Starting Seeds Indoors

Transplants can cost four or five dollars a plant, which means that in one growing season you’ll make back your investment in seed starting equipment. To grow strong, healthy seedlings you need a seed starting tray, a heating mat (to keep the soil warm and discourage damping off fungus), and a light source. It really does make a huge difference in plant vigor when seedlings get plenty of strong overhead light, rather than weak sunshine coming through a window.
You will also want a light soil, good for starting seeds.

Radishes are one of the easiest cool weather vegetables to grow, and don’t require starting indoors. Watermelon is a tasty and beautiful variety, adding color to spring salads. You can “winter sow” cilantro seeds now wherever you have room in a sunny border or vegetable and they’ll sprout when it’s warm enough to grow. Lacinato Kale is a nutritious, easy to grow green that is at home in the flower border as well as the vegetable garden. You’ll have the best luck if you start this indoors.

Seedling Heat Mats prompt seeds to germinate and grow faster and ideal for starting seeds indoors.
Basil
Sow Seed Indoors

Apr-8
Sow Seed or
Transplant Outdoors
May-27

Beans
Sow Seed Outdoors
May-27

Beets
Sow Seed Outdoors
Apr-29

Broccoli
Sow Seed Indoors
Feb-25
Sow Seed or
Transplant Outdoors
Apr-15

Brussels Sprouts
Transplant Outdoors
Apr-15

Cabbage
Sow Seed Indoors
Feb-25
Sow Seed Outdoors
Apr-15
Transplant Outdoors
Apr-22

Carrots
Sow Seed Outdoors
Apr-22

Cauliflower
Sow Seed Indoors
Mar-11
Sow Seed or
Transplant Outdoors
Apr-15

Celery
Sow Seed Indoors
Mar-15
Sow Seed or
Transplant Outdoors
May-6

Collards
Sow Seed Indoors
Apr-15
Sow Seed Outdoors
Apr-15
Transplant Outdoors
Apr-22

Corn
Sow Seed Outdoors
May-20

Cucumber
Sow Seed Indoors
Mar-25
Sow Seed or
Transplant Outdoors
May-27

Eggplant
Sow Seed Indoors
Apr-1
Sow Seed Outdoors
May-27
Transplant Outdoors
Jun-3

Kale
Sow Seed Outdoors
Apr-15
Transplant Outdoors
Apr-22

Kohlrabi
Sow Seed or
Transplant Outdoors
Apr-22

Leek
Sow Seed Outdoors
Apr-29

Lettuce
Sow Seed Indoors
Apr-1
Sow Seed or
Transplant Outdoors
Apr-22
 
Melons
Sow Seed Indoors
May-20
Sow Seed or
Transplant Outdoors
Jun-3

Okra
Sow Seed or
Transplant Outdoors
Jun-17

Onions
Sow Seed Indoors
Mar-15
Sow Seed or
Transplant Outdoors
Apr-22

Parsley
Sow Seed Indoors
Feb-25
Sow Seed or
Transplant Outdoors
Apr-15

Peas
Sow Seed Outdoors
Apr-8

Peppers
Sow Seed Indoors
Apr-1
Sow Seed or
Transplant Outdoors
Jun-3

Potatoes
Sow Seed Outdoors
Apr-22

Pumpkins
Sow Seed Indoors
May-6
Sow Seed or
Transplant Outdoors
Jun-3

Radish
Sow Seed Outdoors
Apr-22

Squash, Summer
Sow Seed Indoors
May-6
Sow Seed Outdoors
May-20
Transplant Outdoors
May-27

Squash, Winter
Sow Seed Indoors
May-20
Sow Seed or
Transplant Outdoors
Jun-3

Sweet Peas
Sow Seed Outdoors
Apr-22

Sweet Potatoes
Sow Seed Outdoors
May-27

Swiss Chard
Sow Seed Indoors
Mar-25
Sow Seed Outdoors
Apr-29

Tomatoes
Sow Seed Indoors
Apr-8
Sow Seed or
Transplant Outdoors
May-27

Turnip
Sow Seed Outdoors
Mar-25

Aphids

Aphids

Host Plants:

In the garden: Ornamental trees and shrubs, including roses.

On Crops: Most vegetable fruit and ornamental plants.

Description:

Small, soft-bodied pear-shaped insects less than three millimeters long are usually aphids. Depending on species and plant, aphids may be beige, green, yellow or almost black. They tend to congregate in groups on new growth or in leaf crevices. See also black bean aphids and cabbage aphids.

Damage:

There are many symptoms of aphid damage, including decreased growth rates, mottled leaves, yellowing, stunted growth, curled leaves, browning, wilting, low yields and, eventually, death. Along with the loss of plant juices from direct feeding, aphids can spread diseases.

Preventing Problems:

Check plants often for early outbreaks. Clip off and compost stems holding aphid clusters. Encourage beneficial insects including lady beetles, syrphid flies, and lacewings, which are important aphid predators.

Managing Outbreaks:

In small outbreaks, a high pressure spray from the garden hose can help remove aphids from plants. Follow up with two applications of insecticidal soap, one week apart. Be sure to apply the soap spray to leaf undersides and crevices.

Tips:

Lady beetles and their larvae are great beneficial insects to welcome into your garden. Ants tend to be attracted to the honeydew left by aphids, so ant activity can often lead you to aphid colonies.