After my last post where I realized that spring was indeed coming, I figured I’d better open my boxes from Botanical Interests and Burpee that were still sitting by the front door and see what I had bought. I know I’m still ok with timing since I usually don’t start anything until after spring break. Oops, forgot I was going grow my own peppers this year rather than buying them and they need 8-10 weeks in the house before going outside! Better get a move on!
I found this great Seed Sowing Guide on the Botanical Interests website that very clearly lays out when seeds need to be started, both indoors and out. I printed off my sheets and started calculating.
Even though my last frost date is April 22nd, I’m generally not comfortable assuming I can plant tender seedlings before Mother’s Day Weekend. So using that as my planting weekend, I calculated back when I needed to get things started.
First up is the peppers ASAP since I’m behind a week or so, then in a couple of weeks I’ll start the cucumbers and squash. I’m not growing as many flowers myself this year because we’ll be having a high school graduation party the end of May for my twin boys. I am going to splurge and go for some instant color this year. But, I will start some cosmos and sunflowers for me to enjoy later in the summer.
As I described in my earlier posts, Starting My Seeds Indoors and Starting Seeds Indoors, I really like the APS system from Gardeners Supply Company (recently replaced by the GrowEase system) So I hauled the box of seed starting supplies from the basement, bought a new bag of seed starting soil and got planting.
And here’s my new “trick” this year. I always have trouble knowing what seeds are planted in which cell. I usually use popsicle sticks, but they just get in the way of the lid and sometime the writing fades. This year I marked off a grid like a map and made a log to go with it. So simple, not sure why I didn’t think of it before!
Now I just need to be sure I don’t lose my paper log!
Peppers are ready, looking forward to seeing them sprout. In a couple of weeks, I’ll start the rest of the indoor seeds, and I’ll also get the cold weather seeds sowed outside. It’s always iffy as to whether I get anything to grow this early outside, but I keep trying.
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