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Tree frogs!!!

I heard the first tree frog of the season around noon today!  For Pac NW
hard-core gardeners that means it's time to break out the seed flats and
inventory the early spring seed supply.  About 3 weeks from now I'll be
starting cabbage, broccoli, parsley and onions.

I always figure we can have serious sub-freezing weather through Feb 10,
and so usually start my first seeds about Feb 8, depending on the
short-term forecast.  After they germinate indoors (about 4 days) I move
the flats to my light rack out in an unheated tractor shed.  A couple of
200w bulbs hooked to an old electric blanket thermostat serve to keep
the temperature around 55 deg F the first day or so then I gradually
lower the temp to ambient, and set the thermostat to come on at about 39
deg F.  (The 200w bulbs only work if the temp doesn't get too cold, so
that's why I wait until after Feb 10.)

The cool temps keep the seedling from growing too quickly and becoming
weak and leggy.  I get stout little seedlings similar to direct-seeded
ones in April, but a month early.

Just though I'd pass on the news.

BTW, we have some gardeners from the southern hemisphere on this list. 
We haven't heard any reports from them about how their season's going. 
What about it, folks?

Steve  (Maritime...)
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