Spring is here — at least if you’re a gardener who believes spring arrives with the first seed catalogs. In all the doom and gloom of the recession the plant nurseries and garden centers are feeling the pinch but here’s a bright spot for the garden industry: Seed companies have a growing clientele (in more ways than one).

Not only are more people ordering and planting seeds than last year, with many seed companies reporting hefty 20 percent increases, but the biggest bloomers when it comes to seed sales are for vegetables, not flowers.

There are more reasons than just penny-pinching food budgets to grow plants from seed. Consumers now realize that home-grown food is more nutritious and less likely to be contaminated by pesticides than supermarket produce. Then there’s the superior flavors, textures and colors that fresh-from-the-garden tomatoes, peppers and salad greens give a meal. Home gardeners also enjoy the added health benefit of regular outdoor exercise.

Last spring some companies ran out of favorite varieties, surprised by the sudden surge in seed sales. This spring there could be the same shortage, so buy now.

Happy Gardening!
Barbara

• You still have time to have your soil tested by your county agricultural extension. Vegetables grow best in soil with a pH of 6.0-6.5; grass in a pH of 6.0-7.0. Amend as indicated.
• Put out birdhouses and fill birdbaths for returning birds.
• Order summer-blooming bulbs and bare-root roses.
• Start tender plant seeds indoors, e.g. tomatoes, eggplants.
• Enrich your soil with compost before planting. Don't work soil until it is dry and crumbly.
• Plant peas on St. Patrick's Day when the soil can be worked.
• Build a cold frame for seedlings that germinate in cool soil, such as lettuce, kale and spinach.
• Water roses, prune (when buds begin to swell), fertilize and start spray schedule.
• Apply dormant oil, according to label directions, on trees that have had scale, mealy bugs and wooly adelgids in the past, especially maple, tulip, magnolia and hemlock.
• Prune out winter damaged trees and shrubs and summer flowering shrubs.

Seed Germination Test

Can you use seeds that you bought last year? If you are not sure try this germination test to find out if leftover seeds are viable before you spend time planting them:

1. Place a few seeds (10) on one half of a double layer of damp paper towel.

2. Fold the other half of the towel over the seeds. Place the towel in a plastic bag and seal three-quarters of the way and check daily to make sure the towel stays damp, moisten if necessary.

3. After 7 to 10 days, count the number of seeds that have germinated. If all the seeds germinate that's great. nine seeds represents a 90 percent rate, and so on. Buy new seed if under 50 percent or less.

 
Seed Starting

• Sowing seeds indoors gives you a head start for your seedlings. The most important thing when selecting seeds is to read the vital information on the seed packet. Some seed coats may be hard and you may need to soak them.
• Plant seeds in a sterile tray or container with drainage holes and fill with a sterile, nutrient-free soil to within 1/2 inch of the rim. Small seeds may be sprinkled on the surface and then covered lightly with soil. Larger seeds may be planted in a hole or furrow made by a pencil or stick.
• Label and date the container to identify each packet of seeds.
• Mist the soil surface with a fine spray of water and place a plastic cover over the seeds to increase humidity and to provide warmth. Keep the soil evenly damp; never allow it to get soggy.
• Provide good air circulation by removing the cover periodically to prevent mold from forming.
• Most seeds germinate between 70 and 75 degrees. If you have a cool growing area, you might want to use a heating cable or a grow mat. Keep containers out of direct sunlight. However, some seeds, such as lettuce and coleus, may need some light.
• If you choose to sow seeds directly into the garden, have a soil test done first. Only sow when the ground can be worked and is warm enough. Spade the ground and work in compost when the soil is moist and crumbly. Then add an all-purpose fertilizer and correct the soil pH if necessary.