6 months of snow and planting

Well, it has been a crazy winter and people all over Saskatchewan have had enough. Last week, immediately following the first day of spring, 3 days of 50 km/hr winds and snow stranded cars and even a passenger train for a day. While highways were closed all over the province, Anwyn and I shovelled out our yard. We've had so much snow this year, that the pile the length of our driveway is well over Mike's head.  Anwyn and I had to move all our snow to the backyard, where drifts are only chest high. Instead of complaining more, we said 6 months of winter and counting as we pushed snow yesterday.  Today, it is 6 months of winter and planting as I am setting up my grow table.

Now you may be asking how I am planting in many feet of snow and so early.  Actually, I am planting a little late. My nephew has been staying in the guest room for the last 3 weeks, and this delayed my planting, because I usually plant in there using my grow table. After finishing my shovelling yesterday, I came in and started planting seeds.  Nothing like a little dirt to help you feel better about snow.

At this stage in the game, I am planting the longest season items and a few early treats. That means I did  one tray with peppers and basil, and another tray with tomatoes and greens.

Tray one peppers:

• Jalepeno
• Cayenne
• Habernero
• Hungarian wax
• lots of Yellow Bell
• Green Bell

Tomatoes:

• Yellow Pear (yellow cherry tomato)
• Chocolate Drop
• Cherokee Purple (a beef steak)
• Lemon Boy (Yellow medium size)
• Early Girl 

Last year I lost seedlings to dampening off, so I am worried about it this year, but still excited to be planting. I also put in some cilantro, spinach and lettuce just for the fun of it.

I decide how much to seed based on a garden plan I do in February. I expect keep most but not all of what I plant, so I over seed slightly.  Since I keep seed for more than one year, I also need to do that because some seeds do not germinate.