We have been working on some new garden beds ... very excited about them! They are all built, and just need to be filled with soil.
When do most of you start seeds? I received my seeds in a few weeks ago. I would like to get started growing under lights, but will try and wait until March, at least for tomatoes. Last year, I started mid March for more tender plants, and still ended up repotting many of the plants two or three times, which made for quite a jungle inside. I tend to be conservative, and not want to plant out too soon, worrying about a late freeze. I may try planting some seedlings out a little early, with row covers for protection, and holding the rest back in case it doesn’t work out. We’ve had such warm winters the last couple of years. If this trend holds, I could definitely plant out much earlier than last year.
Most everything I'm starting inside will get started at the end of the month. Tomatoes, tobacco, stuff like that.
/johnny
Traditional advice is to start seeds about 6 weeks prior to last frost date. Sometimes, when I get too impatient, I just start some in pots that I can bring in and out depending on the weather.
I usually grow some tomatoes and peppers in 3-5 gallon pots on the patio anyway, so it helps to get a few things going a little early. I have such a sunny spot in front of the patio door, that I don’t really need grow lights come Spring.
My mom grew up where her grandfather had homesteaded in 1879- north central Nebraska. They had no plants to buy but they always had a large garden. I remember many years later (now we are talking south central Nebraska) when she planted tomato seed straight into the garden- She had ripe tomatoes ONE week later than from transplanted tomatoes. Only one week. I am going to do that this year. They certainly come up volunteer. I get as many tomatoes that way as I do from the plants I set out. they are not hybrid — I prefer heirloom most anything—