Although we had snow today, we have begun our garden for the year!
One of the challenges of gardening year after year is that the chores can become repetitive. We try and combat that by trying different plants and different techniques.
In past years, we have grown our onions from sets - small onion bulbs planted in the garden. It is quick and easy, but the choices of onion types are limited. We will use onion sets this year also, but as an experiment we will be trying to grow shallots from seed. Onion and shallot seeds get started indoors 10 weeks before the last average frost date. I scattered some Zebrune shallot seeds in a shallow container of seed starting mix, covered the seeds with a little vermiculite, and placed the container in a seed tray with heating mat and covered with a dome. As they grow, we will keep the seedlings trimmed to a height of 2-3 inches to encourage root growth, The tiny plants will eventually get transplanted into a garden bed. I tried growing shallots from bulbs last year, but we had limited success, partly because the chickens dug them up. If this works, we will give onion seeds a try next year.
The other experiment is growing peonies from seed. The Wisconsin Peony Society has a booth at the Madison Garden Expo each year, and they sell seeds for a fundraiser. There is a risk of the seeds not producing true to type, but they are inexpensive. Peonies have a unique germination process. The seeds get planted in a quart pot of seed starting mix, covered with plastic wrap and a dome, and placed in a seed tray with heating mat. After 6 weeks and all goes well, roots will extend out the bottom of the pot. At this point, the pot then goes into the refrigerator for several weeks, then taken out and returned to the light to spout. I am trying President Lincoln and Just Peachy varieties.
This handful of seeds is just the start. In just a couple of weeks, brassicas, flowers, and peppers will get their start. The race to spring is on.