Seed Starting: A Handy Chart for Knowing when to Plant

This arrived in my inbox this morning and I thought I would pass it along to all of you. With our particularly short growing season and with (what seems like) everlasting winter, seed starting indoors might be the answer to growing those new varieties and beat the winter blues. Is anyone growing unique heirloom varieties this season? What are your tips to beginner seed starters?
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Timing is everything. To start your seeds on time, you need to know when in relation to the frost-free date in spring to plant them. If you need help determining your spring frost-free date, call your county extension agent who can tell you for certain.

Creating Your Seed-Starting Plan

• Print the seed starting chart below.
• Write your frost-free date in the blank space at the top of the chart.
• Get a calendar and add or subtract the number of weeks in the "Safe to Set Out Time" column. This is the "Setting Out Date" when you can safely plant the crop to the garden. Write it in the last column.
• Take each date from Column 5 ("Setting Out Date"), subtract the number of weeks shown for that crop in column 3 ("Weeks from Sowing") and record that date in column 2 ("When to Start Inside").
• For our Moose Jaw region, I filled in the dates according to the last frost date: May 20th.

YOUR SEED-STARTING PLAN
The Spring Frost-Free Date in My Garden is: May 20 (Moose Jaw)
CROP	WHEN TO START INSIDE	WEEKS FROM SOWING	SAFE TO SET OUT TIME (RELATIVE TO FROST-FREE DATE)	SETTING OUT DATE
Basil	Apr 15	6	1 week after	May 27
Beets*	March 25-Apr 8	4-6	2 weeks before	May 6
Broccoli	March 25-Apr 8	4-6	2 weeks before	May 6
Cabbage	March 11-March 25	4-6	4 weeks before	April 22
Cauliflower	March 25-Apr 8	4-6	2 weeks before	May 6
Collards	March 11-March 25	4-6	4 weeks before	April 22
Corn*	Btwn Apr 22 - May 20	2-4	0 to 2 weeks after	May 20-June 3
Cucumber	Btwn Apr 29-May 13	3-4	1 to 2 weeks after	May 27-June 3
Eggplant	Btwn March 25-Apr 15	8-10	2 to 3 weeks after	June 3-June 10
Kale	March 11-March 25	4-6	4 weeks before	April 22
Kohlrabi*	March 11-March 25	4-6	4 weeks before	April 22
Lettuce	Btwn March 18-Apr 1	4-5	3 to 4 weeks before	Apr 22-Apr 29
Melons	May 6-May 13	3-4	2 weeks after	June 3
Mustard*	March 11-March 25	4-6	4 weeks before	April 22
Okra*	Btwn Apr 22-May 13	4-6	2 to 4 weeks after	June 3-June 10
Onions	Feb 25-March 11	6-8	4 weeks before	April 22
Parsley	Btwn Feb 18- March 4	9-10	2 to 3 weeks before	Apr 29-May 6
Peas*	Btwn Feb 25-March 18	3-4	6 to 8 weeks before	March 25-Apr 8
Peppers	Feb 25-Apr 22	6-14	2 weeks after	June 3
Pumpkins	May 6-May 13	3-4	2 weeks after	June 3
Spinach	Btwn Feb 25-Apr 1	4-6	3 to 6 weeks before	Apr 8-Apr 29
Squash	May 6-May 13	3-4	2 weeks after	June 3
Swiss chard	March 25-Apr 8	4-6	2 weeks before	May 6
Tomatoes	Btwn Apr 1-Apr 22	6-8	1 to 2 weeks after	May 27-June 3
* These crops are usually direct-seeded outdoors, but they can be started inside.

Source: Organic Gardening: Seed Starting Chart

Grey Avenue Gardens: Planning a place for Recreation and Rest

This time of year, we reflect on our mistakes or mishaps of last season, anxiously wait as the seed catalogues arrive by mail, and plan out the spring planting of our garden patch. Really, winter is the perfect time to plan for the season ahead.

Here at the Yara Community Gardens, we've been busy planning the 2011 gardening year. We've been talking to neighbours, gardeners and community partners and have come up with an exciting idea to start this spring. Let me tell you about it:

Over at our newest community gardens, the 1000 block of Grey Ave, we have a beautiful greenspace loaded with trees, grass and shrubs. Because of the trees (and the shade they produce), we'll never till the land for garden space. Furthermore, the shade is a welcome retreat on those hot Saskatchewan summer days. Coupled with our forty new garden plots, this greenspace will be designed particularly for rest and recreation. This will be achieved by installing a beautiful patio and seating area and a interactive children's play area.

For tired gardeners and visiting guests, we will create an accessible and attractive space to relax. We will install a beautiful entrance way (including pathways, flower beds and crafted sign), build a covered patio space and have ample chairs, picnic tables and benches for all. This space will make the gardens more accessible, more organized and more conducive to socializing and meeting together. Plus, this space will be used by volunteers and school groups.

For our youngest gardeners and neighbours, we will create an interactive space to play and imagine. Working with volunteers, we will install a playground area, complete with swings, a slide and a place to climb. And don't worry Mom and Dad - the playspace will be within sight of your garden and there will be lots of nearby benches for you to sit and watch your kids play. This space will have educational features, focus on nature and seek to provide space for even the youngest to get active, imagine and learn. By creating a kid-centered recreation space within our gardens, we seek to teach our children that a healthy lifestyle is holistic, engaging our physical, nutritional and mental health.

As we discuss and plan these new developments on Grey Avenue, we would love to hear your ideas and comments. Is there anything that you would like to see in the play area or around the garden site? Let us know!