At the beginning of the year we decided to get a jump-start on the growing season, so we started all kinds of vegetables from seed. We planted many different varieties of tomatoes, basil, dill, zucchini and eggplant inside under grow lights. In April, it started warming up! We started to drag our plants out every day so they could get some much needed fresh air and sunlight.
Unfortunately, we were a little over-zealous. It was still very cold, and our plants had to come in each night. Then May arrived, and it was so cold that the warm spell in April seemed like summer. Even though we’ve been gardening in Central Oregon for years and should have expected the delayed spring, we lost many of our starts. All the way into June, we continued to drag our plants in and out each day, or cover them heavily with blankets and row cover. When it continued to reach the 30′s all the way into JULY, we asked ourselves, “why do we live in Central Oregon?” By that time, all of our plants were in hoophouses and had been hardened off, so we didn’t loose any of our plants.
Now – these victorious starts that we have been so tenderly caring for (many since FEBRUARY) – can be yours! We have a wide variety of tomato starts, basil, corn, cucumber, and more. Many of these plants will be going with us to the NorthWest Crossing Farmer’s Market this Saturday, so you’d better get yourself into the store before then, or visit us at the Market!
