It's strawberry season in Southeast Michigan

The short but sweet strawberry season has arrived in Southeast Michigan. The season usually lasts two-three weeks, dependent on the weather.

In addition to area farms and orchards, many farmers markets sell fresh strawberries. Customers are advised to check picking availability at farms, before going, and to follow COVID-19 safety measures such as social distancing.

Blake’s Orchard and Cider Mill, 17985 Armada Center Road, Armada, 586-784-5343, blakefarms.com.

Middleton Berry Farm, 4888 Oakwood Road, Ortonville. U-pick strawberries, no pre-picked strawberries. Strawberry-picking is by appointment only, at www.middletonberryfarm.com, 248-831-1004 or visit Middleton Berry Farm on Facebook. The farm accepts cash or check only.

Spicer Orchards, 10411 Clyde, Fenton. Open 8 a.m.-7 p.m. daily, June through October, 810-632-7692 or www.spicerorchards.com, U-pick strawberries, 8 a.m.-5:30 p.m., while supplies last.

Verellen Orchards, 63260 Van Dyke Road, Washington Township. Call 586-752-2989 for picking availability. U-pick strawberries and cherries, while supplies last. Buy already picked apples, peaches and plums in season at roadside market. The picnic area has an old-fashioned train, www.verellen orchards.com.

Westview Orchards and Adventure Farm, 65075 Van Dyke Road, Washington Township. Call 586-752-3123 or visit www.westvieworchards.com. Open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. for U-pick. The market is open 9 a.m.-6 p.m. for already-picked strawberries in June; cherries and raspberries in late June through mid July; peaches in early August through Labor Day; apples in late August through end of October and pumpkins in late September through October.

Save the seeds for next year's garden

This year, I am looking at buying seeds from heirloom seed companies, rather than purchasing whatever is available at my local hardware store or greenhouse. Last year, when greenhouses were closed due to the governor's executive order, I bought seeds on Amazon, which I regretted. I received seeds from all over, including China. There was a story circulating about seeds being sent from China to people who didn't order them. I had actually ordered seeds from China, but I burned the seeds, just in case.

Google "mystery seeds from china" if you want more information.

This year, I'm planning to start with good seeds, and then harvest the seeds from the crops at the end of the season. I've done a little bit of it in the past, but want to make a deeper commitment to it, going forward.

There's a workshop about saving seeds, tomorrow.

The Lyon Township library is hosting a "A Seed Saver's Garden" workshop, at 6:30 p.m. EST, Monday, Feb. 1, via Zoom at  lyon.assabetinteractive.com/calendar/a-seed-savers-garden/

Here's the heirloom seed companies' websites where I will be shopping:

Seed Saver Exchange, www.seedsavers.org

Baker Creek, www.rareseeds.com

Gurney also has heirloom seeds, www.gurneys.com

Social distancing in the garden

We've had a fairly mild winter in Southeast Michigan, this year. I looked back at 2019, and my garden was still frozen, as of March 12.
When my husband saw that the ground wasn't frozen, he ran the rototiller through the garden and on March 7, we planted peas and spinach. Then last week, on March 15, we planted Swiss chard, carrots, radishes, green onions and scallions. I worry that we may have jumped the gun, since the past two nights' temperatures have been in the 20s, but it should be alright.
It's a great distraction to have a spot in the yard to dig around and plant vegetables during this time of seclusion due to the coronavirus outbreak. And it might reduce trips to the grocery store later.
We're planning to invest in a small greenhouse, to start more of our own plants from seed. It will be more work, but hopefully it will be worthwhile.

Our trusty rhubarb shoots have sprung up.
I'm looking forward to rhubarb bars and pie.

6 steps to starting plants indoors:
1. The best containers are wood pulp pots or peat pots. You can also use plastic cell containers with covers or egg cartons with holes poked in the bottom and saran wrap on top. (Or reuse the annual flats from last year.) Whatever you use, make sure it has drainage.
2. Fill with potting soil, preferably a mix with sphagnum peat moss. Moisten the soil.
3. Plant a few seeds, not many, about 1/8 inch deep and pat the soil lightly. Then cover with plastic and place in a very warm place, out of direct sunlight.
4. Keep watered. Once the seeds sprout, move the pots to a bright spot, a south-facing window is best. Water often, but not too much or too fast. The plants are fragile. If they get too big for their containers, move them to bigger pots.
5. When it gets close to planting time, it's time to harden them by placing them outside during the day, to get used to it, but not in direct sunlight at first. Bring them in every night.
6. When it's warm enough at night, transplant to the garden. Dig a hole slightly deeper than the pot and put the plant in, supporting it with your fingers. Firm the soil gently around the stem. Water carefully.
For tomatoes, it takes 6-8 weeks before they'll be ready to transplant outside. For Southeast Michigan, wait until Memorial Day to put tomatoes and peppers outside, because they are very frost sensitive and will grow much better when it's warmer at night. Occasionally, there is frost after Memorial Day, so watch the weather and cover plants when there's a frost forecast.
Southeast Michigan is mostly in Plant Hardiness Zone 5 with a few areas in Zone 6.

For more information, visit Burpee's guide to indoor seed starting, www.burpee.com/gardenadvicecenter/areas-of-interest/seed-starting/indoor-seed-starting/article10002.html

Garden is off to a late, but delicious start

It's been an odd year for gardening. Many plants got off to a late start, due to the cool wet spring. I planted beans FOUR times. We planted late, May 25, because we were out of town at the usual mid-May planting time. I think those seeds rotted, due to the continual rain in May and early June. So I planted again, and the same thing happened. Then, I was out of new seeds, so I planted some old seeds from several years ago, and they were duds. I gave up and went back to the store and bought some more seeds and they have sprouted and look like they're going to grow.

On the other hand, the lettuce, Swiss chard and the rest of the greens are coming along very well.
I have to brag about the seed variety, Burpee White Paris Romaine lettuce. I don't usually look forward to eating a salad, but this variety is delicious and the plants are healthy and productive. The weather definitely helped, as the conditions were optimal for green leafy vegetables.
We also had a healthy crop of spinach, and we're picking Swiss chard, carrots, green onions, parsley and broccoli. (We bought broccoli transplants). We were going to redo our raised bed garden, but haven't yet, and now there is volunteer dill and cilantro coming up. I didn't realize that cilantro is much like a weed. I've found it growing on the lawn. But that is a good thing at my house.
Everybody I've talked to has had a good garden this year. But the cold wet spring has adversely affected the real farmers who grow soybean and corn, because they couldn't get in the fields to plant the seeds early enough.

Growing herbs in the kitchen

On the left: Watex Plant Garden Desktop Kitchen Farm

My wonderful daughters bought me the Watex Plant Garden Desktop Kitchen Farm for my birthday present. They know how many times I've burnt dinner, running out to the garden to cut herbs for a meal, haha. But seriously, I have made some "farmer brown" meals, (to quote neighbor Bill), by going to the garden in the middle of preparing dinner. Often I set out to simply pick an herb to add to the meal.

Now, if all goes well, I will have herbs right on my kitchen counter.

The plastic structure has eight slots for the eight planters. There is a hole at the top to pour water into, and my daughters had me pour water in, to see how fast it went through. That was a good idea, because I saw that the water stopped half way up the side of the planter, and then the rest of the water goes through to a tray at the bottom.

My daughters also sent seeds, but after the experiment, I see that the apparatus would not allow water to make it to the top of the planters where the seeds are starting. So I am starting the seeds in the planters, in a tub, and when they have roots, I'll move to the Desktop Kitchen.

I'm not sure how well this will work, but it's tidy, compact and it might keep me from burning dinner.

For more information, visit watexgreenliving.com.

I emailed Watex customer service to ask for instructions, because 

this is all that came with the package.

6 steps to starting garden indoors

It warmed up today, so I'm dreaming about gardening. Our garden is a mix of mush, ice, snow and muck. So I'm thinking about starting indoors.
I've been sprouting Mung beans for my gardening fix during the winter. It's so easy and offers nearly instant gratification.
For information on sprouting, visit wholefully.com/sprouting-101

I really want to get motivated and start plants indoors. That's not nearly as easy as growing sprouts, but when it works, it is very rewarding.

6 steps to starting garden indoors:
1. The best containers are wood pulp pots or peat pots. You can also use plastic cell containers with covers or egg cartons with holes poked in the bottom and saran wrap on top. (Or reuse the annual flats from last year.) Whatever you use, make sure it has drainage.
2. Fill with potting soil, preferably a mix with sphagnum peat moss. Moisten the soil.
3. Plant a few seeds, not many, about 1/8 inch deep and pat the soil lightly. Then cover with plastic and place in a very warm place, out of direct sunlight.
4. Keep watered. Once the seeds sprout, move the pots to a bright spot, a south-facing window is best. Water often, but not too much or too fast. The plants are fragile. If they get too big for their containers, move them to bigger pots.
5. When it gets close to planting time, it's time to harden them by placing them outside during the day, to get used to it, but not in direct sunlight at first. Bring them in every night.
6. When it's warm enough at night, transplant to the garden. Dig a hole slightly deeper than the pot and put the plant in, supporting it with your fingers. Firm the soil gently around the stem. Water carefully.
For tomatoes, it takes 6-8 weeks before they'll be ready to transplant outside. For Southeast Michigan, wait until Memorial Day to put tomatoes and peppers outside, because they are very frost sensitive and will grow much better when it's warmer at night. Occasionally, there is frost after Memorial Day, so watch the weather and cover plants when there's a frost forecast.
Southeast Michigan is mostly in Plant Hardiness Zone 5 with a few areas in Zone 6.

For more information, visit Burpee's guide to indoor seed starting, www.burpee.com/gardenadvicecenter/areas-of-interest/seed-starting/indoor-seed-starting/article10002.html

Oakland County farmers markets

• Birmingham Farmers Market: 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Sundays May 6-Oct. 28 at Public Parking Lot 6, 660 North Old Woodward, Birmingham, www.BirminghamFarmersMarket.org.

• Clarkston Farmers Market: 9 a.m.-1 p.m., Saturdays June 9 to Oct. 13 in the front parking lot at Clarkston Community Education, 6558 Waldon Road, Clarkston, 248-821-4769, clarkstonareafarmersmarket.com.

• Clawson Farmers Market: 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Sundays, May 20-Sept. 23, at Clawson City Park 1080 N. Custer Ave., Clawson, 248-435-6500, www.cityofclawson.com.

• Farmington Farmers and Artisans Market: 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturdays, May 19-Oct. 27 at Walter E. Sundquist Pavilion in George F. Riley Park, 33113 Grand River Ave. at Grove St., 248-473-7276, ext. 13, www.farmingtonfarmersmarket.com.

• Beaumont Hospital, Farmington Hills Farmers Market is 9:30-11 a.m., Wednesday’s through September at 28050 Grand River Ave., Farmington Hills, www.beaumont.org.

• Franklin Farmers Market on the Green: 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Sundays, June 3- Oct. 28 at Franklin Community Park, 32325 Franklin Road, Franklin, 248-672-4565.

• Hazel Park Growers and Makers Market: 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Sundays, July 8-Oct. 14 at Green Acres Park near the city’s recreation and community centers at 620 Woodward Heights, SNAP/Bridge Cards, www.facebook.com/hazelparkgrowersandmakersmarket.

• Lathrup Village Farmers Market: 3:30-7 p.m., May 16 to October at 27400 Southfield Road, Lathrup Village, 248-557-2600 ext. 224, www.lathrupvillage.org, WIC, SNAP/Bridge Cards.

• Milford Farmers Market: Thursdays May 10-Oct. 11; 3-7 p.m. May, September and October; 3-8 p.m. June-August, at East Liberty Street between South Main and Union streets in downtown Milford, fresh produce, live music, family activities, milfordfarmersmarket.org, SNAP, Bridge Cards.

• MSU Tollgate Farmers Market: 4:30-6:30 p.m. Wednesdays, May 30 throughout season, at MSU Tollgate Farm and Education Center, 28115 Meadowbrook Road, Novi, 248-347-0269 x229, www.canr.msu.edu/tollgate.

• Fogler’s Orchard & Farm Market: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily at 3979 Rochester Road, near Gunn Road, Oakland Township, 248-652-3614, foglersgreenhouse.com, seasonal produce.

• Oakland County Farmers Market: 7 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, May to December at 2350 Pontiac Lake Road, Waterford Township, 248-858-5495, www.oakgov.com/parks/parksandtrails/farmers-market/Pages/default.aspx, WIC, SNAP, Bridge Cards.

• Rochester Farmers Market, East Third and Water Street, Rochester: 8 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturdays, May 5 - Oct. 27, 248-656-0060, www.downtownrochestermi.com, Bridge Cards accepted.

• Royal Oak Farmers Market: 7 a.m.-1 p.m. Fridays, May to December and Saturdays, year-round at 316 E. 11 Mile, open 248-246-3276, www.romi.gov/389/Farmers-Market.

• Beaumont Health & Wellness Center, Coolidge, Onsite Farm Stand is 3-5 p.m. Thursdays through Sept. 28 at 4949 Coolidge Hwy., Royal Oak, www.beaumont.org.

• Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak Farmers Market is 8 a.m.-2 p.m. Thursdays through Oct. 4 at South Tower Pavilion, 3601 W. 13 Mile Road, Royal Oak, ,www.beaumont.org.

• South Lyon Farmers Market: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays May 5 to Oct. 27 at Pontiac Trail and Liberty Street, downtown South Lyon, 248-437-1735, www.southlyonfarmersmarket.org.

• Troy Farmers Market: 3-7 p.m. Fridays, June 1- Oct. 26 at the Troy Public Library Parking Lot off Big Beaver & Civic Center Roads, fresh and seasonal, local Michigan grown fruits and vegetables, flowers and products, food trucks, musical entertainment and children’s activities, 248-524-1147, www.troymi.gov/farmersmarket.

• Farmers Market at Beaumont Hospital, Troy is 3:30 - 5 p.m., Tuesdays through September at 44201 Dequindre Road, Troy, www.beaumont.org.

• Walled Lake’s Park & Recreation Commission Farmers Market: 7 a.m.-1 p.m. Wednesdays May to October at the Walled Lake City Event Field, 1499 E. West Maple Road Walled Lake, 248-624-4847, www.walledlake.com.

• Henry’s Market on Main at Henry Ford West Bloomfield Hospital: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m., Wednesdays, June 6 to mid-November at 6777 W. Maple Road, in West Bloomfield, 248-325-2060. Fresh produce, baked goods, flowers, seedlings and products such as pesto and salsa, made in Henry’s, the hospital’s café. Henry Ford West Bloomfield chefs will share recipes and free samples of dishes using ingredients grown in the hospital’s greenhouse. The market accepts cash, credit card, S.N.A.P., Project Fresh, www.henryford.com/locations/west-bloomfield/campus/main-street/henrys-market.