Applegater Spring 2021
9
DIRTY FINGERNAILS AND ALL
Catalog nights and hot buttered rum
BY SIOUX ROGERS
Sioux Rogers
I sat in front of a roaring fire, my
two dogs sprawled at my feet as I sipped
on a steaming cup of hot buttered rum,
staring at 18 seed catalogs, at least,
spread everywhere. Winter is when the
“real gardener” begins the obsessive
task of ordering seeds, dreaming of this
year’s “perfect” garden. This year I am
consciously (as opposed to unconsciously)
considering where to plant everything.
This is called a “plot plan.”
Then what? Spring arrives. Then what?
All the “mistakes” arrive in the mail.
Lordy, Lordy, I certainly did not order 68
packages of seeds. I am positive there is a
mistake. Now what? I double-check my
well-thought-out plot plan of where to
plant everything. Now I need to reassess
the plot plan. I thought it was so brilliant
and perfect, but maybe not. After all,
where would I ever have space for seeds
from 68 packages, especially if all the
seeds germinated? Whew, I better check
again. My plot plan was designed for
the contents of 43 seed packs. I couldn't
possibly have ordered 68 packages of seeds.
So now what? Need to make numerous
phone calls and set the seed catalog folks
straight. Right!
Do you know what a “mystery paper”
is? It is a lost piece of scrap paper with a list
of at least 25 different flowers you want to
grow. Slap my forehead. Now what? Well,
for the moment I am just claiming insanity
for an aging brain.
Next I will plead, still claiming insanity,
to all my gardener friends (wonder if I have
enough of them) that they honestly need
to plant clarkia, blue salvias, marigolds,
● WE DELIVER
● YOU LOAD
● WE PICK UP
Yep, it’s that easy!
zinnias, nasturtiums, amaranths, petunias,
more zinnias, snap dragons, and then
more I forgot. They, my gardener friends,
can plant my flower seeds and then bring
me beautiful bouquets of “my” flowers
all summer.
That plan has only moderate success,
as I do not have enough insane friends.
Ordering from seed catalogs is a
challenge: so many choices, too many
seeds, where to plant what. If this is so
difficult and can become so complicated,
why don’t I just buy vegetables and
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flowers at the local growers mart? Answer:
no idea!
When ordering seeds from catalogs,
pay attention to the variety of what you
are considering. Here is what I mean. I like
radishes because they are so easy to grow,
but I don’t like hot and bitter radishes.
Read the label and find a radish variety
that says, “Tastes sweet.” Lettuce, and all
green leaf stuff, for that matter, tends to
bolt. Look for lettuce seeds that say, “Slow
to bolt” or “No bolting.” If you are partial
to certain flower colors, here is the time
Thoughts for gardens (author unknown).
to “paint your garden” as you like. If your
local nursery has zinnias but not the colors
you are craving, grow them yourself. Get
the color you like. You are the artist, so
please yourself.
Before ordering from the seed catalogs,
make sure you check the growing
conditions for what you want. Don’t
ignore “best grown in shade” and then
plant in full sun. Study colors, ultimate
height, whether it needs staking, trellis,
or something else. You get to order what
suits you and your garden plot.
Order from the seed catalogs the plants
and special varieties of plants you cannot
find locally. Start germinating those seeds
so they are ready to plant about the same
time you plant the small nursery seedlings.
Actually, some of your seeds probably can
be directly sowed when the soil is ready.
Read the back of the seed packages for
planting dates.
If you need an abundance of any
particular plant, say lettuce, then by all
means sow seeds directly into the garden
soil. However, I usually buy vegetable
starts of Japanese eggplant, cauliflower,
cabbage, and broccoli. I have not had great
luck germinating those, and I have very
limited germinating space.
Flower seeds are different. I never have
enough flowers. Mind you, I struggle with
germination, but it’s so worth it, even with
moderate success. Flower power for me.
So here you are with still time to order,
really. Paint your garden with colors, just
as you like. It is your garden, and you are
the artist.
Sioux Rogers • littlemuddyred@gmail.com
