All the Dirt on Gardening

Full-spectrum florescent bulbs keep seedlings and cuttings going In addition to planting seeds in the ground that need a cold period and planting more seeds in milk carton greenhouses outside, the garden shed remains heated with lights glowing to keep seedlings coming up, tender perennials hanging on and cuttings setting roots. Four-tiered light table keeps many many trays of seedlings growing. All of the coleus I grew from seed last winter in the shed were dug up and planted in pots. In the shed they are pinched back regularly and all the decent sized prunings are rooted to make more plants. I start seeds of hollyhock, salvia, cool weather vegetables such as kale and lettuce as well as others in the shed to have them ready for planting outside on or around April 15th. Hollyhocks are biennial and usually do not bloom the year they are seeded. I've found that growing them from seed in the shed, they do bloom their first year in the ground. The bakers rack sits und...

Move away from the window and glass doors, all your tender house plants and plants you are over-wintering inside. The leaves will be badly damaged by the weather ahead. In spite of that forecast, planting time is coming. The temperatures will warm and the ground will thaw and drain. Here are the seeds to have ready for February according to OSU Fact Sheet HLA-6004. Click to read the entire list. Cabbage Feb. 15 to March 10 Carrot Feb. 15 to March 10 Cauliflower Feb. 15 to March 10 Chard, Swiss Feb. 15 to March 10 Kohlrabi Feb. 15 to March 10 Lettuce, Head Feb. 15 to March 10 Lettuce, Leaf Feb. 15 to March 10 Onion Feb. 15 to March 10 Peas, Green Feb. 15 to March 10 Potato, Irish Feb. 15 to March 10 Spinach Feb. 15 to March 10 Turnip Feb. 15 to March 10 Click here to read Sue Gray talk about vegetable gardening on the Tulsa Master Gardeners site. Then, here is Gray's Fact Sheet HLA-6033 on raised bed gardening. Sue will be one of the speakers in Muskogee, Sat., Jan 30. The free ev...