It's time to start seeds!

Any gardener will tell you that the best time of year is when the seed orders start to come in. The desire to dig in the dirt is only partially satisfied when those tiny seeds get placed in their tiny, temporary homes. There's something the beckons springtime when the tiny greenhouses are set up, and the anticipated arrival of tiny little green heads poke through the soil.

Every year I plant a variety of vegetables as well as flowers. Flowers placed in and among the veggies not only adds beauty to the garden but encourages the visitation of a variety of pollinators. There are a number of flower varieties that especially encourage bees. A few of the ones I generally plant are sweet alyssum, zinnias, bee balm, sunflowers and oregano and thyme, among others. There are a ton of other bee "calling" plants. Plant what appeals to you...the more flowers, the more bees, the better the pollination, the higher the yield of crops.

Generally, once the seeds are planted, I place them on a germination mat that warms the seed trays for quicker germination. Once the seedlings poke their heads through the soil, place them under grow lights. Unless you've planted lettuce seeds...these seeds need light in order to germinate. So, when you plant lettuce seeds, don't cover them with soil and add light right away. Once the second set of leaves forms, it is time to transplant them into their own pots with more space for roots to grow vigorously. More on that later...

Happy Planting!