Seed Selection, Seed Starting, and Seed Swapping

Seed Selection With the holidays behind us and the short (but lengthening) days of January in front of us, all thoughts turn to… seed starting? Well, maybe not ALL thoughts, but certainly some thoughts! The new year brings a slew of seed catalogs to my mailbox, which make for cozy reading on the couch. Who can resist Snow Crown (cauliflower), Purple Sun (carrots), Bright Lights (Swiss Chard), or my personal favorite, Cash Machine (zucchini)? Purchasing seeds from local growers provides a gardener with…

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Fall Garden Planning and Planting!

Refresh your vegetable garden with plans for the Fall Harvest The flowers are blooming, the squash are coming in and the tomatoes are ripening, which means you can still start planning for the fall garden harvest! Over the next few weeks there are quite a few plants you can get in the ground for a October and November (and sometimes even December) harvest! Because it's a little later in the gardening season many stores will mark down seeds and other plants…

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Growing Good Apples 101

The apple trees are budding in Wallingford, and if you want a good harvest you should start tending to them soon. I’m not a fruit tree expert, but I am an avid backyard gardener and a nerd who reads a lot. It took me several years of research and trial and error to finally yield a good harvest from my own apple tree. Hopefully what I’ve learned can help you, too.  In my mind, I like to separate apple tree problems…

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Getting Ready for Spring in Seattle

Flowers are starting to bloom across the neighborhood and the cherry blossom watch has begun at the University - UW Cherry Blossoms Update. Sara Shores, the University of Washington arborist says that they are likely to reach their full bloom the weekend of March 30th. The next few weeks will be a great time to take a bike ride over to the Quad and check them out. They are not to be missed! Take a live look at the Quad here,…

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Celebrate Local Food & Urban Farming at Seattle Tilth’s Harvest Fair

Seattle Tilth's annual Harvest Fair can be described as a country fair in the city. It started as the only neighborhood farmers market back in the 1988, connecting city folks to the bounty of food from local farmers. Today it brings together some of Seattle's best qualities: tasty local food, live music, a bustling organic farmers market, urban farm activities and a chance to enjoy one of Seattle's great parks in our own neighborhood with lush gardens managed by Seattle Tilth.…

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City Fruit Orchard Tour Sunday

On Sunday, October 4, visit Seattle's historic orchards throughout the city. Each orchard is planning special activities, including cider pressings, historical tours, and more. Your self-guided tour will take you throughout Seattle's neighborhoods to a hidden orchard, a former homestead, and other beautiful community sites. Two orchards are in Wallingford: Good Shepherd Center / Meridian Playground and the Burke-Gilman Trail. Look for the pink balloons along the Burke-Gilman between the University Bridge and Northlake Place west of Gasworks. Get your map of the…

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This Weekend: Good Plants, Bad Plants, Phamarcants

If you like to eat, tend or learn about plants, this weekend's Wallingford activities should be right up your alley! Invasive Plants Class 10 to 11:30 Saturday: The community gardeners at the Freeway Estates Community Orchard (FECO) invite you to participate in their invasive plants class on Saturday from 10:00- 11:30 am at the Freeway Estates Community Orchard: 6th Ave NE, just north of NE 60th St (on the west side of I-5, next to the sound wall).  This class will be taught by a representative…

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