Sorry Folks! I’m really not down on these 2 wonderful vegetables. I use them almost everyday in my cooking. I just thought the title would make you want to read further!

I wanted to share some exciting news, with ya’ll about our heritage onions and garlic. I managed to start them on Feb.14. By all the material I had been reading up on, they would take from 15 to 21 days to germinate. Well, not in this place! Yesterday (Feb.18) I took a peek in my germination trolly and WOW! About 75% were up! I even collected some tiny elephant garlic bulblets this summer and these are up like hairs on a dog’s neck. Finally some success!

I changed the soil formulation as well. Just simple “finer” peat moss, sand, some screened compost and lots of earthworm castings! My friend Barry says to use a ratio of 25% of earthworm castings. His friend, who makes the “stuff’” says to use it straight! Now he tell me! By rights it shouldn’t burn…but I’d like to stay away from “other” friendly/unfriendly” hitch hikers within the organic compost mix and earthworm castings. (I don’t want any “flies” in my stew…) Soooo if I “watered” the mix down, I’m hoping to stay safe.

I also managed to stuff a heating mat under the works, as our basement is quite cool. Lights are on the usual time 12 on, 12 off.

So if all goes well, I should have some terrific young heirloom onions, greens and garlic to offer in the spring. Once you obtain these young’ins, with proper care you will have these for the rest of your gardening years.

I will say tho that my inventory is limited. I have just so much room to grow each variety of vegetable. BUT, if everyone tries a little of everything, life can become real interesting!

Happy Growing,

Mandy