Did you know that you can call the Seattle Tilth garden hotline with your urgent gardening questions? And that you’ll get a human being? And that they’ll be extremely helpful and awesome and happy to talk to you?
Fact!
For example, last month I wanted to know what I could plant in February (fava beans, pretty much), whether it was too late to start tomatoes (no, but hurry), and why you never see okra in the garden stores (doesn’t grow here, sigh). This month, I wanted to know if I could plant grocery-store potatoes (yes, but only if they’re organic—the non-organic are sprayed with something that stops them from growing). And Tilth delivered!
To volunteer with Tilth, donate, or get information about classes (I’ve taken several, and they’re totally worth it), visit their website.
They’re edible plant sale in May is awesome, especially if you don’t start your own plants from seed.
Thanks for this! I just got approved for a 10×20 P-Patch out at Picardo Farm (after almost 2 years on a wait list) and I’m suddenly wondering what the hell I should be doing.
I’ve dropped in to their office in the Good Shepherd Center several times with questions–they’ve always been extremely helpful. My fruit trees wouldn’t be the same without them.
Man, I sure do miss the P-I.
Sigh.
Now if only the Stranger also reported on business news.
This might be a dumb question, but what happens when you plant a potato? I mean, isn’t the potato itself the end result that we want? Or does it somehow make multiple potatoes where once there was only one? Because if that’s what happens, I’m stopping by PCC and getting some potatoes on my way home.
@5 It somehow makes multiple potatoes where once there was only one. Potatoes are also ridiculously easy to grow!
@5: You cut it into pieces, each with one or more eyes, and each one turns into a potato plant. It’s similar to the way a garlic clove will grow into a whole new head of garlic.
Thanks, ECB and Hernandez! I will be attempting to grow potatoes this year, in that case. I’m not particularly green-thumbed: my tomatoes are almost always pathetic.
Isn’t it still a little cold to be starting tomatoes? I mean, if it snowed yesterday, I’m disinclined to start mine just yet.
I did not know about that hotline–and by strange coincidence, I had that very same question about potatoes. I’ve been buying seed potatoes, but I’d rather just buy them at the store. Thanks for the tidbit!
And just because I can’t agree with ECB *that* much:
Okra doesn’t grow here: yet another reason to love Seattle!
I love Seattle Tilth. I really want to take their chicken class. I would love to get some Silkie chickens and have them cruising around the pasture. I also want to take their organic gardener program but probably can’t this year. Hopefully I’ll be successful this year on my own and have the time to do it next year!
@9: If you start them from seeds, you need to start them indoors in starter pots very soon. Otherwise they won’t have enough growing season to be producing during the hot days of August.
The alternative, of course, is to just buy starter plants in a month or two that can be planted directly outdoors. A few bucks more than seeds, but also higher likelihood of good summer fruit production, and you don’t need to provide care to dozens of seedlings.
If you want to grow potatoes, make sure you’ve got a very deep patch of very loose, very loamy soil. You can’t just wedge potato eyes into your clay patch backyard. It’s got to be LOOSE, loose enough to dig down a couple of feet with your bare hands. A barrel works surprisingly well. Use a lot of peat.
tilth produces an excellent gardening guide that is tailored for our climate. it’s my bible 🙂
and it’s like $10 on their website.
too late to start tomatoes in february??? that’s totally wrong. you CAN start tomatoes indoors in february, but it’s not a “but hurry” situation. most people in the pac NW’s zone start tomatoes indoors with a good grow-light in early march and then plant the seedlings outside by mid/late april or even may.
i always do my tomatoes on memorial day weekend
Start your tomatoes indoors and migrate them outside over time. Most potting is now recyclable and much is also compostable, so you can even buy tomato pots that you just crumble holes in when you plant them in the soil.
As to potatoes remember the leaves are NOT good to eat. And get ones appropriate for our soils.
They helped me grow grapes. I’ve been making red wine in my basement. That way I don’t have to steal it from QFC.
Thanks #18. Maybe someone will address this issue in the Stranger soon. No not really, they only pick on others with glee and abandon.
sizable portions of my weekly existence involve seattle tilth and the stranger, but never together. nice to see them intersect. thanks for spreading the good word ECB.