Cool Flowers. Lisa Mason Ziegler

      Feverfew

      Starting seeds indoors. While still in the deep throes of winter, this is a restorative gardening job that many enjoy immensely. To have seeds sprouting and growing indoors during the short days of winter really brings spring anticipation on in a new way. It’s fun to start seeds during or just following the holidays, but unless you plan ahead, you may find yourself without the seeds you need on hand for this early task.

      It’s a good idea to order all your seeds in fall or early winter. You don’t want to have to delay your seed starting for lack of seeds. When spring arrives, you will only reap the benefits of a well-established plant if you have started your seeds at the right time. (Seed ordering is a helpful date to mark on the calendar.) While the growth rate varies between varieties, 6-8 weeks before the planting outdoor date is a good guide to start seeds. Having bigger transplants is not as critical in spring, because plants will grow more rapidly than their fall and winter counterparts when planted in the garden at that time.