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EDIBLE
GARDENS - For Fun, Health, and Savings!
We are dedicated to growing the smartest,
hippest, and healthiest gardeners in the Pacific Northwest!
Growing
your own herbs and vegetables is easy, rewarding, and loads
of fun. Come in to Swansons today for healthy great 'plant
starts', seeds, fertilizers, and professional advice from
our terrific staff to get you on the right path.
Clicking
the links below will give you printable care sheets to
help you along. Plan your gardening season this spring,
and enjoy fresh vegetables every season of the year! Cool-season
crops, such as spinach, kale, broccoli, cabbage, turnips,
and peas withstand light frost and grow well during our
cool spring days.
GROWING
HERBS IN CONTAINERS
Herbs can be grown together in combinations or separately in their
own individual pots.
Drier Mediterranean herbs prefer less water and fertilizer and
should be grown individually or together in large combo pots.
These include Rosemary,
Thyme, Oregano, Marjoram, Sage, Sweet
Bay and Lavender.
Succulent, leafy type herbs prefer regular water and fertilizer
and should be grown individually or together in large combo pots.
These include Basil, Parsley,
Chives, Dill, and Chervil.
Lettuce or other cool season salad greens can also be added in
if desired.
Cilantro is best grown from seed in succession plantings in
its own pots.
If you use a lot of cilantro, sow the seed directly into individual
pots. Sow one 12”-14” pot first, then wait two weeks to sow a
second pot, then wait two weeks to sow a third pot.
Completely harvest the first crop when mature (4”-6” high), then
remove all roots from the pot, add fresh soil if needed and sow
again for the next crop. Harvest the second and third pot and
repeat the process. Rotating the crops in this fashion provides
a succession planting of the freshest, most abundant greens.
Fertilize succulent herbs lightly each month with Dr.
Earth All Purpose Organic Fertilizer.
Spring Veggies from Seed
There are many spring veggies that can be started by
seed in early spring (March/April).
Arugula, spinach, corn salad/mache, mustards, radish, carrots,
onions, leeks, parsnips and turnips can all be sowed
directly into the garden for a spring crop. Others can be
started indoors or in cold frames prior to setting out such
as cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, brussel sprouts.
Seed
Potatoes
Most all varieties of potatoes can be grown in the Northwest.
We've selected varieties that do exceptionally well and are
proven performers. The ideal climate for raising potatoes is
one with cool, moist summers. While the Puget Sound area ... more.
Peas
Growing peas is fun, easy and very rewarding. A cool season crop grown in spring
or fall, peas are classified as three types: English Shelling peas, Sugar
Snap peas or Snow peas.
The hardest decision to make is choosing a variety. Click
here for information.
Lettuce
There are hundreds of varieties of lettuce that appear
in all shapes, textures, flavors and sizes. Most lettuce are
hardy, cool season crops that can be planted as early as the
soil can be worked. They are easily grown from seed from spring
through late summer (with some protection from the hot afternoon
sun) and again in the cool temperatures of fall. Lettuce grows
quickly: water frequently and fertilize with liquid organic fetilizer
or compost tea. For baby greens, sow thickly and harvest with
scissors.
Click here
for lettuce quick info.
Beans
Beans are one of the easiest and most rewarding warm season vegetables
to grow in your garden. Plant beans after the soil has warmed in
May and repast plantings through summer for fall harvest
The difference in the taste between a grocery store bean and
one hand picked from an
organic garden is like night and day.
Click here for bean growing care sheet.
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Seeds & Seed
Supplies
Now's the time to start planning for your spring & summer vegetable
gardens. Swanson’s offers a wonderful selection of seeds from
Territorial Seed, Burpee, Renee’s Garden, and Botanical Interests.
We have everything you need to get started, from seed starting supplies
to seedling mix, and heat mats for seed starting trays.
Pick up your copy of the Maritime
Northwest Garden Guide for month by month gardening information
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