Spring Fever – Seedlings being started

I know it might be popular in some corners to suggest that as humans we have removed ourselves from the influence of the pull of eons of evolution and somehow our brains have been able to eliminate the tug of natural forces. I think we are a bit closer to animals than folks would often like to admit, and that shows in part in the forces and rhythms which drive us.

For me at this time of year, as the rays of the sun grow in strength there is an unmistakable tug to plant, to get seeds started and prepare for spring and the last frost date.  Now, granted it’s not like I’m going to end up curled in the fetal position sweating in the corner if I don’t get my seeds planted – but it would feel decidedly odd.

Without a question I have a bit of an addiction to collecting, trialing, saving and improving plant material, and this time of year offers the start of a season of promise and discovery.

I am reasonably certain that my standby veggies whose seed I saved from last year will perform once again – the reisentraube and matina tomatoes – as well as the wild cherry tomatoes that drive the kids wild with their combination of marble sized fruit and high sugar content – fortunately they are as productive as they are loved.  On the pepper front there are the Peace Sweet peppers, along with the Hungarian hot wax, jalapeno and greek pepperocini peppers that I can count on.

But then there are the pots filled with the new varieties or ones which while grown a few years back didn’t stand out enough then to merit replanting.  Among those will I find a new favorite to add to the annual must have list?  Will the seductive descriptions in the seed catalogs  – Fedco is my favorite – live up to my expectations?

At some point I know I am going to have to turn from acquiring and saving seed to taking a more active role in breeding to obtain the characteristics I am looking for, but right now my fix is still met with saved and purchased seeds.

So, again this year I’ve wagered a bit of money on seed packets to compliment those I’ve saved and the natural roulette wheel has started its spin.  Will some of these win a place on the annual must plant list or be relegated to an also ran. In either case even the losers in this race get eaten, so regardless of the outcome I ‘m relatively sure I’m bound to win this gamble.