Beautiful apple. Not familiar with that one. One local farm has about three dozen varieties at the market.

I have lots of cabbage. Cressida is spicy. Yes to that.

Peas and radish i have going at all times. Just a few small trays. Need to start the winter micro herbs today. I'm way behind.

I start the micro toms three times a year. Anytime is fine. Slow growing. Might be big enough to pot up into 4 inch by x-mas. They make nice gifts. I don't think you will see fruit until Febuary.

I start another round of seed as soon as a good plant under 10 inches produces ripe fruit.

Black Oxford info for those inclined. Power is out. I will plant tomato seed when it comes back on.... Your plants look spectacular!

https://www.outonalimbapples.com/varieties/black-oxford

Thanks for that. I was just about to look it up.

I'm pretty sure i sent you PicoloGato, aka LittleKitty. Angora leaf.

I have the timeline somewhere. This is probably 8-9 weeks.(?). This is pretty stable. Maybe 2 out of 12 seedlings will jump and leap taller. I cull those or prune. I just am careful to lable those so not to save seeds. If it is Spring, and why i start a tray around the new year, they go outside after the last frost. Usually fruiting at that time. Very early spring tomatoes are so welcome. So easy to pull inside if need be.

The earlier pic is a rugosa leaf miltiflora. It is an unexpected large white. Not stable but i got one good one. Working name is 'Ghost'.

You sent carrot leaf and picollo gato. Looking forward to trying it.

Yay - I have germination on both varieties of tomatoes. I was getting concerned. My house is quite cool plus microgreens tend to germinate sooo fast. Plus I have red cabbage, chervil and lemon balm flat (that I planted poorly) started for the first time. I surface sowed that LB and then read that it should be covered. That mussed up the seeds badly. Also peas, broccoli, radish, sunflowers, beet beet/chard and sunflowers. I got a shelf set up and filled it right up.

Sleevendog I will try to send you a seed care package soon. I have been distracted by organizing an upcoming exhibit and a family loss. My family is reeling. Watching seeds unfurl is good for my equilibrium.

So sorry for your loss. I meant to send you some dwarf sunflowers. So nice to have them all winter. Start a 1010 tray in succession. Two weeks apart. Three varieties. All bloom at different times so i have a few for the kitchen and the main bath.

Most stay around 8 inches if kept in 4 inch tall pots.

The slow grower micros like the herbs do much better for me in the dryer winter months. I give very little water---just barely damp. Lots of trial and error with the herbs. Getting the seed density correct, etc.

How very lovely! They are such cheery flowers.

As far as watering - I tend to be a dry grower but wood heat makes that very hard. Things dry out so fast. Plus I am using different shelving (open wire vs solid wood) at the moment. Fiddling a bit with technique at the moment. I think I need to use a bit more soil and water less. And possibly reconsider my shelving.

I will try to package and send seed next week.

Here is my first crop of cabbage ready to harvest tomorrow. It has pretty purple stems.

I am going to try some 1/8 flats of herbs. The chervil is doing well. I am unsure about the lemon balm. I would like to try more kinds.

The tomatoes are small but I finally have plants of both varieties up.

Agmss, I'm sorry for your family's loss. I'll be thinking of you and your family.

I love the sunflowers, they are lovely and cheerful. I should plant some of those for my oldest daughter, she loves sunflowers.

One local Amish farmer has one tree of Black Oxford and sells them as quickly as he can pick them. The owner of the B&B cross the street bought a few and gifted me with one. It was so crisp it was almost hard, I could see that storing all winter. Except I ate it, LOL.

My lettuces are doing well in the hoop houses, but about December, when they collapse, I'm going to start some microgreens. As long as life doesn't interfere, which it has a habit of doing lately. I hadn't thought of growing mini tomatoes...

Annie

Casbbages are just behind peas and radish for easy growing. My favorite herbs are cilantro, parcel, basils---especially Thai. The flavor is so concentrated i can make killer spring rolls over the holidays without going to H-Mart. I took cuttings of garden mint and hyssop i hope to get some small plants for a sunny window.

Sounds a bit nut-case but 20 minutes every few days is worth it. Check for water every morning---5 minutes. Started four small trays an hour ago of peas...5 minutes while starting dinner. ---soaked over night.

I use my heat mat for tomato starts. Until they come up. They like the bottom heat. Covered when on heat. Once a few are up---under lights. No cover. Such a dance. But nothing like running around tending a big garden. My winter garden is pantry eye level. 😂. Ten steps from my sink.

Two shelves 15 inch deep by 3 feet. No bending over. I do have a few small trays of mesculn and a few trays of arugula that do ok if i pay attention.

I only grow amaranth and showy ones like corn timed before a dinner party. Amazing colors.

Today I was given 1/4 pound of Mizuna seeds. To be added to my list of things to try. I have a friend who brings me orphan seeds.

I just had a mold issue. So I need to sanitize my growing area. I think it was my soil. I used an open bag from last year that had been sitting outside. Plus I changed my shelving. I may change back.

My tomatoes are getting their first tiny true leaves. Also I have a tray of Sunshine squash seed germinating. An experiment. I will see if they are edible tomorrow or the next day.

Thank you for your condolences. My sister lost her middle child - a beautiful intelligent but deeply troubled young lady. We are heartbroken. And infuriated.