You reap what you sow...at least I hope!

Yesterday, as the mass snow fall we got this past weekend began to thaw, I started to feel the urge to get my indoor seedlings started. I started my first tray in a 72 peat disc Jiffy "mini" greenhouse tray now sitting on top of a Hydrofarm heat mat to aid germination in my office. I started mostly peppers, herbs, eggplants and a few exotic tomato seeds that will need 8 weeks before the last frost. Granted, this will put most of my seedlings at about mid-May which may not be past the last Ohio frosts. I am thinking that I will do several batches of seedlings spaced 1-2 weeks apart to be safe.

I still have a two trays of mixed and Cubanelle peppers in the backyard since January that I have winter sown per instructions at http://www.Wintersown.org. Per this website, you can basically start your seedlings in the dead of winter, put them outside and then let the seeds germinate as nature dictates it. However, I am fearful that the recent rain/freeze/thaw/snow "Stormageddon" cycle is really going to test my efforts this year in winter sowing.

Speaking of Wintersown.org, they generously send out shared/donated seeds to folks each year by SAS request. I got a few tomato seeds and a huge cache of flowers seeds to winter sow, including wildflowers native to the Northeastern United States. (Wintersown is located in upstate New York.) Since I just bought the house this past year, I haven't planted anything ornamental including any trees so the flower seeds/seedlings may come in handy in late spring.

Let's face it - I'm getting antsy to start digging up the backyard to plant. Come on, warm weather!