Plant Count - March 10, 2015

FLOWERS 

1. Alyssum, Gold Dust  0
2. Black-Eyed Susan  45
3. Chinese Forget-Me-Nots  0
4. Coleus  25
5. Coreopsis, Early Sunrise  0
6. Coreopsis, Full Moon  0
7. Delphiniums  28
8. Dusty Miller  - seeds not viable
9. Echinacaea  22 
10. Foxglove  0
11. Geraniums  19
12. Grecian Rose  0
13. Gypsophilia  13
14. Hibiscus, Disco Belle   0
15. Hibiscus, White  9
16. Impatiens, Dark Pink  27
17. Impatiens, Flavours  0
18. Lavender  18 
19. Lobelia, Crystal Palace  >100
20. Lupines  12
21. Pansies  59
22. Petunia, Mixed Colors  >70
23. Petunia, Wave  3
24. Petunia, Flavours  1
25. Potentilla, Cinquefoil   >50
26. Salvia, Scarlet  10
27. Salvia, Blue Bedder  28
28. Snapdragons, Mixed  64
29. Snapdragons, Tetra Ruffled  13
30. Sweet William  32
31. Trumpet Vine  0
32. Verbena  29
33. Vinca  >80
34. Viola  20

HERBS

1. Chamomile  8
2. Oregano, Common  42
3. Oregano, Zaatar  23
4. Oregano, Greek  51
5. Parsley, Triple Curled Moss  40
6. Rosemary  16
7. Thyme, Common  0

VEGETABLES 

1. Artichokes, Green Globe  0
2. Asparagus  29
3. Celery  3
4. Leeks  44
5. Onions, Ailsa Craig  50
6. Onions, Copra  150
7. Onions, Red Amposta  90
8. Onions, Red Bull  40
9. Onoions, Red Wethersfield  45
10. Onions, Ringmaster  45
11. Onions, Rossi Di Milano  80
12. Onions, Sweet Spanish Yellow  50
13. Onions, Tokyo Long Bunching  50
14. Onions, Tropeana Lunga  60
15. Onions, Walla Walla  40
16. Potatoes, Gold  9
17. Potatoes, Red  9
18. Shallots  70
19. Sweet Potato Slips  4

Seeds Planted Today 

Alyssum, (Gold Dust, Aurinia saxatilis compacta): Seed swap, 2008. Sowed approximately 30 seeds in 4"x8" container 1/4" deep. Expected germination time, 5-6 days. Days to maturity, N/A. Characteristics: perennial, low growing, yellow flowers, best grown in mass as groundcover, aka Basket of Gold, Madwort.
See: http://akirchner.hubpages.com/hub/The-Easiest-To-Grow-Perennial-In-the-World-Basket-of-Gold

Chinese Forget-Me-Nots (Firmament, Nomeolvides china firmament, Cynoglossum): Burpee, 2015. Sowed approximately 25 seeds each in two 3" containers 1/8" deep. Expected germination time: 7-14 days. Days to maturity, 45-50. Characteristics: annual, graceful, loose sprays of blue flowers on stiff, upright stems, blooms all summer, suitable for borders, full sun/part shade, 16" tall.
See: http://www.floretflowers.com/2014/01/flower-focus-chinese-forget-me-nots/

Thyme (Common): Ferry Morse, 2012. Sowed approximately 20 seeds in 3" container 1/4" deep. Expected germination time, 8-20 days. Days to maturity, 70. Characteristics: perennial, 8"-12" tall, use fresh or dried, attracts bees, thin to 8" apart in garden.
See: http://www.homedepot.com/p/Ferry-Morse-Common-Thyme-Seed-2028/100349860?N=5yc1vZc8qlZ5ry

Artichoke (Green Globe, Cynara scolymus): Dollarseed, 2013. Sowed three to four seeds each in five 3" pots. Expected germination time, 8-12 days. Days to maturity, 78 or 150-180. Characteristics: annual, practice vernalizaiton (two weeks of cool weather to simulate winter's chill), marginally hardy in zone 6, mulch through winter, full sun, harvest before bracts open, frequently feed and water, bristly leaves bring interest to flower garden, violet flower blooms in mid-fall.
See: http://www.gardening.cornell.edu/homegardening/scenec09b.html

Can't Forget Lettuce 

A salad spinner helps dry the freshly picked and washed lettuce leaves. 

Lettuce is a staple in our household.  I often use spinach, arugula, endive and kale as the secondary "greens" in our salads, but my preference is still a crisp romaine or ruffled loose leaf lettuce. It is always a delight to go out to the garden and pick an assortment of leaves in varying textures, colors and tastes.  This year I will direct sow seeds in the early spring and fall.  In addition, I prepare seedlings indoors to transplant into the hoophouse in early April:

Lettuce (Buttercrunch):  Livingston Seeds, 2014. Planted one 6-pack. Days to maturity, 50-60. Characteristics: sun, thin 4"-9", All-American Award winner, loose heads of thick, crisp leaves.  Resistant to heat.

Lettuce (Prizehead):  Livingston Seeds, 2014. Planted one 6-pack. Days to maturity, 45-50. Characteristics: partial shade/sun, thin 4", bronze-red outer leaves over frilled lime-green inner leaves.  Early maturity.

Lettuce (Simpson Elite):  Burpee, 2013 .Planted one 6-pack. Days to maturity, 48. Characteristis: thin 8", heat resistant, full sun, light green frilled and crumpled leaves, crisp, delicate flavor.

Lettuce (Baby Romaine):  Livingston Seeds, 2014. Planted one 6-pack. Days to maturity, 55-60. Characteristics: sun/partial shade, thin 12", 8" tall, caesar salad favorite, crisp, sweet flavor, upright growth, harvest outer leaves to prolong production.

Lettuce (Little Gem): Seed Swap, 2015. Planted one 6-pack. Days to maturity, 50.  Characteristics: very small, green, romaine-type, supposedly one of the very best-tasting lettuces, heat tolerant.
See: http://www.rareseeds.com/little-gem-lettuce/

Lettuce (Red Romaine):  Livingston Seeds, 2014. Planted one 6-pack. Days to maturity, 45-55. Characteristics: sun, thin 4", 8"-12" tall, oblong, burgundy leaves, crunchy midribs, colorful gourmet variety, color may vary from deep green to deep red, innermost leaves lighter green and most tender, color deepens in cooler weather.

Postscript #1 - There was germination in the following containers: potentilla (sown March  4,  6 days) and petunias flavours (sown March 2, 8 days).  

Postscript #2 - I am declaring the six year old Dusty Miller seeds not viable.