You sound like me I couldn't wait and decided to try and learn tomato grafting so I started some seeds on Thursday they are all up a flat of 36 plants. I did start my leeks and onions 3 weeks ago they are doing great . Can't wait for the cold weather to break and snow to melt I'm sure I could find something in garden or yard to do. Good luck with the plants

And, Oldgardenguy:
How are you learning to graft? From youtube, a book, a friend or a site?
Have you grown grafted tomatoes, and like the difference? I've been curious, but have no idea. Are the plants you have started, both the 'tops and the bottoms', or which?

I'm interested to read about how your project progresses!

I have no idea if I am posting in the correct place. I am not liking Houzz. Of course I never like change!

The plants look good. They are about 3 inches tall now. I will plant eggplant next. I made a calendar of what to plant when and that will catch me up except for planting lavender seeds.

I understand! It will take time to get used to. It did before, and this is a stiff sort of forum for a good chat board.

But I am glad you are still posting, and hope the others here, will still post as spring comes. I also liked running into your comments on the Oklahoma board too!

I do hope the owners keep listening and improving the Gzardenweb side! It was the strangeness of Houzz and wistfulness for the old forums that ironically made me sign up...after all, now it couldn't get any more uncomfortable!

What kinds of broccoli did you plant?

Are they types you've often planted?

I have never grown cauliflower... I always thought it too difficult, probably because books said so! :)

I do grow about 18 broccoli plants each year, but I am discouraged. Each year it seems, the heads are smaller. For the past several years my broccoli has buttoned or been eaten, and been tough-stemmed, or just grew without heading at all.

I use Packman, buying transplants at big stores. I decided I must go back to growing my own, because the small starts being out in bad weather temps must be part of my problem. But I haven't started the seeds yet... I better!

Besides Packman, I bought Bonanza from Burpee, which is supposed to be very early with a very big head, and lots of side shoots. It was the only thing I have ever bought from them - I always like the sound of things in their catalog but the seeds and shipping were so, so expensive! $13 for the 1 pack!

And if our freezing springs and blazing hot summers continue, maybe I will change to a cabrese open pollinated type, hoping for more consistency in the sprout production, which is what I really need, not big heads.

I paid so much for a pack that southern folks on the Veg garden forum said was "the best", because my kids eat so much broccoli I want to provide it, not buy it.

I have never tried the open pollinated types, and was hoping you have. Maybe OP types will solve both the problem of non heading veggies and expensive seed.

I have grown Packman for a few years. I have added one called Early Green this year. I think the real secret is getting the plants in the ground before hot weather hits.....April here. I like the huge heads because I can pick once and have several packages to freeze. It is just the two of us.

I have only grown cauliflower once and it was a pain to keep the leaves pulled up around the head. I just got the urge again to try it this year. I am growing one called Giant of Naples. I hope I can be more diligent with it.

I also noticed that I didn't have nearly as many worms. I think the cooler weather helped with that too.

I have never tried OP broccoli. I do like OP for most things, Have you read the comments about the Calabrese at Baker Creek? You might want to take a look.

http://www.rareseeds.com/calabrese-green-sprouting-broccoli/

BTW, I rarely, if ever, buy anything from Burpee and just a very few things from Park. Way to expensive for what you get imo.

Agree! Was my first order from them in years and will probably be my last. The $ made me grrr. Their 'exclusive' tomato varieties I may want again, some year, are now available other places.

What types of things might you buy from Park?

I always order their catalog to read (I love reading catalogs!) but haven't ordered for a long time. My email has been full of their sales lately, but I've noticed a satisfaction decline w/ them on Garden Watchdog. What I liked about them once was the catalog used to be full of very well-bred for heat varieties. And I liked their foil packets.

Last year I finished off a favorite Park pansy pack that I must've bought around the turn of the decade.... I store (have stored, it's a goal to change!) my seeds horribly, the ink had worn off, but the plants were pretty!

I'm sad the old 'family seed companies' influence is mostly gone from the market, but it is interesting to find so many online small growers with lots of knowledge and make new traditions.

I am interested to hear more about your cauliflower experience as it grows. I might be swayed to try!

Broccoli- I did read those grower comments... And that kind of thing- due to weakened strains and crossed seed, I think- has kept me from trying OP brassicas before.

Garden writer Steve Solomon said something like 'because the OP seed stocks have not been kept up, brassicas require the best possible breeding now, to be productive, and so for that portion of my food supply, I'm not willing to err on the side of the angels". Angels being, I think, Southern Seed Exchange, Baker, etc.

But I am ordering a pack to experiment with, alongside the Bonanza and Packman, from Stokes, the place I often get cabbage, Asian greens and onion seed from. I know they have extensive grow-out trial grounds and still produce some seed.

Everything I ever bought from them has germinated superbly, and sent in those great foil packs. I hope, hope hope I will get seed from the best possible remaining source, and that it will grow out to be a six-week forest of side shoots, on a plant that takes less space than a big header like Bonanza.

Hmm. I should have put all that in a new thread to track through the season! Guess I'll do.

Did I read right earlier, that you're also planting lavender? What strain do you plant, and how does it grow for you? I've wanted to, but haven't ever. Unless one year I winter sowed and it didn't hang through our weather changes. Whoops. Ozark Lavender. That should be another thread!