Today, we’re talking gardening for newbies, seeds, and why seeds matter to us in general. My guest is a friend of mine, Randel Agrella from Parsnippty Farm in Fort Fairfield Maine. He’s a horticulturist and works for Baker Creek Heirloom and Rare Seeds.
I first met Randel and his wife Pam many years ago, when they were transferred to Connecticut from Baker Creek's main headquarters in Mansfield, Missouri to reopen and manage a centuries old colonial seed and nursery company called Comstock Ferre in Wethersfield, Connecticut. (It's now renamed, Heirloom Market – to learn more about the history of Comstock Seed Company starting in 1845 Click Here)
Thanks to Randel and Pam, they welcomed local farmers and crafters to sell their products in the store.
Comstock just so happened to be my first wholesale account for my herbal soaps and herbal products.
Then in the spring, they had a large agricultural fair and invited speakers from all over the country to give talks about gardening and related specialties.
And for several years, I was one of many speakers invited to talk about SPIN Farming which is a educational program which teaches new growers how to turn small plots of land such as front and backyards, empty lots into commercial growing spaces.
Then Randel and Pam found their dream farm in Fort Fairfield Maine and moved north to begin Homesteading.
Randel's Recommendations:
- Plant what you like to eat – don’t grow vegetables if you know you dont like to eat.
- Pick plants that are easy to grow in your area – And if you dont know ask anyone who gardens. They will be happy to help you.
- Pick plants that dont need a lot of babying or fussing over.
- If just starting out – start small with just a few plants. Dont go crazy and plant everything.
Randel’s Top 11 Plants for Garden Growers
Bush Beans
Lettuce
Snap Peas
Cucumbers
Summer Squash
Kale
Root Veggies:
- Carrots
- Beets
- Turnips
- Herbs: 1 or 2 varieties to dry and use later: Basil and Parsley
Brenda's 10 Easy Plants to Grow From Seed
Excerpt from “My Garden Journal: A How To Garden Book For Kids” by Brenda J. Sullivan (affiliate link)
Arugula
Arugula, a small leafy green with a peppery taste, makes a perfect addition to salads and pasta recipes. Many recipes available from an online search will give you ideas on how to prepare this green.
Arugula can be directly seeded into the ground. It prefers to grow in cooler temperatures and is best grown in early spring and late summer into fall skipping the hottest part of the growing season.
Basil
Basil is an excellent herb to grow, but it does not do well if seeds are directly planted into the soil, also known as “direct seed.” Start seeds indoors in small containers and then transplant outside when it’s warm enough.
When the plant gets big enough, pick the leaves off to add to a fresh tomato salad. Dry the leaves and save them for your family’s herb and spice cupboard. There is nothing better tasting than homegrown basil in spaghetti sauce!
Basil prefers hot weather and full sun and best-grown late spring through the hottest part of the summer. Make sure the flowers are pinched off frequently for a bushier plant, which will produce more leaves.
If you are growing this plant in a container, water frequently. Plants grown in containers dry out quicker than plants grown in the ground or in raised beds.
Carrots
Carrots are root vegetables that taste sweet when freshly harvested from the garden. Some say carrots taste like candy. Did you know carrot tops can be eaten too? Cut the tops off and chop into little pieces and add them to a salad or bowl of soup for a lovely carrot taste.
Carrots can be started in early spring and direct seed into the ground once it’s warm enough for the soil to be worked. Remember to water well during the hottest time of the season. Carrots can stay in the ground into late fall and early winter right up until the first hard frost.
Cucumbers
Cucumbers are a gardener’s summer favorite. Make sure you have plenty of room to grow these plants; they like to spread their vines everywhere. Do an online search to learn how to save space by growing up. There are many ideas on how to build simple trellis using materials such as long sticks and twine. You may need to ask an adult for help.
Cucumber seeds can be direct seed into the ground in late spring. For those who want to get an early start on gardening, they can also be started indoors 6 weeks before planting in the garden when it’s warm enough in your area.
Green Beans
These are one of the easiest plants to grow, and you get a lot of beans in return for your work. They can be direct seed in the ground in late spring. Beans like to grow in direct sun and love hot temperatures.
When researching seeds, make sure you know which kind of beans you’re buying. There are bush beans and pole beans. Bush beans don’t need any trellising. Just plant and watch them grow and harvest the beans when big enough.
Pole beans need a trellis to climb on. Ask an adult to help you build a sturdy trellis if you are growing pole beans.
Green Onions
Green onions are tall and green with white stalks, and they are fun to grow. Patience will be essential because they may take most of the growing season before they can be harvested.
Green onions grow well in containers but need frequent watering during hot weather. They are a perfect vegetable to grow if you have a spot that has partial shade. Direct seed in early spring and keep watering. Onions take many weeks (sometimes 30 days) before they sprout. So be patient.
Onions also do well if left in the garden over winter. Once the garden bed is established, they will self-seed (the seeds drop into the garden bed after they flower), and new plants will grow the next season.
Kale
There are many kinds of kale to grow, so do your research on which varieties will grow well in your area. Kale likes cooler temperatures but will tolerate some heat if the plants are well established.
Kale is another plant that can be started in early spring and late fall and will tolerate colder temperatures until a hard freeze or even snow. These can be direct seed into the ground.
Dinosaur Kale is a good recommendation if you are looking for tender leaves, which are perfect for salads or stir-fry. If you want to grow big leaf varieties like Red Russian Kale, their leaves are perfect for making crispy kale chips – which are like potato chips. Yum!
Peas
Peas are another early spring and fall plant to grow and can be direct seed into the ground. My peas never make it to the kitchen because I eat them right off the vine while working in the garden. They make a great snack!
These plants require something to climb on, or else they will grow in a heap of strings on the ground. Ask an adult to help you build a trellis.
Tomatoes
There is nothing more satisfying than a freshly picked homegrown tomato! They are any gardener’s pride and joy! Do your research on what kind or color you want to grow. There are hundreds of varieties to pick from, but you need to know the difference between an Indeterminate and Determinate tomato variety.
For beginner gardeners, I recommend not growing tomatoes in the heirloom (or determinate category) until you are an experienced gardener. Heirloom tomatoes taste great but can be very temperamental if the plants don’t get an even amount of water and sustaining hot temperatures. They are also prone to disease and fungal problems.
When determinate plants get stressed, this results in what is called end rot or blossom rot. The tomato is not ripe enough to pick but instead starts rotting on the bottom of the fruit and the falls off the plant. Once a plant begins producing rotten fruit, the problem cannot be fixed. The plant must be pulled out of the ground and thrown away.
I recommend varieties like “Big Beef” or “New Girl,” which are nice, evenly round healthy tomato and are perfect for sandwiches or salads. These varieties are what are called “Indeterminate” hybrids and are not prone to disease or fungal problems.
There are smaller tomato varieties you can grow too. Grape and cherry tomatoes produce a lot of fruit and are fun to grow. Make sure to share with friends and family if you have too many.
Tomato Definitions:
Indeterminate Tomato: Tall plants that require staking for trellis and will keep producing fruit up until the first frost. They produce evenly round tomatoes and are not prone to end rot or disease.
Determinate Tomato: A bush variety that is low and compact and doesn’t require staking. These plants grow a certain number of fruit all at once, and then the plant stops growing and dies. Unlike the indeterminate tomatoes where the plant continues to produce fruit until it’s too cold out. Heirloom tomato varieties are determinate plants and are prone to disease.
I recommend you start your seeds indoors in small containers and then transplant into the garden in late spring. Do not direct seed into the ground; the seeds will have difficulty sprouting. Tomatoes need full sun, plenty of hot temperatures, and consistent watering.
Sunflowers
Sunflowers are beautiful and can be a showy centerpiece to any garden. The good news is sunflowers now come in many different sizes. These are a perfect plant to direct seed into the garden.
There are shorter, more compact, varieties that produce multiple flower heads that are smaller. These smaller flower heads are perfect for making flower bouquets.
The tall varieties like Royal Hybrid produce one big flower and need lots of sun. Make sure your seeds are organic if growing these flowers for bird food and don’t spray your plants.
At the end of the season, cut the flower heads and dry them. The birds will appreciate a nice snack when there is little food to forage on during the cold winter months.
Plants That Grow Well In Containers
Note: These plants need the right size container for the optimal results.
- Tomatoes
- Cucumbers
- Summer squash
How To Shop For Seeds:
“Seeds matter because they are the basis for civilization. The planet can't support 7 billion people without a well-developed agriculture. The seed supply is critical.”
Randel Agrella
Try and buy open-pollinated seeds – that way you can save the seeds and use them next year. Learning how to save your own seeds is important for food security.
- Baker Creek only sells open pollinated seeds.
- Check for quality of seeds at stores and online.
What To Look For:
- Where are they storing them? Look at how the seeds are being handled in the store.
If they are in a hot room, atrium or greenhouse – don’t buy them. Seeds stored in hot rooms diminish their ability to germinate.
- Learn which brand names you can trust – That will require you to do some research on their websites.
- Check dates on seed packets – you want packets with this years date. That means these are seeds from last years harvest and they are fresh.
- Although home gardeners who properly store their seeds can have them last least 5 years when they are kept in a cool dry place. Seed kept in the freezer can last forever!
- Seed packets that say F1 and F2 after the seed name indicates it’s a hybrid and not open-pollinated. You can’t save the seeds to reuse. Very rarely do they say “Hybrid” on the package.
Randel’s Rule of Thumb For Starting Seeds Indoors and Out:
Start plants that take longer to grow in your current climate:
For example in the northern colder climates these plants should be started indoors.
- Tomatoes
- Peppers
- Eggplants
Plants that can be direct seeded outdoors in the ground:
Plants that have large seeds –
- Squashes
- Melons
- Cucumbers
- Beans
- Root Crops
Stay away from growing plants that are not good for your climate – for example: trying to grow plants from warmer or tropical climates in colder northern zones – bananas and rosemary.
Most Common Misconceptions Garden Gimmicks And Be A Garden Detective!
- Companion Planting is often over rated – there isn’t any real data showing that it really works.
- Planting by certain Holiday dates:
For example: Easter – the date moves from year to year there can be a 30 day difference. Instead – learn the last and first frost dates for your area.
Garden Gimmicks:
- Maintain Nursery Beds – keep a small bed near the house and plant seedlings with the intention of transplanting them to the larger garden when big enough or when the original plants die.
- Keep doing this throughout the growing season pulling out old plants and replacing them with newer seedlings from your nursery beds. You can double your yield in a season!
- Root crops dont transplant well. Those are better started in their dedicated spot.
Be A Garden Detective!
- New gardeners need to learn how to look for the subtle details of what the plants in the garden are telling them. A good gardener develops keen observation skills.
Example: How to identify problems with tomatoes:
Lower leaves yellow…what does that mean?
If its early in the season – the plant probably need nitrogen.
If its later in the season – It might be a blight problem – but usually the signs for blight is the leaves dry and shrivel up from the bottom up.
Note: In my latest book “My Garden Journal: A How To Garden Book For Kids” – there is sections in the journal pages asking you questions so you know what to look for in your garden.
Click this link to find all available stores links: https://books2read.com/My-Garden-Journal (affiliate links)
Soil Amendments:
- Don’t over due nitrogen early in your seedlings growing process. It stimulates lots of leaves and growth but little fruit later.
- At a certain point in the growing season, you want to reduce the amount of nitrogen in favor of phosphorus and potassium
- Add Compost at the begging of the season when working the soil.
Amazon Affiliate Link: https://amzn.to/2WiHGGU
- Fish Emulsion: He uses it exclusively in all his container.
Espoma Brands: Garden Tone and Tomato Tone
Amazon Affiliate Link: https://amzn.to/2WDDFvu Amazon Affiliate Link: https://amzn.to/3fFwqMv
- Espoma Brands – there are several different kinds but I believe he’s referring to Garden Tone.
Want To Connect With Randel?
You can find Randel on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/parsnippityfarm/
Books Mentioned in Show:
All New Square Foot Gardening, 3rd Edition, Fully Updated:• MORE Projects • NEW Solutions • GROW Vegetables Anywhere 3rd Edition, by Mel Bartholomew
Show Sponsor:
Farm to Bath| Our philosophy is to live a locally focused naturally beautiful life, a lifestyle choice that is infused into the products we make. The ingredients are locally grown and/or acquired and are as basic and pure as nature itself. Each bar is full of fragrant aromatics that provide a rich moisturizing lather with no artificial colors or preservatives added – naturally beautiful!
My Garden Journal: A How To Garden Book for Kids
Gardening is a learned skill and everyone has somewhere. This journal provides the best way to improve your gardening skills to ensure more successes and fewer failures.
The intent of this journal is to simultaneously teach basic gardening techniques while providing a place to record your journey with important information about the “how, when and where” to grow food and flowers.
There are suggestion on themed gardens such a “A Harry Potter Garden, “ A Young Chef’s Garden”, or a “Monarch Butterfly Superhero Garden” for budding Naturalists and places to either sketch or photograph your plants to remember their appearance for the next growing season.
You’ll be amazed at how much you will learn by journaling about your garden!
This book is available in paperback and ebook formats. You can find it in most retail and online stores. Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Draft2Digital, Kobo, Google iBooks and libraries. If you don’t find the book, please ask them to order it for you.
https://books2read.com/My-Garden-Journal
If you don’t want to wait for the paperback book to arrive – you can download a printable version directly from me at my author website – brendajsullivanbooks.com that’s brendajsullivanbooks.com
Click on the picture and scroll down to the bottom for the papal link and follow the prompts from there.
Also check out our other books too!
Music:
Special Thank You To Gene Tullio!
The music used in this show is used with permission and is created and produced by Gene Tullio.
Gene's music can be downloaded from Amazon, iTunes, and Spotify. For more information about his music, please contact him at dreamshipmusic@gmail.com
Album: The Dreamship| The Forge Of Life| Copyright 2018
Social Media Links:
Please follow us on all our social media outlets. We would love to hear if you tried the recipe(s) from these podcasts.
Please follow us on all our social media outlets. We’d love to hear if you tried the recipe(s) from these podcasts.
Living and Lovin Herbs Website: https://livingandlovinherbs.com/
Instagram: @livingandlovinherbspodcast
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/livingandlovinherbspodcast/?modal=admin_todo_tour
Twitter: @Livingandlovin6
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuuHD-5N2tPYDbWwI4wzIJA