Feb. 24 Column: Season Introduction
Today’s an exciting day because my first garden column of the season is in today’s edition of The Spokesman-Review newspaper, here in Spokane, Wash. It is a season introduction that includes a list of what we’re growing this year. Here’s a link: The weather outside may be frightful, but spring will come. Eventually. (or you can read my column lower in this post)
You can also find the list under the “Guides” menu of this website: Susan’s Garden – 2019. In addition to the vegetables, I’ve also included potential online sources for the seeds just to make it easier for you.
However, if you live in the Spokane area, be sure to visit Northwest Seed & Pet (esp. their store located at 2422 E. Sprague) because they have done a great job of ordering in most of the seeds I’ve mentioned, plus they have the BEST seed selection in this region. That is no understatement, believe me!
Moving right along… as you can see by the photos on this post, we are buried in snow here these days. I had every expectation that there would be bare ground by today, but no such luck. So I made the best of it while shooting my first “Everyone Can Grow a Garden” video for the 2019 season; it airs today as well. Take a look:
Well, did you get a kick out of my snowy garden tour? I hope so. And I hope the snow goes away soon so we can really get down to the fun of gardening!
Susan’s column: 2024 Garden Season Introduction
by Susan Mulvihill
The first day of spring is just 24 days away. Gardeners across the Inland Northwest are busily organizing their seeds, drawing up plans and dreaming of that first ripe tomato.
Every year, I keep careful notes of how my vegetable garden performed and what I intend to do differently. The beauty of having a garden journal is it helps me remember details that would otherwise be forgotten. I also enjoy learning new things from other gardeners.
A perfect example of this is the annual January gathering of my gardening friends for what we jokingly refer to as the “Seed Summit.” We bring our collections of seed catalogs, talk about new products, and highlight the vegetables that were the heroes of the previous year’s garden. I always leave the summit brimming with ideas.
This year, a friend touted Gilbertie paste tomatoes. I’d never heard of them — after all, think of how many tomato cultivars are out there — but after hearing about their large fruits and minimal problems with blossom-end rot (a physiological problem seen during particularly hot summers), I decided to try them out.
Another friend recommended Melrose sweet peppers. After seeing photos of it growing prolifically in her garden, my pepper-loving husband, Bill, quickly added it to his list. Last year, this same friend raved about Early Dividend broccoli. I rarely grow broccoli because I’ve found the harvest doesn’t always justify the space they require. Wanting to keep an open mind, I grew some last year and was astounded by their huge heads and delicious flavor. You can bet Early Dividend is back in the plans for 2019.
These examples illustrate why our seed summits are so beneficial. Why not get together with your gardening friends as well? It’s not too late to share the name of the best tomato variety you’ve ever grown or new techniques you’ve tried. We all learn more from this type of exchange with folks who garden in the same climate.
By now, you’ve probably noticed the rather lengthy list of what I plan to grow this year. It’s a nice mix of tried-and-true favorites and fun new cultivars I couldn’t resist.
Some of last year’s new varieties that got rave reviews included Ha Ogen honeydew melons, Lunchbox cucumbers, Sweetness Bicolor corn, and cucamelons. Also known as Mexican sour gherkins or mouse melons, cucamelons are a relative of the cucumber, look like miniature watermelons, and feature a citrusy crunch that’s hard to resist.
Cushaw winter squash was another newcomer after a friend from the South recommended them. They have a striped, gourd-like appearance and I was curious to see if they would grow well in our Inland Northwest climate. It turns out they do and they make delicious pies.
Two completely new crops this year will be yardlong beans and rutabagas. Yes, I admit it: I’ve never grown either and it’s high time I changed that. You’ll notice there are six hot and sweet pepper cultivars on the list, all carefully selected by Bill. Since we’ll also be growing tomatillos again, we’re anticipating plenty of salsa-making projects in late summer.
Just like you, I’m excited at the prospect of a new growing season and writing about it. In addition to chronicling this year’s vegetable garden, I’ll share news about the creation of our new pollinator garden, my vertical gardening plans for growing vining flowers and veggies, discuss the benefits of houseplants and keep you informed of upcoming garden events. You’ll also meet several local gardeners who have created interesting and productive gardens.
This year marks the third year I’ll be producing a weekly “Everyone Can Grow a Garden” video to demonstrate gardening tips and techniques in my own garden. Look for today’s episode at youtube.com/c/susansinthegarden.
Susan Mulvihill is co-author, with Pat Munts, of “Northwest Gardener’s Handbook.” Contact her at Susan@susansinthegarden.com.
2019 Mulvihill Garden
Artichoke – Imperial Star
Basil – Salad Leaf
Bean, pole – Musica
Bean, yardlong – Gita
Beet – Chioggia, Cynlindra
Broccoli – Early Dividend
Carrot – Scarlet Nantes, Starica
Cauliflower – Purple of Sicily
Celery – Tango
Corn – Sweetness Bicolor
Cucamelon
Cucumber – Lunchbox
Dill – Greensleeves
Garlic – German Porcelain, German Red, Inchelium
Lettuce – Bronze Beauty, Lolla Rossa, Little Gem
Melon – Ha Ogen, Tuscan Napoli
Onion – Copra, Italian Red Torpedo, Patterson
Pea – Green Arrow
Pepper, hot – Jalapeno, NuMex Joe Parker
Pepper, sweet – Ajvarski, Lipstick, Melrose, Sheepnose Pimento
Potato – Blue Belle, Purple Viking
Pumpkin – Jack Be Little, New England Pie, Red Warty Thing
Rutabaga – Laurentian
Spinach – Matador
Squash, summer – Clarimore, Trombetta di Albenga
Squash, winter – Butternut, Cushaw, Delicata, Spaghetti
Swiss chard – Pink Flamingo, Ruby Chard
Tomatillo – Toma Verde
Tomato – Chef’s Choice Orange, Gilbertie Paste, Sunrise Bumblebee
Watermelon – Gold in Gold