Digging the New Year
I’ve never broken a single New Year’s resolution, but then I’ve never made one either. A tradition I plan to continue. Why risk an unblemished record?
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Instead, on the cusp of the New Year, I just draw up a list of things I’d like to do, or do better.
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This year’s list: Take a trip to Brazil, Learn Mandarin Chinese, finish my book, grow better tomatoes.
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I must say, there’s one item on the list that shows particular promise.
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We can all get a jump start on those spring and summer tomatoes right now, using either a real greenhouse or an ad hoc version. The ad hoc option has several things in its favor, as it requires no contractor, easements, or permits. All it takes is some old milk cartons or 2-liter soda bottles.
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I know this because I know Christina Wenger. She’s an Altadena resident and teacher/horticulturalist/photographer who blogs at A Thinking Stomach. We both belong to RIPE, a local fruit and vegetable exchange group. Unlike me, when Christina hauls her bounty to the monthly produce swap, she doesn’t pack up a Ralph’s bag, she needs a wagon.
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Today, Christina has given me some tomato seeds, but these seeds are not for just any tomatoes. You’d never find these seeds at Armstrongs, not that there’s anything wrong with Armstrongs. It’s just, I don’t think there’s any local nursery that has this on offer: Speckled Roman, Black Brown Boar, Guernsey Island Pink Blush.
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And the thing is, when a serious seed saver entrusts you with some of her seriously saved seeds, you don’t dig a little hole, dump in the contents of the packet, and cross your fingers. Instead, you do the best you can.
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So, here’s a quick and dirty summary of how to construct the ad hoc greenhouse, something that will greatly improve the germination percentage of your vegetable seeds.
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Cut a 2-liter plastic bottle almost in half. Punch holes in the bottom for water drainage, and then fill with soil. Water well, let sit for awhile, then tap in the seeds, individually. (The seeds are tiny, but don’t get lazy. You should have many, many adhocs to fill). Pull the top back on, and duct tape over the cut sides. Leave the cap off, and now you have the absolute cheapest form of terrarium.
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In case I’ve missed some critical steps, here’s a link for full instructions. Leave your little greenhouses outside, but in a safe spot where they won’t be bothered by wind and critters.
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And the last step? Wait. That’s all, just wait.
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I can hardly wait.
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It occurs to me this would be a great project for kids. Little kids, big kids. Old kids.
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Perhaps I should feel guilty, always begging for some of Christina’s carefully chosen and packed veggie seeds. I’d offer her some of mine; but around here, when seeds are collected, there’s no guarantee as to their purity. Maybe it’s a Purple Cherokee, or maybe the Purple Cherokee had a date with an Early Girl when my back was turned.
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So better not. Never offer Two Buck Chuck to a Rothschild.