four winners were chosen. One of my favorites was actually picked as a winner. If you'd like to participate in a contest like this, or you'd like to get the latest garden news and the best deals, just subscribe to Park Seed's Newsletter.

And the winners are:

I had the brainstorm one year to plant Nicotiana next to our many (~60) tomato plants...not thinking that Nicotiana is related to tomatoes, & that Nicotiana has the loveliest night-time fragrance, & that lovely fragrance would draw in night-flying moths to visit, & that apparently MOST of those night-flying moths would turn out to be Sphinx moths. The strong-flying parents of the Tomato Hornworm. We had the best crop of Tomato Hornworms EVER. Hundreds of them. Hundreds. Not only on the tomatoes, but also the Nicotiana. That's a lot of hunting & squishing. We'll never plant Nicotiana again, anywhere, as long as we grow tomatoes. And a caveat to gardeners trying to attract butterflies, moths, & other wildlife to your plot: investigate what their "babies" like to eat before planting! Every year in the garden is a new adventure, even after 40+ years!

— Judy Weymouth

My New Year Resolution for gardening is To Never Sneeze Again with Seeds in My Hands.

— Irene Lyons

1. I resolve never again to allot three feet square for zucchini plants. 2. I resolve never again to raise eight tomato plants at once for a table that feeds two people. 3. I resolve never again to let my dog romp through my unplanted garden. 4. I resolve never again to let the heat and weeds and bugs beat me back by April.

— Lisa Willmon

I will never again buy the leftover pitiful looking disease ridden plants that nobody else wanted at a nursery that tells me they just need a little TLC and some good soil and that they'll catch up. I'll start with quality and plan ahead even if it takes a few days longer to get them.

— Kelly Palmer