The time for planting has already begun in the deep south, while northerners still have a few more snowfalls to clean up. Southerners enjoy a warmer climate, an earlier planting season and a longer growing season due to their southern location.
The time-line for planting moves further north later in the year. The further north you go, the shorter the growing season. To take full advantage of the number days in a growing season many gardeners start seeds indoors, regardless of the location.
Starting seeds indoors under lights can give your flower and vegetable gardens quite a boost. The key ingredient to being successful here is to maintain a humid and well-lit environment for germinating and growing your plants.
According to where you live, what is your time of last frost or day of last freeze? That is one important date, but remember it is only an average date. Some years will see more or less freezing weather, so you have to use your judgment a little bit in deciding when to start sowing and growing your seeds.
Some gardening and seed catalogs provide planting schedules where you can look up the suggested planting dates for various plants based on an average last frost date. For example, the first planting of lettuce will range from Feb 1 through May 1 depending on the average last frost date. For a last frost date of March 30, plant your lettuce on Feb 15; for a last frost date of April 10 plant lettuce on March 10.
Many seed packages tell when to plant seeds, like how many weeks before the frost/freeze date.
Find your local Last Frost Date or FrostFreeze date by visiting National Climatic Data Center.
To get the real scoop on when to plant in your area check out local gardening clubs or ask any gardener you admire. Check with your local Cooperative Extension service – they’ll be able to tell you your last frost freeze date and lots more!
Around central Pennsylvania we can look forward to the week of April 15 for our last frost/freeze date and a growing season of about 180 days.
Starting seeds indoors you can get a whole lot more fruit-n-flowers from your gardens. You’ll probably need to start about six weeks before the last frost/freeze date for your area, but check your seed packets for more information. For us, that makes the week of March 4 a seed-planting week and that’s only 2 weeks away!
If those gardening catalogs don’t arrive pretty quick I’ll have to do more shopping online – it’s just as fun! Look at this seed starter I just found:
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