Get Ready for Spring – Choosing Seeds for the Outdoors

According to the calendar, the first day of spring is March 20, 2011. Get ready, buy some new garden gloves and jump into your garden. You will be surprised to see some signs of spring already. The first sign is that the angle of the sun is changing and the length of daylight is increasing. This will start the process of plant growth. Plants need enough light to grow and prosper — even shade-loving plants need some type of light (even though it is defused).

Seeds are like children: they need light, good food, water and tender care to grow strong. Start the process by buying seeds, and grow them indoors in a greenhouse (if you have access to one) or on a windowsill or sunny spot in a warm part of your house. When buying soil, make sure it is all-purpose (suitable for all types if plants) and find containers that will work for the area you are placing them first. Don’t buy without measurements of the location so there will not be a surprise later.

Researching what types of plants you want to grow is a good way to pass the dreary, cloudy winter days. Ask yourself these questions:

• What type of light do I have around my house? (Shade/part sun, full sun (more then 6 hours daily), or shade)
• What is my soil like? (Well drained, soggy, rocky, rich, clay based. For a small fee, you can go to your local extension agency and have your soil tested to know its exact chemical makeup. This is nice to know if you are planting vegetables or exotic species.)
• What colors do I like?
• What are the height limitations around my house?
• Do I want to attract certain bugs or animals to my garden? (If you do want to attract butterflies or humming birds, then make sure you do not mind bees and other nectar lovers in your garden area. Ants are also attracted to certain plants so expect them to arrive!)
• How much time can I spend tending the garden?
• How much money can I allot for the garden? (Make sure you include all expenditures: soil testing, soil, seeds, planters, water, fertilizer, mulch, and any tools you need.)

Now it’s time to go to the store. Lowes, Walmart, the Dollar Store, Tractor Supply, and local garden centers in your area should start selling seed packages soon. If you are buying in bulk, Southern States Coopertive Inc. has good deals on seeds.

After you purchase your seeds, start seeds indoors unless the seed packet says otherwise. Seeds like well-drained soil so line the bottoms of the planters with small stones, which will allow excess water to drain out the bottom. If a seed gets too much water, it can rot. Next place seeds in a sunny window or under a plant light and let nature take its course.

Growing seeds can be very rewarding and is a great project for children to see the rewards of all their hard work!

Have fun and happy growing!