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Re: Tree frogs!!!

I started some early pretty-in-purple peppers today. I'd start some 
leeks, too, if I had the seeds yet. Also, I'd start the greenhouse 
tomatos, Oregon 11s. It's a bit early to start tomatos for outside 
yet. 

I use fluorescents in the TV room (with a blanket over them) to 
germinate the seeds. Then I move them out to the greenhouse.

The sun will soon be returning in earnest.

Eric
USDA zone 8
Portland, Oregon


> 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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