My readers have asked, “What can I do to get my garden going now?”
Because I love getting out in the garden, I feel disappointed not having a chance to plant your seeds and bedding plants in the soil.
In north central Ohio, there is only a 10% chance of having your plants nipped by frost after May 19. That’s less than two months away. We do need to be patient.
A few years ago, when I was at the pool, I met a teacher who spent time with little children. Yearly, she had her little children start seeds in peat pots so that they could get their hands in the soil early and enjoy watching the peas sprout.
Later in the year, the pods develop, and the youngsters are encouraged to eat these peas. Just think of a little child who likes eating peas.
Cool-season greens like kale, lettuce, and broccoli could have started in February. After February, more cool-season crops like Brussels sprouts and cabbage should also be started indoors. Cauliflower roots develop more slowly and should also start indoors.
Warmer-season plants like celery, peppers, tomatoes, and eggplants need to be in the ground longer and are also perfect candidates for planting in February.
Starting these warm-season seeds indoors and gaining a few precious weeks can be enough to allow you to get an extra round of crops. In mild winters, leeks can be sown directly in open beds.
These leeks need to start early indoors to be more successful. Planting directly in the soil as early as possible can grow stronger roots that tolerate droughts better.
Some shade-tolerant vegetables, like leeks and celery, should be started early. Peppers, eggplants, and tomatoes need warmer temperatures to grow outside. Don’t plant peppers, tomatoes, or eggplants early.
Start basil, cilantro, and parsley early indoors. If you start planting indoors this week, they will have a good chance of being ready to plant by May 19. The jumpstart indoors will ensure that they flourish outdoors once the temperatures rise.
I like to encourage starting seeds, specifically for germinating. Soak your tomato, pepper, eggplant, and leek seeds in room temperature water for 12 to 24 hours, making sure to change your tomato seeds’ water every four hours.
Soak celery seeds in 131-to-140-degree F water for 15 to 20 minutes, followed by a cold-water soak for the same length of time, to encourage them to sprout. Leeks are susceptible to root damage; therefore, plant them in separate containers.
Encourage your seedlings to germinate well. You need sunshine to encourage your seedlings to germinate well. If you can’t do that, get Gro-lights to compensate for the lack of light.
A much wider range of varieties is available as seeds versus bedding plants. Greenhouses restrict you as to what your local greenhouse has grown.
The selection of seeds available in seed catalogs is far more extensive than any greenhouse person could ever grow with limited space in their greenhouses.
One of the reasons I like to start my seeds indoors is that I have the most significant amount of control. I know what I did to get the seeds strong enough to transplant. I have always preferred growing my plants organically to bathing my seeds in chemicals.
Timing vegetables to be ready at specific times can be ideal for the best harvest.
Greenhouses have been raising bedding plants for a few months in heated greenhouses. They also put several chemicals in the systems to feed their plants. Labor is paid to water, fertilize, prune, and place them in the greenhouse.
Therefore, these labor expenses must reflect their prices. Starting your seeds indoors is the most frugal method for you to get the greatest value for your gardening efforts.
Traditionally, seeds start indoors 6 weeks before your last frost date. In Jeromesville, the last frost date is May 19.
Another source says that April 30 is the last frost date of the season. On March 31 we are seven weeks out from the last frost-free date. Next week, we’ll look at cover crops and companion plants.
I hope you have a great stroll through your garden as you do. If you have some struggles, let me know and email me at ericlarson546@yahoo.com.