Mid February Gardening in Mid Coast Maine
Yesterday was such a beautiful day.
The sun was shining brightly and the last of the snow had finally melted and being outside was a total joy. Which is sort of a rare treat here in Mid Coast Maine this time of year.
So I did what any hopeful gardener would do, I broke out the seed packets and started sorting them according to planting dates.
Out of all the plants I hope to grow this year, I think I’m most looking forward to the sunflowers. Or rather the Hopi Black Dye Sunflowers as the seeds can be used to create a dye which will produce shades from dove grey to deep purple, which I think would be pretty exciting.
Did I mention we’re supposed to get between 8 – 10 inches of snow tonight? 😉
Yep. That’s what the HH told me. Oh well, at least by tonight I’ll have finished sorting all my seed packets and be ready to go for March 1st which is when I’ll start getting serious about planting my seeds.
So far I’ve only planted English lavender, poppies, leeks and onions.
About the only thing coming out of its slumber in the garden right now are the chive plants. They so desperately want it to be spring.
Winter sowing. I’ve decided to give it a try. The other day I tossed a few Hens and Chickens poppy seeds in some old milk jugs and set them along the fence.
I’ve tried planting poppy seeds here in the fall with little success, so I’m hoping this method will work.
Have you tried winter sowing before? Have you had success with the process? Do you start all your seeds this way? I know my friend Heather likes to start here seedlings this way.
Well that’s about all that’s happening gardening wise here in Maine. What’s going on at your place? Have you started any of your seeds yet? Are you planning on growing more vegetables in your garden this summer than in years past?
Curious minds want to know.
~Mavis
Tracy says
I have onions and rhubarb going inside, and lavender winter sowed outside. I have done some winter sowing in the past but didn’t pay enough attention and fried them in the jugs. I do want to try a few more things this year though.
Suzy says
I’ve had great success Winter Sowing. Currently have 6 types of poppies outside. I love that I don’t need loads of space inside and all the shelves and lights.
Dawn says
And over here in our part of Maine we are completely covered in snow, including the chives! But I did get my onion seeds planted yesterday which helped scratch the gardening itch a little. And we’ll be making maple syrup before you know it which always helps this time of year pass a bit faster.
Jamie says
The countdown is on! Can’t wait to start gardening again.
Carole says
My winter onions and garlic are about ready. I have carrots, potatoes and more onions started, with tomatoes and peppers under grow lights. I am in south Texas so we start very early. Lettuce and spring greens going in this week, temps in the 80s the next ten days!!
Maureen says
I do quite a bit of winter sowing here in Wisconsin and have had good luck with all kinds of poppies as well as perennials and hardy annuals. I don’t grow a lot of vegetables but the last few years I’ve started all my herbs and veggies in winter or spring sowing. I love the ease and fun of planting things and just putting them outside and not worrying about small seedlings under lights if I go away for a few days. Have fun garden planning and dreaming.
Margo says
I’m in zone 10a, so I have a full winter garden of greens, onions, radishes, carrots, peas, etc growing; things you might consider a spring garden. I have started some of my spring-summer plants indoors this week. Some herbs, more lettuce, and pac Choi. I plan on starting tomatoes in a week or so. Most of the rest will be direct sown in a few weeks. Plan on starting a medicinal plant garden as well soon.
Gina-MO says
I love wintersowing! So far, I have about 20 gallon zip bags planted. I like using zip bags because here in MO, the temps can go up or down quite a bit until almost June and zipping/unzipping makes ventilating so much easier. I have them hanging on small sections of rebar across my raised beds so that the rebar holds the baggies upright. I’m growing tomatoes, onions, asparagus, peppers, cabbage, broccoli, ground cherries (new to me), and also herbs and flowers (sunflowers, petunias, borage, dill, basil, calendula, bachelors buttons). Since we currently live in a tiny house, this is really the only way I that I can start my own seeds, but it works so well that I will continue even after we move into our new home.
Looking forward to seeing how your containers do and seeing your completely awesome large vegetable gardens this summer!
Dianne says
Gina,
What do you use to hang the bags onto the rebars? Do you just poke a hole and hang with clip etc?
suzanne says
I have a green house and I still prefer to winter sow many veg and flower seeds.
Angie says
I too have broken out my seeds and began sorting so I know what I need to buy/order. I am drafting out plans for the Spring/Summer garden and making plans to amend the soil. 30 cu feet of high quality composted soil plus peat moss and manure to the garden. I have decided to plant peas along the back wall of my flower beds in the hopes of having a large crop this year to combat ever rising food prices. In the garden I plan to plant it more densely than last year and I will add more berry bushes to our current space as well. We will install a fence in the back garden and I researching different options for trellising to support all of the tomatoes, green beans and cucumbers that I plan to grow. I am putting seeds for peas in the beds this weekend but I will begin direct sowing seeds in the garden the first weekend in March and I CANNOT wait. Also planning to plant zinnias in mass along the backyard fence line along with some black eyed susans and daisies. Along the shady side of the fence line I will be planting hostas and impatiens in mass as well. So, So excited about it all.
Nancy D says
Yes! Zinnias are the happiest flowers!
HollyG says
This week I started some spinach, zucchini, sweet peppers, hot peppers, thyme, parsley, coriander, chives and marigolds in little greenhouses in the garage under some grow lights. We’ve started cleaning up the garden and the sorrel, wintered-over onions, fall-planted garlic and some kale are starting to wake up. It is supposed to get down to 18° for a couple of nights this week but after that I think I’ll plant out some early peas (the rabbits seem to get them all anyway, so what harm could it do). Zone 8b PNW – Willamette Valley (with dreams of moving to Maine/NewHampshire/Vermont)
Peg says
Last year’s tomato crop was terrible, and I’ve read it was because it was so hot and dry. It was very frustrating because I’m not much of a gardener. This year I’ll try again. I’m planting potatoes in a grow bag, also a tomato plant in a grow bag (tiny backyard), some type of mild pepper in a pot, sweet peas, and sunflowers. I am also trying to figure out where I can plant a few seeds for tiny pumpkins (mostly as an experiment for our grandbabies).
Katherine says
I have sowed carrots, spinach, arugula, mesclun and sweet pea seeds earlier this week. I made paper pots today so I can start get my tomatoes and peppers seeds going indoors tomorrow.
It feels like supper here in North Georgia today, 81 degrees. It’s supposef to be 79 tomorrow.
Sue D says
Sorting my seeds tomorrow for starting indoors. Won’t be able to grow as much as I’d like as I’m still restricted to grow pots. We’ve been working on terracing a good portion of the back garden as it’s a rather steep hill. Quite a few setbacks, but I’m hopeful this is the year it will be finished.
Susan says
I have started Cabbage, Onions, Tomatoes, Peppers, Cauliflower and Okra inside. I have a 2nd tray ready to plant in another week or so. It’s just my husband & I, so I need to plan on spreading out the harvest to be able to use as much as possible. We don’t have much room for canning things, but did get a freeze dryer, so will be able to preserve some that way.
This is my first season of actually trying! Backyard in zone 8B (Everett, WA)
Jamie says
I am putting in a pollinator flower garden this year and I winter sowed all the starts. I am also experimenting with starting elderberry this way. I have a few parallel fridge cold stratification experiments going too with the same seeds.
Tracey says
Can anyone offer advice on deterring groundhogs / woodchucks? My garden was devastated by a pair last year, despite fencing and buried hardware cloth. The only plants left uneaten were tomatoes – a blessing, but still…
Marie says
We moved into a home with pre-established runs! I’ve had success with dried and then crushed egg shells. Remove the mounded soil, find the small entrance/exit hole, add the shells and recover.
Neighbor also has luck with gummy worms in the holes!
Laura says
How many tomato plants do you typically have every year in your garden? I have my seeds ready to go but I’m not sure how many to plant so I was curious about yours.
Mavis Butterfield says
I think last year we had about 65 tomato plants.
Bonnie H. says
On west coast Bay Area Inland zone 9a….I’ve got in outdoor boxes on my 1100 SQ ft paved patio: 1 Seed hothouse with shelves (6x5x7 H) with all my warm weather starts seeded this week-cukes, watermelon, tomatoes, cantelope, peppers, etc. Outside in boxes I’ve got cold crops: garlic, chard, radichio(?), Bok choy, & leaf lettuce. Nice start to my finally-serious-about-the-garden-in-my-head garden! I have pic.s