Planting bulbs and saving seeds: a promise for next year

Summer is officially over. Fall temperatures have plummeted.  What ever was still in the garden was harvested before the first frost. And we took the time to be grateful, one last time, for the abundance that we were blessed with this year.  The potager is almost ready for its winter rest, but I still have some bulbs to plant before the ground officially freezes.

Becoming a gardener made me understand the blessings that come with winter.  Like the abundance of seeds to collect when the plants die back and the flower bulbs that need a prolonged period of cold temperatures to trigger the bio-chemical process that initiate root growth.  Tulips, daffodils and crocus are good examples of plants that requirer cold weather to produce beautiful flowers in the spring.

By the end of winter, gardeners I listen to talk about the nostalgia of not being surrounded by growing things and how they miss their gardens.  It's almost like they are deprived of something essential.  They can't wait to see the first signs of vegetation as the ground starts to thaw.

Apircot Parrot Tulips from Veseys

Having planted those bulbs at the end of fall makes me already eager for spring.  I know that as the temperatures get warmer in spring, I'll be looking in my garden every day for signs of tulips piercing the ground.

I've also taken the time to save - not all, but some - seeds for next year.  I saved seeds coming from fruits like tomatoes, green beans, squashes, ground cherries and peppers.   These seeds are easy to find in the fruit and just require some drying time before being stored for the winter.  Zinnia seeds made their way into the collection as well.

Once they are completely dry, you can put your seeds either in an envelope or in a small plastic bag.  Make sure you keep them in a cold and dry place for the winter so they are not exposed to any moisture.  Mold is the last thing you want on your precious seeds.

Don't forget to label everything.  I omitted to identify some Scott towels containing tomato seeds thinking I would be easily able to tell them apart because the seeds are so different.  But the problem is not differentiating the seeds, it's IDENTIFYING the seeds.  I don't remember what tomato seeds I kept!  I did the same with some peppers.  I guess we'll have ''surprise'' tomatoes and peppers next year!

Now that my bulbs are in the ground and all of my seeds are dry, I can declare my backyard CLOSED for the winter.  I can also start to work on an indoor herb garden as well as some microgreen production while dreaming about all the beautiful blossoms that are promised next spring!

-Mel-

I ordered my bulbs from Veseys, a Canadian company that sells bulbs and seeds online.