Latch onto those seeds and get growing

Oh look, the thumb is starting to turn green and itching because it wants to get started gardening.

So why don’t we gather all those seed packets, and start them growing for our garden.

First, we need to decide which seeds need to be started indoors based on the growing time in our area.

The days are shown on the packets. Then we need to get some nice seed germination soil and pots.

Make sure if you are reusing pots from last year to clean them using a light mix of bleach and water to kill any bugs or diseases.

You will need a nice warm and sunny spot for the pots.

Don’t worry if you don’t have that, as we can always add grow lights (standard cool white fluorescent) and heating mats (available at most garden shops or in garden seed catalogs) if needed.

Fill the containers to a quarter inch of the brim, and pat down soil gently.

Sow seeds at the depth and spacing recommended on the package. Use a fine spray to moisten the surface.

Cover the pots with a sheet of clear plastic or enclose them in a clear plastic bag (this gives a “greenhouse” effect). Be sure to remove the pots from the plastic for a few minutes each day for ventilation.

Check the envelope directions for temperature requirements; most germinate at 70 to 75 degrees.

Once the seeds germinate, remove the plastic wrap or bag and place the containers six to eight inches from overhead florescent lights for 14 to 16 hours per day.

Most plants grow best with the temperature at 70 during the day and 60 at night.

If seeds were started in a seed tray, transplant to individual pots when the plants have developed their first set of true leaves.

Transplants must be “hardened off” gradually before planting outside. This is done by exposing the plants to increasing amounts of cold, sunlight and wind.

First place them outside in a sheltered shady area, bringing the pots back inside at night. Gradually increase the exposure by moving them farther out into the sun and wind each day.

Carefully check for bugs and slugs before bringing in at night.

In the garden this week

We should be doing our dormant spraying on fruit and deciduous trees. This is done in the delayed dormant stage when just a little green is showing in the buds.

Use a horticultural mineral oil spray that will kill scale insects, aphid and mite eggs on cherries, peaches, apricots, plums, and prunes. It also kills San Jose scale; lecanium scale on apples and nut trees; and pear psylla, leafroller eggs and blister mites on pear trees (Note: do not use lime sulfur on d’Anjou pears).

Your trees will be healthy and bug free and will thank you later by giving you lots of shade.