You read that correctly! This is our last scheduled SEED SALE at Mary's Heirloom Seeds for 2015.
We currently offer over 250 varieties of open-pollinated, non-gmo & non-hybrid, non-patented, untreated, organic, heirloom garden seeds. Mary has signed the Safe Seed pledge.
Most orders place Monday-Thursday ship within 48 hours, except for Holidays.
Order herb and veggie varieties together and get an extra free seed pack! *$10 Order Minimum on all seed orders*
We offer a very unique selection of seeds. From Green Zebra Heirloom Tomatoes
To Roma Tomatoes and Black Beauty Zucchini (they can grow HUGE)
Right now, we are also offering a FREE pack of Seeds with purchase!
The party starts every Tuesday at 7am
EST and will continue until Saturday at 11:59am. Feel free to stop back
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(with proper link backs) in our features. And now for the party!
There are a few vegetables that are perennials that, under the
right conditions, continue to grow all year long. Some for many years
after the initial planting.
Find out how to get the most from your garden. Don't miss our NEW SEEDS announcement below!
Grow artichoke (Cynara scolymus)
in full sun and moist, well-drained soil. Artichokes require ample,
consistent moisture for best growth. They survive drought but don't
produce as well in dry conditions.
Plant
24-36 inches apart in rows about 36 inches apart. Amend the soil prior
to planting with 2 inches of compost. Fertilize monthly with a
high-nitrogen fertilizer. When growing artichoke as a perennial, amend
the soil around plants each spring with a 1- to 2-inch layer of compost.
Artichoke plants should produce for about 3 - 5 years. At that time, you
should notice side shoots at the base of the plant. You can lift,
divide and replant the new shoots.
This
hardy crop lasts for decades in the garden and is one of the first
vegetables that can be harvested in spring. Plant asparagus (Asparagus officinalis)
in full sun and moist, well-drained soil. Mix a 2-inch-thick layer of
compost into the planting site. Because asparagus is long-lived, it's
important to adequately prepare the soil before planting.
In
the second year after planting, harvest for only two weeks. By the
third year, harvest for the usual five to eight weeks. Start harvesting
when the spears are 1/2 inch in diameter
This
sharp-flavor vegetable is technically a hardy biennial, meaning it
grows for two years. It is a type of chicory and is related to Belgian
endive. Dark red leaves with white veins form into a tightly clumped
head that resembles cabbage or romaine lettuce. Grow radicchio (Cichorium intybus)
in fertile, well-drained soil in full sun. Sow seeds in spring or
autumn, then harvest the inner heads in late fall when they are firm and
have the deepest color of white and red, leaving the roots in the ground to produce another crop.
Though many people treat it like a fruit, rhubarb (Rheum rhabarbarum)
is actually a hardy perennial vegetable (because you eat the stems, not
the plant's fruits). Plant rhubarb in full sun and moist, well-drained
soil. Locate it where it won't be disturbed because it will be
productive for many years.
Apply
a balanced fertilizer in early spring. After harvest, spread a 2-inch
layer of compost around plants. When the stalks become thin, usually
after six to eight years, dig and divide the plant in spring or fall. Leave first-year plants unharvested. By the third year,
harvest all stalks larger than 1 inch wide for as long as eight weeks.
Use only the stems; the leaves contain oxalic acid and are poisonous.
To
grow sorrel, sow seeds directly in the garden in full sun and average
soil 6-8 inches apart in rows 2 feet apart. Established plants may be
divided.
The greatest bloom is usually observed in the
indeterminate,
with fruit and seed production starting in the
year round and continuing until
year round.
Leaves are
retained year to year.
The
Eggplant has a
short life span relative to most other plant species and a
rapid growth rate.
At maturity, the typical
Eggplant will reach up to
4 feet high, with a maximum height at 20 years of
0 inches.
The young leaves and stems of this 6-foot-tall perennial are an
excellent substitute for celery in springtime soups. The seeds and roots
are also edible, and the umbel flowers attract beneficial insects.
Lovage thrives in average garden soil, in sun or partial shade.
Every day is a new opportunity to learn and grow. Lately I have been fascinated with Soil and all of the living organisms found in the garden. Here's what I've found from the experts... From Organic Guide, "The life sustaining ability of soil is best understood by
appreciating the complex cycles of decay and erosion. Its natural
formation occurs in a series of layers starting at the surface but
gradating down to the deepest bedrock. The surface layer is where active
decomposition begins. Exposure to atmospheric elements, surface warmth
and moisture helps to break organic matter into loose mulch like
material. At the microscopic level, this layer is teeming with a
diversity of bacterial, fungal and algal life forms. In combination with
larger organisms like beetles and worms they provide the additional
recycling activity to enable minerals and nutrients to be retrieved from
the decaying organic matter and returned to the soil. Another family of
soil based micro-organisms are involved in relationships that enable
plants to absorb nitrogen from their roots. Ideally the layer directly beneath the surface will be humus rich
topsoil. The quality of this topsoil will depend on the amount of
organic material available near the surface and the activity of the
recycling organisms."
"Soil organisms, which range in size from microscopic cells that digest decaying organic material to small mammals that live
primarily on other soil organisms, play an important role in maintaining
fertility, structure, drainage, and aeration of soil. They also break down
plant and animal tissues, releasing stored nutrients and converting them into
forms usable by plants. Some soil organisms are pests. Among the soil organisms
that are pests of crops are nematodes, slugs and snails, symphylids, beetle
larvae, fly larvae, caterpillars, and root aphids. Some soil organisms cause
rots, some release substances that inhibit plant growth, and others are hosts
for organisms that cause animal diseases. Since most of the functions of soil organisms are beneficial, earth with
large numbers of organisms in it tends to be fertile; one square metre of rich
soil can harbour as many as 1,000,000,000 organisms."
Some soil organisms have a close, mutually beneficial (symbiotic)
relationship with plants. Two examples include rhizobia and mycorrhizae.
Rhizobia are bacteria that form symbiotic
associations with legumes such as beans and peas. The bacteria form
nodules on the roots of the host plant in which they fix nitrogen gas from the
air. Rhizobia supply the plant with nitrogen and in turn the
plant supplies the bacteria with essential minerals and sugars. It may be
helpful to add Rhizobia in the first planting of beans and peas in a
soil area. Afterwards they will be present.
Mycorrhizaeare specific fungi that form
symbiotic associations with plant roots. Found in most soils, they are
very host-specific (i.e., each plant species has specific species of
mycorrhizae associated with it).
The Latin word mycor means fungus and rhiza
means root. The terms “mycorrhiza” (singular) or “mycorrhizae” (plural) refer
to the tissue that forms when fungi and roots develop a mutually beneficial
relationship. Enlarging the surface-absorbing area of the roots by 100 to 1,000
times, mycorrhizae create filaments or threads that act like an extension of
the root system. This makes the roots of the plant much more effective in
the uptake of water and nutrients such as phosphorus and zinc. In exchange, the
fungus receives essential sugars and compounds from the roots to fuel its own
growth. Some species of mycorrhizae can be seen on roots, while most are
invisible to the naked eye.
Mycorrhizae improve plant health. They enhance the plant’s
ability to tolerate environmental stress (like drought and dry winter weather)
and reduce transplant shock. Plants with mycorrhizae may need less
fertilizer and may have fewer soil-borne diseases.
A by-product of mycorrhizal activity is the production of glomalin,
a primary compound that improves soil tilth. In simple terms, glomalin
glues the tiny clay particles together into larger aggregates, thereby
increasing the amount of large pore space, which in turn creates an ideal
environment for roots.
Indirectly Beneficial Soil Organisms
In addition to directly beneficial organisms such as rhizobia and
mycorrhizae, there are a large number of soil organisms whose activities
indirectly help plants. Soil organisms collectively decompose organic
matter, resulting in two principal benefits.
First, as soil organisms decompose organic matter, they transform
nutrients into mineral forms that plants can use; thus this process is called mineralization.
Without soil microorganisms, insects, and worms feeding on organic
matter, the nutrients in organic matter would remain bound in complex organic
molecules that plants can’t utilize.
Second, as soil organisms break down organic matter, their
activities help improve soil structure. Improved soil structure provides
a better environment for roots, with less soil compaction and better water and
air movement. Many gardeners know that organic matter improves soil, but
it is important to note that its beneficial properties are only released after
being processed by soil organisms.
Soils naturally contain these decomposers. Adding decomposers to
the soil or compost pile is not necessary. Rather nurture them with food
(organic matter) and good aeration and drainage (air and water).
I hope you've enjoyed our all of the information I have complied so far. Are you growing your own food? Without a doubt, healthy soil is essential for healthy crops!
