As the cold gray winter days continue, I have added a little “sunshine” to my life by starting some seeds!  While it is much too early to get plants started in the garden it is not too early to try sprouting some seeds indoors. Those little green sprouts provide a reminder that Spring will be here soon.  

Starting seeds indoors does require a little effort and attention, but does not have to be expensive.  There are many items that can be recycled into potting containers.  Egg cartons, plastic produce containers and even toilet paper rolls can be used for …

The season is changing and the warm summer crops are withering along the streets of the neighborhood. Enjoy the last of those tomatoes… but believe it or not, there is still one more crop you can get in the ground that will thrive in our mild winter with very little assistance. That fabulous crop is… garlic!

Garlic doesn’t take up a lot of space or require a lot of attention. Plant it before Halloween and it will be ready to harvest around the Fourth of July. Once it is in the ground it is really a “set it and forget …

“The seeds of a winter garden in the PNW are quite literally sown at the height of summer.”
– Lorene Edwards Forkner – author, Vegetable Gardening in the Pacific Northwest

Last October, a friend mentioned, “I love winter squash, I am going to plant some!” Unfortunately  I had to break the news that she was about five months behind in her planting schedule because, regardless of their name, winter squash need to be planted in the springtime. So as we enjoy the beautiful summer weather and the delicious tomatoes, cucumbers, and stone fruits that come along with the season, the …

The weather is heating up and the sun has been shining bright! Our summer evenings will soon be filled with picnics at Gas Works or neighborhood BBQs and many of those meals will be brimming with local cucumbers, tomatoes, and melons!  These are all delicious foods to keep us cool on those hot summer days.

These plants are all things that can be grown at home and the time to plant them is now! You have likely seen seedlings around the neighborhood at the Tilth Edible Plant Sale last week, out on the front racks at QFC on 45^th…

The poor farmer grows weeds. The fair farmer grows crops. The good farmer grows soil.

— Sarah Pellkofer; Founder and Chief Soil Scientist of Micraculture and Wallingford Resident

Vegetable gardens are becoming increasingly popular in many city neighborhoods and Wallingford is no exception. Small home gardens provide not only fresh produce but also add beauty and biodiversity to our urban streetscapes. Soil quality in the city can be variable based on the history of excavation and construction for a site and these types of activities impact the native soil. Healthy soil conditions help your plants survive and thrive.

To assess …

The first day of Spring has arrived and with it more daylight.  As of March 20th we are officially getting 12 hours of light with a sunrise of 7:12 and a sunset of 7:22.  It is time to  start planting some seeds outside. Cool season crops are the best bets for this time of year, so don’t even think about your tomatoes yet. Here are a couple of suggestions for some easy plants to get started from seed and require very little maintenance.

Peas: A delicious spring crop that are typically easy to grow.  There are two things to consider …

[Editor’s Note: Ellen is new writer for Wallyhood.  She is planning a series of articles about gardening in the neighborhood.  Welcome Ellen, and use the comments for possible future areas of interest for gardening articles.]

“In the Spring a young man’s fancy lightly turns to thoughts of love.”  Alfred Lord Tennyson

Spring is in the air in Seattle and once the sun starts shining, this young woman’s thoughts are turning to….planting seeds! After years of neglecting every plant gifted upon me, my green thumb emerged when I realized I could EAT the results of that hard work.

As I …