I tend to get antsy once March rolls around when it comes to starting seeds. After a long winter I'm always ready to dig in the dirt and get things growing. This year was no different!
As it turns out, this year my biggest problem has been space. My basement is quite literally FULL of broccoli, lettuce, onion, tomato, and pepper seedlings. I've already tweaked my set up a few times to make it work for the space that I have.
I plan to combat this problem by moving my cole crops (currently broccoli, lettuce, and onions) into my cold frames later on this week. Cole crops thrive in cooler temperatures, and the cold frames will help protect them from any extreme temperatures and also any extreme wind. Cold frames are basically a small greenhouse - I keep the top open during the day to let more light in and to harden off the seedlings (basically, acclimating to outdoor weather) and I close it at night to protect them from lower temperatures.
Peppers and tomatoes both love heat, so I will keep them inside until the temperatures are consistently 50 degrees or more outdoors. Typically I move them into the cold frames later on in April - but it all depends on the weather! I remember a mid April blizzard a couple years ago so I want to make sure I'm not jumping the gun on moving my heat loving plants!
These cold frames were built by my father in law and husband over the winter. We are lucky to have a bunch of them to house and harden off our seedlings when the time comes!
Once the current plants are moved to their temporary homes in the cold frames, I will start yet another round of seeds indoors!
I would love to hear about your seed starting adventures! What are the biggest problems you have encountered?
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