Photo courtesy: www.responsibletechnology.org
One of the biggest mistakes gardeners make is starting their seeds too early. As temperatures begin to climb and the days get noticeably longer, the temptation to force the season is great. Plants that are started to early will elongate (get spindly trying to find sunlight) and become brittle and susceptible to disease. Even if they manage to grow, the rough start will yield a poor harvest, so you'll end up working hard and wasting valuable garden space for nothing.
The first thing you want to consider before starting seeds is your hardiness zone. A hardiness zone refers to the area of the country you live in. Each zone has different plating times due to weather, frost dates and so on. For folks in the US.. a hardiness zone map is available at:
http://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/PHZMWe
Each zone has different planting requirements, so check to see what the requirements are in your area. Most seed packets are labeled with zone planting suggestions so check the labels before opening them.
The next thing you want to consider is the plant itself. Many herbs won't withstand even a light frost, while some thrive in the cooler temperatures, so it's best to read up on the herb before you plant it. Some vegetables like Kale and Carrots (called cold crops) do well in cool temperatures so starting those in a sheltered garden will work just fine during the colder weeks, such as the end of February in zones 9-6 in the US. Zones 5 and above will still be too cold this time of year, so it's best to wait until mid-March or even early April depending on the zone.
Last but not least, always check to see which seeds you can start indoors and which seeds need to be sewn directly into the ground. Remember, each plant has special growing needs, so always do your homework before you plant. That way, you will save valuable time and money and get the harvest you dream of in the end.
Until next time,
Be Well!
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