Resources and a recipe

My kale went to seed! This is when a plant stops directing energy to producing its edible parts (leafy greens or root veggies, usually) and starts focusing all its energy on producing flowers and seeds. Often, this happens with changes in temperature. The plant senses that cooler or warmer temps are on the way, realizes that it is dying, and starts directing its energy to reproduction. When a plant goes to seed, sometimes its edible parts don't taste so good -- things get tough. So my kale plants are now sitting in the yard waste. I'm glad I sowed some last weekend!

I stayed up late last night potting up a few tomato plants. My little seedlings are getting tall and leafy! I've basically turned the dead space next to my grandmother's large bureau into seed starting space. I bought another grow light (maybe I should have invested in a conventional light, rather than clamp lights), and put six tomato plants into 2-in peat pots. I will likely need to transplant them into larger pots before planting them out in May. The lady who taught the class I took on seed starting said that tomatoes and peppers need supplemental light until they are ready to go outside. I'm going to email or call the Greendays Gardening Show on KUOW next week to see if they say otherwise. It would be great to transfer these things into a window when they get big. And the windows overlooking my bureau are south-facing, making them nice, sunny windowsills.

I'm hoping to get over to the P-Patch to plant tomorrow, but it will depend on the weather. They are predicting clouds and showers around here -- no more torrential rain. We even had hail and snow! Hopefully my plot will dry out enough to plant.

We have some great garden resources here in the Northwest. Here is a list of some. Feel free to let me know about more, too!

Seattle Tilth -- http://seattletilth.org/
Want to garden but don't know how? Tilth can help! This nonprofit organization offers many low cost classes to gardeners of all experience levels. Their Spring Plant Sale and Fall Harvest Fair showcase local growers, producers, and organizations dedicated to sustainable living and gardening. The Early Spring Plant Sale, which is brand new this year, will be happening on March 20 (next Saturday) from 9-2 at Magnusson Park in Seattle. Come get your leafy green starts!

Lettuce Link -- http://www.solid-ground.org/PROGRAMS/NUTRITION/LETTUCE/Pages/default.aspx
Have a fruit tree, but can't eat everything it produces? Lettuce Link to the rescue! During summer and fall, Lettuce Link volunteers help pick fruit trees for people all over the Puget Sound region. A volunteer helped pick our pear tree last summer. If you would like to donate your fruit, please, please, please do NOT spray your trees! Lettuce Link donates everything picked to local food banks, and it's better to donate pears that you ignored rather than pears you sprayed.

Seattle P-Patch program -- http://www.cityofseattle.net/neighborhoods/ppatch/
P-Patches are community gardens that have sprung up all over Seattle. Sometimes there can be a long waitlist for the garden you want, so definitely sign up for one early. There is information here about starting your own P-patch, as well. New gardens distribute plots based on volunteer hours, so if you see one near you starting up, donate some time and you will likely get a plot.

KUOW Green Days gardening panel -- http://www.kuow.org/program.php?id=19428
Listen to three experienced gardeners tackle questions of all types! It's really interesting, and often people ask something I am currently thinking about. KUOW does podcast this program -- I often listen to it at work.

The Garden Hotline -- http://www.gardenhotline.org/
Got a question? Call or email The Garden Hotline, and the master gardeners on the other end will point you in the right direction.

Recipe later -- friends are here!
-- Anna