Now is a good time to plan this year’s vegetable garden.

Make a plan on paper, remembering to rotate crops each year. Place tall plants on the north side and leave adequate space between plants for good air circulation which will lessen disease problems.

Start seeds of cool loving cole crops: broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower and Brussels sprouts. Seeds of slow growing annuals such as verbena, lobelia, ageratum, petunia and stocks can be started now.

If you want to grow onions and leeks from seed, start them now. Starting seeds indoors: Careful preparation is the key to success. All potting materials need to be sterilized. If you are re-using pots from previous years, clean them with a simple solution of one part bleach to nine parts water. Rinse thoroughly. Fill the pots with sterilized soil or growing mix. This should eliminate the problem of damping-off which is caused by a soil-borne fungus. It causes seedlings to rot off at the base or seeds to not germinate at all.

Moisten the growing media, keep it well drained not soggy. Plant the seeds following the instructions on the seed packet. Place the pots in a warm spot out of direct sunlight. After the seeds germinate, the pots should be placed in a sunny window or under fluorescent lights. Lights should be kept about 2-4 inches from the seedlings. Use a timer to keep the lights on for 16-18 hours a day. To avoid crowding thin the seedlings after they develop 2 sets of leaves. Simply snip off the unwanted seedlings at the soil line rather than pull them out( to avoid uprooting all the seedlings). Be the first one on your block to have ripe tomatoes! By starting seeds of the early ripening varieties such as Early Girl, First Lady or Jet Star now, seedlings will be ready to go out into the garden in April. Two weeks before planting warm the soil by covering the area with black plastic. The seedlings can then be planted through a hole in the plastic. A mini hothouse needs to go around each plant such as a hot-cap or Wallo’Water until the threat of all frost is passed.

Look for mite eggs on arborvitae, fruit trees, hollies, junipers and spruce. Plan to apply dormant oil on a mild day (above 40°F) to smother the eggs.

As the weather warms later in the month begin pruning fruit trees, brambles and grapevines. Force some blossoms of spring blooming shrubs. Cut branches 3-4 ft long from a fruit tree or shrub when the outdoor temperature is near or above freezing. Using a sharp knife or pruning shears, make an angle cut to allow for good water absorption. Fill the bathtub or a tall vase with tepid water and soak the branches overnight. In the morning slit the branches upward from the base about 3-4 in or peel the bark the same distance. Put the branches in a tall vase or bucket and change the water every day. Keep them in a room with temperatures of 65-70°F during the day and 55-60°F at night. Bright light during the day will maintain good flower color. Forsythias, azaleas, and branches from the apple family should bloom in about three weeks. Quince, magnolia, lilac and rhododendron can take up to 5-6 weeks.

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