Posted by: Tony Koski, CSU Extension Turf Specialist Hi. My name is Tony (all of you …”Hi Tony”). Yes, I have an addiction…a peculiar, seasonal, horticultural addiction. I compulsively order vegetable seeds…in almost obscene numbers. I’m not sure when it began, as I’ve been a veggie gardener since I was about 6 years-old. Last year I grew over 40 varieties of tomatoes. In 2011 it was another 40+. Problem is, there were only a couple of repeats from 2011 to 2012. Last year I planted more than 10 varieties of watermelon. I think those plants maybe yielded 5 fruit…total…tiny, pitiful, miniature watermelons. Sad. Damn dumb, as Alison would say. Oh, yes, she DID say. And there were the 8 varieties of carrots…20+ peppers…5 or 6 cukes…hmmm. And squash. So many squash. Too many squash. Maybe 10? OK, maybe 15? What was I thinking? Well, it sounded like a good idea in January. I go online…I click and add (and add…and add) to my shopping cart. I have 53 items in my cart? Impossible!?!? I haven’t even gotten through peppers yet...or peeked at peas or kohlrabi! How could this be? And some of these I wouldn't eat if they DO produce…okra? Ewww! Confession: I was seduced by the flirtatious Joan rutabaga! Yes, seduced - by her “smooth and pleasing shape” and flesh “having a delicate and sweet flavor”. Seriously, who needs 50 Shades of Grey? Check Joan out…http://rareseeds.com/vegetables-p-z/rutabagas/joan-rutabaga.html. Here's the problem: the catalogs are too tempting, the descriptions of the plants too enticing, the glossy photos too alluring. My friend and fellow blogger, Carol, calls it veggie porn. Really? Have you never immersed yourself in the Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds catalog? If so…you totally understand my, ahem, “problem”. Before you laugh, check out the Purple of Sicily cauliflower centerfold on page 28 of their 2013 catalog…OMG! I don’t care for cauliflower, but I could fall for her without even meeting. Burpee’s PG-rated catalog (www.burpee.com), while very nice, will never compete for my affections as long as Baker Creek publishes its X-rated glossy yumminess. So…please excuse me while I log on to Baker Creek’s website and begin my 2013 order. I could be awhile... so....while you’re waiting for me to return… share a horticultural addiction you might have…if you dare. Garden gnomes… plant swapping… compulsive weeding… deadheading... don't be shy!?
It's browsing through the High Country Gardens catalogs in the dead of winter! I am so glad they will still be around.
ReplyDeleteWeeding. I just love weeding. It might be an addiction. I once called myself an "anal weeder." It raised a few eyebrows. But there is something so satisfying about making things nice and neat.... Can I also confess that I love mowing the lawn? There's something about perfectly straight rows of stripes that makes me happy.
ReplyDeleteAlison,
DeleteI think you should check into mowing an image of Linnaeus into your lawn!
Pretty much got me nailed on Baker Creek, although I also like Totally Tomatoes, Tomato Grower's Supply, Johnny's, Territorial, Southern Seed Exposure, PineTree Garden, Vermont Bean, Schumachers, Harris, Wild Boar, Cook's Garden, Landreth, Burpee, Shumway's, Sandhill, SeedSavers, and a couple of others I can't seem to recall offhand ...
ReplyDeleteSome good ones there Ray that I wasn't familiar with. Ahhh...more seeds to buy. Thanks for reading and commenting!
DeleteMy personal passion? You know I love tomatoes: plump, meaty, juicy Love Apples. I can't get enough of their variety, but lately I've been...straying. My eye has found another to covet. Oh, don't bother calling my hubby - he's the one making the introductions. He loves exotic too, so we're gleefully indulging ourselves with pumpkins. So far we have 11 types. We'll let Lady Godiva ramble uninhibited through the landscape, the Seminole climb the trees, and the Zulus take over the back yard. Last year only one of our new hobby thrived: Survivor, living up to its name during a summer of brutal heat and poor irrigation. But 2013 is a new year, and my dreams are big.
ReplyDeleteDidn't you get squash bugs? I was doing daily battle for my pumpkins, and lost almost all of them anyway! By the way, duct tape is great for removing the eggs...
DeleteInteresting that this blogspot hates apostrophes. Now my name looks as if I'm cursing in the middle of it.
ReplyDeleteYeah! I noticed the same thing with my name. Luck 'o the Irish, I guess...
DeleteDr. Koski, now when you come to El Paso County to teach your classes, I will be imagining you buried under tons of vegetables, entwined in watermelon vines and looking at seed catalogs by the hours (veggie porn?). By the way, my name is Joan. Who would ever name a rutabaga "Joan", although I appreciated your description. : )
ReplyDeleteHi Joan! Ha, yes...I wondered about the name...and the person who wrote that description of Joan rutabaga. Thanks for reading and commenting! See you in a few weeks at training.
DeleteMmm.. good to be here in your article or post, whatever, I think I should also work hard for my own website like I see some good and updated working in your site. www.lawnz.org.uk
ReplyDelete