After days of rain, overcast skies, a bit of snow (yes, snow), and temperatures that served as a chilly reminder that we’re still early in the season, the sun came out today.  While the temperature didn’t improve much, just seeing the sun was a boon to my spirits, and it put me in the mood to do some gardening. 

Yes, it’s still too early to do much of anything outside, but it’s a fine time to start seeds.

I’ll admit I may have gone a bit overboard this year buying seeds, especially considering I have a box full of leftovers in packets from years past and picked up several packets while browsing local stores and ordered more online.  This week my online purchases arrived:  sixteen packets that I ordered and one freebie.  Seventeen packets of seeds of all sorts, most of which are plants I haven’t grown from seed before.  Sounds like fun.

So, what did I order?  Many are edibles:  seven are greens of one type or another.  Eight are flowers.  One is an herb.  And the last is coleus, which does flower but is grown for its colorful foliage.  A nice mix, I think.

The one I’m most looking forward to is a plant I’d never heard of before.  It’s called strawberry spinach (Chenopodium capitatum).  From what I’ve read, it’s a cool-weather annual with a taste similar to spinach that also produces red berries when the plant bolts.  I have an elevated bed I’m planning on using for greens that will be the perfect spot for this.  I’ll be prepping the bed and sowing seeds directly in the soil this week.

Seed starting in my Aerogarden.

The flower seeds, on the other hand, are being started inside to give them a head start while the soil warms in the garden to a more welcoming temperature.  The first batch will include a cone flower mix (Echinacea), shasta daisy (Leucanthemum superbum ‘Crazy Daisy’), and a couple of kinds of bee balm (Monarda).  I already have some of these in the garden, but they were already good-sized plants when I added them.  I’m looking forward to seeing them grow from seed. 

The plan is to add more perennials to the garden this year, which I can do at pretty much anytime during the growing season except when the weather is hot and dry and will cause them excessive stress. 

The first batch will be started in my Aerogarden, a handy hydroponic system that does an awesome job of starting seeds.  The beauty of this system is that the grow light is focused on the growing area and is height adjustable as the seeds sprout and grow.  By the time they’re big enough to pot up, it should be warm enough to move them out to the unheated sunroom where they’ll get plenty of sun until they’re ready to move outdoors. 

Since I indulged in so many seeds, I’m also starting some more traditionally using peat pellets and a seed starting mix.  Those will go on my light stand, temporarily causing a bit of crowding among the African violets and other plants that usually make their home there.  But that’s a temporary problem, just until the sunroom warms up and I can move the seedling out there into the sunlight. 

Spring is here, and it’s a bit greener every day.  Spring bulbs and many perennials have emerged, seeds are sprouting, and soon the trees will be leafing out.  And best yet, it won’t be long until I’ll be out in the garden playing in the dirt.

Getting ready to start some seeds.

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