It was March, and we both were getting a little anxious for spring. Winter in Montana is just plain long - and cold! The seed catalogs began to arrive in February, and we started dreaming. And ordering...
As the packets started to arrive, we set up the nursery in the basement with lights, heat mats, and lots and lots of starter trays. Trays with cells ranging from little bitty (120 or 200 of them in a single 11" x 21" tray) to a little bigger (50 or 72 in a tray) started to stack up in the garden shed. Bags of seed starter, potting soil, compost... you name it, it arrived.
As a novice assigned the task of growing starts for this year's garden I dove in head first, and ran right into my total lack of experience and, yes, lack of knowledge. After all, what is so complicated about putting a few seeds in some soil and waiting for Mother Nature to take care of the rest?
Here it is July and I'm apologizing to Mother Nature (and my husband, who grew up on a small organic farm) for my hubris, my arrogance, and my ignorance. Since then, I've watched hours of YouTubes and read a stack of books, including Rodale's The New Seed-Starters Handbook and at least three that focus on gardening in the Northern Great Plains and the Rocky Mountains, and assorted pamphlets from various botanical gardens and Extension agencies.
Basil, the herb we had the highest hopes for, defeated me over and over, until late May when I absorbed some of the information flooding my way. I killed multiple seedings - over-watered, under-watered, not enough light, not warm enough (enter the heat mats), damping off, and root rot.
The basil seed planting of March 19: dead. The basil seed planting of April 22: dead. The basil seed planting in late May: hopeful.
Just when I was ready to give up, a few little basil plants peeked over the edge of the cells a very special tray bought from Charles Dowding, No Dig Gardener and amazing teacher. From him I learned the proper seedling mix for tiny herb seeds, how to bulk seed herbs and greens, the right watering regime, and how to "prick out" the tiny plants to grow them out for transplant.
It all sounded so easy, until a new set of variables entered the mix - three varieties of basil: Large Leaf Italian, a ruffly Tuscany, and a purply Red.
The Italian put all its energy into growing fast and forming nice seedlings racing toward transplanting size. The Tuscany (I think it knew how lovely it was going to be) took its good time sprouting and developing, always smaller than the Italian but coming along nicely. The Red once moved into the growing cells stopped dead and refused to grow beyond 1/2 or 3/4 inch tall.
By this time Husband, the farmer, brought home a couple of lovely 6" basil starts to encourage the little basil starts - and me.
It's now the first week in July and we have basil! Basil in pots and tucked into gardens... pesto will be on the menu in a couple of weeks!
What I have learned?
- Never assume you know anything about starting seeds, let alone gardening.
- Be very humble and patient.
- Listen to/read the experts; they're the experts because they've all learned the hard way and are willing to share their knowledge.
- Thank Mother Nature for warm weather and gentle rain.
- Share your home-grown garden goodies with each other and with friends and neighbors.
Look at it this way, if I can do it, you certainly can too. And send photos! We'd love to see your patio pots, window boxes, raised beds, and gardens.
Resources
Johnny's Selected Seeds
Charles Dowding, No Dig Gardening. Charles gardens in the UK, but many of his ideas are universal, and work even in Montana's dry land country.
The New Seed Starters Handbook