Amish Gardening Seeds & Planting
As we continue our journey into the heart of Amish gardening, we hope this newsletter finds you well and in good spirits. March has been acting in true Heartland fashion, with large swings in temperature, bringing both anticipation and excitement for the upcoming gardening season. This week, we delve deeper into the essential practice of seed selection and planting within our Amish community.
In Amish households, seed selection is a thoughtful process influenced by what sells well at markets and the family's personal preferences. Many Amish gardeners rely on a combination of seed catalogs and saved seeds from previous harvests. Seeds from melons, squash, and other easily preserved varieties are commonly saved, ensuring the continuation of cherished plant varieties.
The criteria for selecting seeds can vary based on specific needs. For example, families might choose Roma tomatoes for their excellent sauce-making qualities or select heirloom tomatoes for their unique flavors and lower acidity. The sunburst tomato, also known as Brandywine Stripey in some greenhouses, is a treasured heirloom seed. These large, yellow tomatoes with red stripes are a favorite for vine-ripened sandwiches, often producing slices so large that a single piece can cover an entire slice of bread.
Timing is crucial when it comes to planting seeds. Many Amish families aim to start their early gardens around St. Patrick's Day, sowing hardy plants like lettuce, radishes, potatoes, cabbage, broccoli, and cauliflower. On cooler nights, these plants may be protected with makeshift covers made from milk jugs with the tops cut off. While some families start seeds indoors, most prefer purchasing young plants from local greenhouses or directly sowing seeds into their garden beds.
Preparing seeds for planting can involve simple techniques such as soaking them in water overnight to speed up germination. When it comes to laying out garden rows, crop rotation is a common practice, helping to maintain soil health and reduce pest and disease buildup. For tiny seeds, mixing them with white sugar ensures uniform planting, while proper spacing is achieved using planters or by gauging with rulers and then by eye. Thinning out seedlings after they sprout helps ensure each plant has enough space to thrive.
Radishes are a particular favorite in Amish gardens, known for their quick and easy growth. Keeping track of what is planted each season is important for planning crop rotations, and some families maintain records of their garden layouts for this purpose. Seed exchanges between families and communities also occur, fostering a sense of sharing and community spirit.
Adapting planting practices to weather changes is a necessary skill in the Heartland. In years with wet conditions, planting may be delayed, while ideal soil conditions in other years allow for early planting. This flexibility ensures that the garden continues to flourish regardless of the challenges presented by nature.
Stories from Our Amish Basket Weavers
Here are a few happenings the families dedicated to weaving the beautiful baskets featured on AmishBaskets.com have shared with us this week.
The Mast Family
With the snow that fell on Wednesday, this week was a chance for the children to enjoy the fluffy white stuff for what could be one of the last times this Winter. So far, this Winter we've had very little snow, so the Mast family took advantage of the snowfall by stirring together some snow cream. Typically, they like to mix pudding into their snow cream, but since the temperatures did not drop very low, their creation only partially set, and it didn't quite reach the consistency of ice cream. Despite this, the kids thoroughly enjoyed their chilly treat, savoring every bit before it melted.
The Yoder Family
Wedding preparations continue on the Yoders' farm. Answers to the wedding invitations have been arriving almost daily in the mail, and the family is getting a rough count on how many guests to prepare for. The men have fixed all the lanterns to make sure everything is in working order for the evening of the wedding. Saws and hammers were out to build the temporary shelves to hold pies and cakes for the wedding. The stoves are set up for the baking, which will begin with the cookies commencing next week, and the girls were busy giving the house, the shop, and the shed a thorough cleaning.
The Gingerich Family
The highlight of the Gingerich family this week included a trip to a 65th birthday celebration for a widower in a neighboring community. His family and friends brought in a potluck supper to celebrate his 65th birthday. Some items on the menu were ham sandwiches, homemade sticky buns, green beans, jello, and cinnamon rolls, along with much more. He has been a widower for over 3 years now, and he has recently started a relationship with a single lady who is a cousin to his late wife, so they aren't exactly strangers. Their family is excited about the prospect of welcoming her as their grandma-to-be.
"When we don't find peace of mind in ourselves, it is useless to seek it elsewhere."
— Amish Wisdom
