Learning with a Greenhouse

Garlic, so easy and so hard at the same time. I ordered two types of garlic for fall planting in July 2023: - Hard Neck Roja - Soft Neck Nootka. I received them September 29, 2023 and planted all 80 on October 30, 2023. You are suppose to plant garlic in October/November for zone 7. The harvest date for both is 240 days (harvest: July 29, 2024). I planted just like the instructions and internet gurus suggested but now I have stalks that are a foot+ tall. The internet says if they are sprouts not to worry - but this?! These are huge!  Today, December 30, 2023, I covered the base of the stalks with another layer of leaves (additional to the layer Mother Nature laid on them) and emailed Burpee to see if I am doing the right thing. One internet site says August is harvest time for garlic - well that math doesn't work in Virginia. If I wanted to harvest in August - I should have waited until winter and planted them December 18th. If anyone has any ideas - please let me know.

For Christmas, I received seeds from  Smart Seed Emporium (my husband knows me well). I had the bolded ones on my wish list and the rest/duplicates were sent as gifts from the company: Watermelon Radish x2, Rainbow Radish x2, Kamari Melon , Goliath Tomato (Heirloom), Glass Gem Corn (popcorn), and Rainbow Cherry Tomato Collection (Heirloom): Mexico Midget, Black Cherry, Matt's Wild Cherry, Isis Candy, and Snow White. Strawberry Clover x2, Crimson Clover x2 I am really excited to learn how the seeds work and there is little room for error. Some of these seeds are rare - meaning $$$ for a few seeds. I feel like Jack and the Bean Stalk with a few seeds to grow the mighty vine to the Golden Goose. The Glass Gem Corn looks like sea glass. On Etsy, you can buy the seeds to pop - when popped, the corn is white but the kernel remains the same color as the seed - so pretty. Look here to find it on Etsy. The Kamari Melon is way cool! It will produce 6-9 fruits per vine and l...