Don’t Jump the Gun!

A good friend of mine used to always ask me about this time of year…’Can I put my Hibiscus out yet?’  He was joking of course and now, ironically, he lives in Nevada and probably has his entire glorious hibiscus family out by his poolside. I digress.

I have worked in greenhouses for 15 years now. EVERY year I  get asked daily, starting about now, ‘What seeds can I start now?’.  These are people in winter denial. They are educated, intelligent people who have lived in this climate for years and years. Almost like children though, they ask, hoping that the answer will be different than the one that they already know to be true.

We have a long haul until we can properly take care of our seedlings. Even with lights and seed mats, one should not throw seeds into soil until AT LEAST the end of February.

If you absolutely feel the need to grow something right now (and I completely understand if you do), make it something that you will snip and use right away. I keep little pots of basil and arugula going all year. But I constantly clip and use them. I don’t expect anything to grow from seed to healthy plant in a dry New England home in January.

January is for planning your garden. Scope out seed catalogs, review last years notes, sketch designs, read garden blogs, feed and care for your houseplants. Just don’t jump the gun and start seeds quite yet!