Gardening starts NOW! Really!

Longer, sunnier days in early February, but we still saw a low temperature last night (Jan. 31) of +9 degrees Fahrenheit - a tad cold to be transplanting tomatoe and pepper plants into the open garden.  

So, instead my gardening partner Pat and I are trying something new (indoors) in the way of seed starting (we just gotta get our hands dirty - it's a character flaw!). The technique is called wintersown seeds, and consists of sowing seeds into protective, vented (recycled, in our case) containers, and placing them outdoors (yes, into the snow and ice!) to foster a naturally-timed germination of cool weather veggie seeds (broccoli, spinach, rutabagas, etc.), and flower seeds  which need to be pre-chilled before transplanting.

Basically, we recycled a plastic restaurant or bakery clamshell container, melted slots (using an old wood burning tool or soldering iron, thrift store find at $3) in the clear top for ventilation and water, and melted slots in the black bottom for drainage, filled it with seed-starting soil mix, planted the seeds, assembled the clamshell, and placed it outside in the (brrrrr!) sunshine and under a layer of ice/snow - and we also remembered to LABEL the containers with plant name and variety, and the date we started.  We may have forgotten to do this last part in the past – we call this practice "creative gardening."

You can use your internet access to visit the wintersown website for more details and lots of success stories. We'll let you know how the technique works (good or bad) later, probably in March (?). 

GARDENING CALENDAR

On the 9th of February, the prodigious plant people from the Pend Oreille County Master Gardeners will offer a class titled "Ready, Set, Garden," which will focus on preparing your garden for spring planting, seed selection, seed-starting timelines, and more. Taught by local darned-good gardener, Dr. Clayton Kersting, the class runs from 6:30-8 p.m. at the Extension Office (227 S. Garden Ave., Newport), and costs $5 for community members, although if you bring along a friend, their cost is only $2, so carpool with your neighborhood gardening friends, and save! You can call the Extension Office for more details or to register for the class at 509-447-2401.

On the 15th of February, I'll teach a class titled "New Garden, Old Garden," where we will discuss garden layout and design, soil testing, improvements and amendments, and planning your vegetable triumph.  Class will run from 6-8 p.m. at the Newport College Center (1204 W. 5th, Newport), and will cost $14.  You can register for the class online at www.sccel.spokane.edu/Act2, or you can call 800-845-3324.

And on the 22nd of February, I'll teach a class on seed starting, where we will talk about (and demonstrate) how make and use your own potting soil, start baby veggie greens, and other cost-saving garden ideas. The class will cost $14, and will run from 6-8 p.m. at the Newport College Center - all the contact/registration information is the same for this class as the above class.

Finally, for those of you who whine/grouse/complain that "I just can't garden with all this snow and cold temperatures, and I'm going stir-crazy!" take a look at the windowsill salad garden grown by Master Gardener Joyce Weir - fresh salad greens in February - it can be done, but you gotta get out of that recliner!

Jim