What a beautiful day last Sunday was with sunshine and temperatures near sixty degrees. Even with the rain this week the temperatures were warmer and we didn’t have to deal with ice and snow. This is more like April weather, instead of early March. Well Punxsutawney Phil did say we were going to have an early spring, and the ten day forecast at least seems to agree. Now I am not advocating you go out and plant your garden this weekend but... I started to rototill my new garden last Sunday, boy am I sore from it. My rototiller wasn’t the only thing that hasn’t been used since last fall and my muscles let me know it. I only managed to get half of it done before the pain set in, but getting an early jump on the work, will make it easier to get the job done by the time the weather warms up for good. We are starting to plant perennials in our greenhouse this week and getting my hands in the dirt is very cathartic. 

The winter blues are truly over, and I’m coming down with a big case of spring fever. With that in mind, it is the time to start some seeds indoors. Now not everything can be started now as some things grow too fast to start early. Peas, beans, corn, cucumbers and squash shouldn’t be started until late April to early May as they germinate within a couple of days from being planted. But this time of year you can start tomatoes and peppers as they take much longer to germinate and grow. Using peat pots, the pots made from compressed peat moss, are the best containers for doing this because when your seedlings are ready to go outside you plant the pot and all so as not to disturb the roots. Simply put your peat pots inside a plastic tray without drainage holes and water your peat pots from the bottom to prevent mildew from forming on the soil surface. Place your trays in a south facing window if possible, not only for the light but for the heat direct sunlight provides as this will help to raise the soil temperature and encourage germination. But if that isn’t an option we do carry grow lights and heat pads for seed starting. But some of you may have these things already around your house and you don’t even realize it. I have been accused of being a pack rat and I am guilty, but I hate to throw something out that can be used for some other purpose later. 

If you ever had a lizard, than you already have a heating pad, and you can use the same heating pad for your seeds that the lizard used. Likewise some wide spectrum aquarium lights can be use as grow lights as well. So if you had these pets in the past, and their equipment isn’t currently being used, it can be repurposed for your seed starting. If you have kids or now grandchildren like me, growing some plants from seed can be a great way to connect with your grandchildren and teach them about growing. Sunflowers and marigolds are really good candidates for this. I plan on planting a dozen or so pots of sunflowers with my two oldest granddaughters around Easter when they are both coming to visit at the same time. I’ll then keep a few at my house, and they can each take a few home with them. Each week we will compare how our seedlings are growing and when the weather gets nice, we’ll be able to plant them outside together. My kids are going to read this and wonder why I never really did this with them, but what can I say, as a grandpa, I have a little more time on my hands.