When my husband saw that the ground wasn't frozen, he ran the rototiller through the garden and on March 7, we planted peas and spinach. Then last week, on March 15, we planted Swiss chard, carrots, radishes, green onions and scallions. I worry that we may have jumped the gun, since the past two nights' temperatures have been in the 20s, but it should be alright.
It's a great distraction to have a spot in the yard to dig around and plant vegetables during this time of seclusion due to the coronavirus outbreak. And it might reduce trips to the grocery store later.
We're planning to invest in a small greenhouse, to start more of our own plants from seed. It will be more work, but hopefully it will be worthwhile.
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| Our trusty rhubarb shoots have sprung up. I'm looking forward to rhubarb bars and pie. |
1. The best containers are wood pulp pots or peat pots. You can also use plastic cell containers with covers or egg cartons with holes poked in the bottom and saran wrap on top. (Or reuse the annual flats from last year.) Whatever you use, make sure it has drainage.
2. Fill with potting soil, preferably a mix with sphagnum peat moss. Moisten the soil.
3. Plant a few seeds, not many, about 1/8 inch deep and pat the soil lightly. Then cover with plastic and place in a very warm place, out of direct sunlight.
4. Keep watered. Once the seeds sprout, move the pots to a bright spot, a south-facing window is best. Water often, but not too much or too fast. The plants are fragile. If they get too big for their containers, move them to bigger pots.
5. When it gets close to planting time, it's time to harden them by placing them outside during the day, to get used to it, but not in direct sunlight at first. Bring them in every night.
6. When it's warm enough at night, transplant to the garden. Dig a hole slightly deeper than the pot and put the plant in, supporting it with your fingers. Firm the soil gently around the stem. Water carefully.
For tomatoes, it takes 6-8 weeks before they'll be ready to transplant outside. For Southeast Michigan, wait until Memorial Day to put tomatoes and peppers outside, because they are very frost sensitive and will grow much better when it's warmer at night. Occasionally, there is frost after Memorial Day, so watch the weather and cover plants when there's a frost forecast.
Southeast Michigan is mostly in Plant Hardiness Zone 5 with a few areas in Zone 6.
For more information, visit Burpee's guide to indoor seed starting, www.burpee.com/gardenadvicecenter/areas-of-interest/seed-starting/indoor-seed-starting/article10002.html
