I think most people cut the garlic early as scapes
I see a lot at the farmers market (scapes) but not full flower heads

Yes, the scapes get really tough as they get old enough to form the flower heads (speaking from experience!).

I'm trying a new variety of radish, white icicle, after a little issue with my seeds I was saving from last year. We'll see where the indiscriminately scattered radishes come up. I am thinking mostly in the lawn from the site of the accident. A couple might come up around the air conditioner or in the cracks of the pavers nearby.

My first time trying leeks.

Hoping to find some kind of mid sized slicer tomato at the seed swap this weekend. I'm growing Sweetie variety cherry tomatoes. I've got Delicious variety for the massive end of the scale. An inbetween new variety for a plant or two is the goal. I also have a new microdwarf variety, Pinocchio, that was supposed to be indoor winter tomatoes but due to an order issue they only just arrived. It's an outdoor container rehearsal for indoor tomatoes under a grow light next year.

I will probably try some kind of sweet pepper again if I can get some from the seed swap. My record with starting peppers from seed is abysmal. Even if we just call the category pepper, my record is so bad I think growing pepper from seed to even a modest harvest counts as newish. It would definitely be a win for me.

@Weedwhacker Etsy Might need to look under "garlic seed" too.

Went back and checked where I bought them and the dude doesn't have any.

I planted all mine otherwise I'd send you some. I can hook you up this September though.

PattyPan said:
I will probably try some kind of sweet pepper again if I can get some from the seed swap. My record with starting peppers from seed is abysmal. Even if we just call the category pepper, my record is so bad I think growing pepper from seed to even a modest harvest counts as newish. It would definitely be a win for me.

Lol on the yard radish. I guess mowing will smell very fresh!

I'm glad you are trying sweet peppers again, so many delicious ultra sweet varieties. Godspeed little pepper seeds! I INSIST you grow for this gardener.

Thanks for the offer of the garlic seed, Elisabeth, but I honestly do have more than enough garlic for planting; I'm going to try to get some of those Music seeds started however - just to show them who's the boss around here!

Weedwhacker said: Yes, the scapes get really tough as they get old enough to form the flower heads (speaking from experience!).

Which puzzled me when I read about eating scales. I guess you cut early?

Weedwhacker said: Chard comes to mind in that respect - I love the way it looks when it's growing, and even love how it tastes when lightly sauteed like spinach, but just never seem to "get around" to using it .

I grew two decorative pots of bright lights variety just for looks last year. They were kind of stunted by too small a space but nice in their own way.

For the stuff in the actual garden I am a bit like you. The technique I use is chopping excess up with some of my chives, jamming it in a small plastic container and filling the gaps with water. Then I freeze it for winter soups and stews. Depending on freezer space that might be an option if you are only growing a little.

sallyg said: Which puzzled me when I read about eating scales. I guess you cut early?

I think you're supposed to cut them when they first start looping around;
after my experiences with trying to eat the ones that were too old I've never actually pursued doing it the right way and utilizing them. One of my biggest problems is that as the garden really gets going I'm so busy with things like freezing beans, canning salsa, making pickles, freezing corn (which we buy at a farm market), and, of course, weeding weeding weeding... that I under-utilize a lot of the things that should just be used fresh - something I'm going to try to improve on this summer!

I really want to do Dill for my pickles and I also really want to do garlic. I'm thinking maybe a Garlic plan in the fall?

I'm doing new tomato varieites this year as well! Generally only done large beefsteak. Doing Cherokee Purple, amish paste, and some cherry tomatoes this year.

I REALLY hope the Cherokee Purple do well. I've determined I'm going to keep on top of trimming them this time around.

Verac said: I really want to do Dill for my pickles.

I'm doing new tomato varieites this year as well! Generally only done large beefsteak. Doing Cherokee Purple, amish paste, and some cherry tomatoes this year.

I REALLY hope the Cherokee Purple do well. I've determined I'm going to keep on top of trimming them this time around.

I'm doing dill this year as well. Its not too difficult to grow but take care not to let it dry out too much.

Cherokee Purple is a fine tomato! Its been years since I've done it. I miss that variety but I got rid of it because I had too many varieties and so little space to grow what I want. (Still do!) Cherries aren't hard to do either; just try not to eat them all before you bring them in the house. If you're doing black cherry be warned that it is not a good keeper and the ripe fruits need to be eaten within a couple of days.

Does anyone grow the real small tomatoes (dwarf?)
I read an article somewhere this winter about tomatoes that stay 12-18'' and produce under lights in the winter

gardengus said: Does anyone grow the real small tomatoes (dwarf?)
I read an article somewhere this winter about tomatoes that stay 12-18'' and produce under lights in the winter

I do!!! Tiny Tim is my #1 favorite!



It stays around a foot tall and fits great in pots but they can become top heavy.
I don't grow any kind of plant under a grow light; I have a greenhouse and start Tiny Tim early like in December to be first to have fresh tomatoes.

gardengus said: Does anyone grow the real small tomatoes (dwarf?)

Microdwarf will help searches. There are just smaller but not tiny plants that are called dwarf.

I haven't tried yet. Just got my seeds after a shipping screw up so no actual winter tomatoes until next winter. A couple are going in dirt in the next few days for early tomatoes as a first time experiment.

I have a few plants oof Tiny Tim in the greenhouse. They aren't overwhelming me with fruit yet.

PattyPan ,
So what seeds did you choose?

gardengus said: So what seeds did you choose?

Pinnochio Red - It was more about availability and shipping on any micro dwarf than a careful variety choice after the first order whoopsie, back and forth chaos, and ultimate cancellation.

Someone just get me some seeeeeeeeeddddss! This was supposed to be my winter fix!

Counting ...ordering ... sorting ...dreaming..Seeds
A good winter Fix

PattyPan said: Pinnochio Red - It was more about availability and shipping on any micro dwarf than a careful variety choice after the first order whoopsie, back and forth chaos, and ultimate cancellation.

Someone just get me some seeeeeeeeeddddss! This was supposed to be my winter fix!

Would you like a few Tiny Tim seed? It's a dwarf around a foot tall.

As you can see, it's a little early for me to start my tomatoes. I have started a couple fo peppers and they are up now. (In the basement.)