A Fun Way of Starting Seeds

Seed starting in the Northeast is a necessary task in order to have a maximum harvest in some varieties of garden veggies. Beans, Pumpkins and Gourds are examples of what can be started early indoors and grown for a nice transplant in the spring. Fickle New England weather can wreak havoc in the garden if patience is not exercised. Now that we can start a few seeds, here is a cool way to get them started.

Recycle an old mason jar and use clear crystal earth found at most craft stores. fill the jar half way and throw in a packet of seeds. Place in a sunny area. Each day you will be able to observe the germination process and share it with others. First the seeds growing, swelling then bursting open with the roots and first leaves finding their way out into the world. 

By the time they get going the jar will be filled with life and each seedling will be easy to take out of the jar to transplant into a 6" pot filled with nutritious new soil that is well drained and well fed. Don't let the seedlings get too large in the jar because they will become entangled. What a great project for school kids to learn the anatomy of a plant-)

I do not recommend this project for small children as the little beads may prove to be tempting to eat. 

Peas take a day or two to germinate and mine are already in the ground for 2012. 

As you can see the seedlings will be easy to transplant into 6" diameter pot with a fertilized potting mix. These can be grown indoors until planting time. This will help give them a great start and an earlier harvest!

It's Spring...here we go!

  A visit to “Cricket Hill Garden” Thomaston, Connecticut

     Tree Peonies or Paeonia (pronounced Pee-oh-nee) have been part of the Chinese culture for hundreds of years and is the national flower of China. Tree Peonies are a highly regarded plant and were not available for many years. Festivals are dedicated to these beautiful woody ornamental plants that have blooms as large as 10” across. David & Kasha Furman, Owners of  “Cricket Hill Garden” in Thomaston took some time out from their busy schedule to show me around the Peony farm, which has been in business since 1988. “We got our first plants from China in 1990-1991 and have been buying them from China ever since.”  Furman has a wonderful sense of humor and welcomes conversation as well as questions.

      As you drive into “Peony Heaven” at Cricket Hill Garden, there are paper umbrellas placed strategically over several of the plants to protect the blooms and is a most exotic sight. Tree Peonies (woody plants) bloom a bit earlier than the herbaceous type (die back each fall to the ground). Kasha Furman works with the Herbaceous Peonies, which also come from China as well as Central Asia (Chao Dynasty). Typically blooms start around early to mid June and peak just as the Herbaceous Peonies start to show off their colors in late June. The Oohs and Ahhs never stop from one plant to another. Furman says the most popular variety changes as the plants bloom “It depends on what’s blooming that day.” When people see these beautiful and fragrant flowers, that’s the one they want to purchase. When asked what his personal favorite is he states with humor, “That’s like asking me, what’s my favorite Son?”

       Planting must be done carefully and the Furman crew offers a step-by-step video to their customers. Peonies must be planted while they are dormant (not yet growing). There is a small window of opportunity in early spring between late March and early April, just as soon as the ground can be worked. Most planting in the northeast are done in the fall starting in late September to early October and that is the recommended time for transplanting or moving a Peony plant. 

         Peonies have a complicated root system. The planting hole should be at least 2’ around and should be planted with the crown no more than 2” below the surface. Planting a Peony too deep can cause poor flowering. Place the roots into the hole with a mound built up in the center, fan out roots and place soil over them. Water the hole (this is called “mudding in”) and repeat this step several times until the hole is filled in being careful about the plants depth in the soil. Winter protection (not mulch) should be used after the ground has frozen to prevent the root system from being heaved out of the ground by frost. Mr. Furman also states that he only uses organic fertilizer for his plants. “We are very careful about the ponds here and our birds.” which is alive with the sounds of frogs in mating season. When asked if this couple takes care of the farm all by themselves, Furman squints his eyes and says that he and his wife put out bowls of porridge each night and “The pixies do the work.”

     Cricket Hill Garden is located on 670 Walnut Hill Road in Thomaston, CT. Kasha and David Furman will answer your calls at 860-283-1042 and they have a wonderful website at www.treepeony.com with a treasure trove of information. The Furman’s have visiting hours while the Peonies are in bloom. Call ahead for details. Prices range for a plant that is at least 4 years old are from $60.00 to $150.00 (depending on how difficult they are to grow). They have one 10-year-old plant that sold for $600.00!