Tag: Seeds

Fall Planting Schedule For Grow Zone 7a
Gardening · Homesteading · Urban Homesteading

Fall Planting Schedule For Grow Zone 7a

Sarah

Fall showed up this week on the calendar in the Eastern Panhandle, but not in the weather. We did get rain, which is essential, after a long, dry August and most of September. It’ll be a while till sweater season. The nighttime temps are still warm, which has encouraged my fall crops that I planted in August. So that is a good thing.

Bush peas, dwarf peas, and bok choy. The other side of the bed has kale and swiss chard growing.

But what do you need to be planning now? What seeds do you need? Fall gets busy, so you need to plan before September is done.

The first “average” frost date for grow zone 7a is October 29th, but where I live in 25442, it is October 19th.

You want crops to have time to get established before there is a risk of frost. Garlic should be planted three to four weeks before the first frost, which is very soon.

The other is tomorrow, we slip to 12 hours of light. Plants need as much light as possible. Even if it is warm, without enough hours of sunlight, they don’t grow well.

What To Plant In The Next Two Months:

Seeds (plant as soon as possible):

  • Dwarf bok choy
  • Dwarf kale
  • Radishes
  • Dwarf lettuces
  • Arugula
  • Small carrot varieties – this is the time for the tiny finger ones, not the arm-length ones.
  • Beets – look for fast-growing types, but you can always eat the greens
  • Spinach
  • Green Onions

You will notice I use “dwarf” often. Why? They are smaller plants and grow to maturity faster. Will you get as big a crop? No, but that is ok! You will enjoy fall greens and crisp vegetables. And that is always better than not planting anything.

Other:

Potatoes. I learned a lesson this first year here – you can grow spring potatoes. But not summer ones, unless they are in the ground. I literally cooked my potatoes this summer, trying for a second crop. I was used to that working back in the PNW. I planted a crop in mid-September, and we shall see how it goes. Sometimes fall crops are ready for harvest; if not, they emerge in very early spring, for an early harvest.

Bulbs:

Elephant Garlic – It can go into the ground at any point from now. Give each bulb 8″ between and a wide row, so it has room to grow. It will grow tall, so plan accordingly to avoid shading lower crops. As the first frost approaches, mulch to protect.

Garlic – plant in the ground 3 to 4 weeks before the first frost, allowing it time to develop roots. You can buy garlic at farmers’ markets, garden centers, online, or, if not easily available, you can buy garlic from the grocery store to plant. However, only buy certified organic so it isn’t sprayed with growth retardants. Before first frost mulch well to protect over winter.

Shallots – pick up bulbs to plant; usually, you can divide them into two separate bulbs. A trick is to buy at the grocery store. Like garlic, make sure it is US-grown and certified organic to avoid the use of growth retardants. Not all varieties can be grown from true seed, so using the bulbs is far easier (especially for fall planting). Plant just below the surface, let it sprout, then mulch to protect it in winter.

Protect Against Frost:

It’s also time to consider protecting late summer/fall crops if necessary. Last year, I had picked up this set of grow tunnel hoops for spring, but then I didn’t open them due to the move. I got them assembled quickly and into a finished bed. Now I can put on frost fabric or plastic quickly. To keep certain things warm.

In action:

Enjoy the time outside before the cold weather arrives. And get the work done as soon as you can.

~Sarah

Survival Garden Seeds Seed Storage Organizer Review
Gardening · Reviews

Survival Garden Seeds Seed Storage Organizer Review

Sarah

A few weeks back, I saw the Survival Garden Seeds Seed Storage Organizer at the Walmart in Martinsburg, WV. I walked away from it, but it kept calling to me.

The closest Walmart in Charlestown, WV didn’t carry it in the garden section, but I was coming back through Martinsburg the other night, and caved for it.

Most years, my seeds sit in a mess, in zip-top bags, in a random storage bin. This isn’t very efficient. I rarely know what I have, and have to dig through it all.

The Description:

  • Seed Organizer – Organize your seeds in one safe space using this portable seed storage kit. You can also save seeds from your garden harvest for breeding purposes or create a personal seed vault for future stability and self-reliance.
  • Perfectly Sized – Fits most conventional seed packet sizes. The handy file dividers help you easily find your seeds for planting and organization. The dividers have seed-saving instructions for major vegetable, herb, and flower varieties.
  • Paper Envelopes – Blank paper envelopes have plenty of room for adding details on variety, growing conditions, or any other notes a gardener might want to keep track of for future growing seasons. Perfect for any gardener who wants to select traits for their future crops or keep a record of what has worked in the past.
  • Seed Protection – The sturdy waterproof, rodent-proof container keeps your seeds safe and secure from moisture or pest damage.

Does it do all this?

It’s a nicely made plastic ammo can with a handle. The side locks down, and like ammo cans, it can take two locks (hardcore seed protection?). I hope not to have to test it for rodent protection, but at the same time, it’s good to know that, in theory, it is safer. It is also black and will block light from getting to the seeds inside.

It comes with 20 seed envelopes for seeds you save, with plenty of room to take notes. It also comes with 15 dividers labeled for the major types of seeds (Onions, Greens, Flowers, etc.). There are 12 labeled and 3 you can mark on your own. My only argument is that they didn’t have dividers for beans, peas, or corn. That was odd.

The box has 5 foam blocks that can be used if you haven’t filled it up with seed packets to keep it all tidy. Think of it as a bookshelf end—your seeds won’t fall over. If your box is full, store or toss the blocks.

Yes, it works well. Setting up and getting your seeds all pointing up and in order is easy. It’s also easy to grab and take outside, then bring back in, after you do your seeding. I feel its price is decent enough for what it is.

I would suggest that if you are storing open seed packets, partially used, seal the packets with Scotch tape, so the seeds don’t get shaken out by accident. It’s an excellent policy of mine to check that I have done this every year. Because the truth is, no matter what seed companies tell you, most seeds will germinate for years, as long as you store them out of the sun/heat/cold. They might also not germinate at a high rate, but you will get enough for most uses. That’s a real issue with seeds – you only need a couple of plants, but get 75 seeds? No need to throw them away! You can also, every year, go through your seeds and share last year’s in case you want to buy fresh seeds or new varieties.

FTC Discalimer: This post contaisn affilate links.

~Sarah

Review: Survival Garden Seeds Ultimate Medicinal Herb Collection
Gardening · Herbalism · Homesteading · Urban Homesteading

Review: Survival Garden Seeds Ultimate Medicinal Herb Collection

Sarah

A few weeks back, I saw a packet at Walmart for Survival Garden Seeds Ultimate Medicinal Herb Collection. I was at one of the largest Walmart locations I have visited, here in West Virginia, and they carried a number of the Survival Garden Seeds products on the shelves inside the store’s garden section (not outside in the seasonal garden area). Online, it retails for $35.88 currently. I have only seen it in person at the biggest store; the other Walmart near us is an older “super” with a much smaller gardening department.

On Amazon it is $39.97.

I bought it from Amazon, and they delivered it not even 12 hours later to my doorstep.

Includes:

Alfalfa, Angelica, Anise, Holy Basil, Bergamot, Black Cumin, Borage, Calendula, Catnip, Cayenne, German Chamomile, Curled Chervil, Clary Sage, Dandelion, Echinacea (Purple Coneflower), Elecampane, Evening Primrose, Fennel, Fenugreek, Feverfew, Horehound, Hyssop, Lamb’s Ear, Lavender, Lemon Balm, Lovage, Marsh Mallow, Motherwort, Oats, Oregano, Peppermint, Red Clover, White Smudging Sage, Stinging Nettle, Toothache Plant, and Yarrow Seeds.

It gets each packet down to $1.11. Will I use all 36? I doubt it, but even if I grow 18 of the herbs, I have come out ahead. Herb seed packets are $3 to 5, on average. I liked it had Horehound (great for throat lozenges) and Marshmallow. Calendula, Chamomile, and Echinacea are all great for pollinators. Toothache plant has an interesting look when it is blooming, and Feverfew isn’t liked by pollinators, but is hardy and survives even the deepest cold winters, and grows huge with zero care. Having edible kitchen herbs like lovage, fennel, anise, and peppermint is handy. These are plants I had growing as perennials at our previous homestead.

ONE WARNING:

You may wonder why this product won’t ship to Washington State if you live there. It is because of the Clary Sage. I would say this: Why did they pick an herb that is downright banned? It is a Class A noxious weed that cannot be sold as seed or plant. I don’t typically see herbs as “bad,” but having researched it, I can see why. West Virginia doesn’t ban it, but begs one not to plant it. It seeds efficiently and spreads like crazy. You might be OK with it, but I opted not to seed it.

I want to see how they will grow in the short and long term. Will they germinate quickly or slowly?

I set up a grow table outside. It’s been in the 80s this week, so it is go time. We had rain last night after it was 84 during the day. This weather should cause quick germination.

In general I did one 4 to 6″ pot per type, though I seeded more for Chamomile and Calendula, as they will be used for flowers as well.

I aim to have all the plants I want for an herb spiral. Last year, when we were taking a permaculture class, I came out in June ready to build one, and then I had my fall at the end of that month. With a temporarily destroyed arm, that herb spiral got bumped. But now I am back to planning it!

This will be a long-term set of posts to see how they grow this spring and summer.

It is pretty convenient to buy seeds sealed in an outer Mylar bag for storage, as one usually doesn’t use all the seeds in a year (unless you are growing plants for sale). The remaining seeds are sealed up and stored for later use.

~Sarah

FTC Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links.

Grow This: West Virginia Garden Challenge – Update 1
Gardening · Homesteading · Urban Homesteading

Grow This: West Virginia Garden Challenge – Update 1

Sarah

Two weeks have passed since I planted our seeds for the Grow This: West Virginia Garden Challenge in Shenandoah Junction, WV. (First post was on April 11th)

And so much has happened in my container garden out back! The warmth came, spring kicked on, and everything is popping.

Cucumbers starting up.

Cucumber starts potted up in a 5 gallon grow bag (next to bush peas). We shall see how they grow this year – a grow bag isn’t the most ideal, but we can do it.

Mesclun Lettuce.

I moved about half outside so far. It will grow quickly in the coming weeks, and be ready to harvest.

Chives starting to sprout.

Potted up. Chives, like many herbs, start slow and tiny, but around the Summer Solstice in June get big. Chives I look at as a two year project. The first year is the getting there. The second year is when they are a ready to go plant, that will grow on its own.

Now it’s time for nature to keep everything growing. It’s hitting the 80s today, and was mid 70s for days – the nights cool off, but are still in the high 50s to mid 60s.

Yes, I am toying with the last frost date here is April 30th (and we shall see in the coming years how real that is) – but with it being an entire container garden this year, if there is a drop at night, and none have been predicted for the next week that are worrisome – I can pick up all the grow bags and haul them into the greenhouse and into the basement, if needed.

~Sarah

Grow This: West Virginia Garden Challenge
Gardening · Homesteading · Urban Homesteading

Grow This: West Virginia Garden Challenge

Sarah

I saw the 2025 Grow This: West Virginia Garden Challenge in winter and signed up for it before we moved (Since I had the local address to use!).

I love free seeds, the challenge of growing, and the chance to show off (I am pretty competitive with gardening). Mary’s Heirloom Seeds provided the seeds this year.

I received my seeds in the mail, even though I signed up to pick them up in person at the local library. They had a few issues with the distribution this year. Nothing huge, but some participants never received their cards in the mail (I didn’t and was about to pick them up in person when I found them in my mailbox). But there were no issues; I had my seeds in hand, so it was time to plant.

So what is it?

The Throwdown is a statewide competition that aims to get West Virginians to move more, grow their own food, and crush hunger in our state. Participants complete challenges to earn points for their counties. Some challenges are simple, like donating vegetables to a food pantry. Others are more involved, like organizing a seed library or building a Grow This-themed float for a local parade. The competition is supported by grant funds for these types of educational programs. 

This is something that hits me deep in my love of growing food. Sharing knowledge and helping others become more self-sufficient builds resilient communities. When people have a skill set, they become more confident in life.

It has been freezing the past few days (it got down to 27 one night), so I used my pop-greenhouse to start the seeds.

I planted about half the Mesclun Lettuce seed in 4″ pots.

The Chives I did two pots worth (plenty of chives!)

The Pickling Cucumbers had fewer seeds, so I started all the seeds.

I’ll have enough seed for the lettuce for a late summer start to have early fall lettuce.

I will transplant them into my container garden once they have sprouted. But for now, they will stay warmer in the shelter and exposed to natural light. As I mentioned, I gave up most artificial lighting years ago, as I have long felt that plants are stronger when grown under natural light (the sun).

So here is to a successful sprouting – and updates as the growing season continues.

~Sarah