when do I start my garden?

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I have never had to ask this question! Makes me feel rather "green"! But, since moving from Florida to Arizona,(7000 feet) I am totally lost to when to start a garden. We only have 103 growing days here. I am reading several of your posts saying you have started your seedlings, and I am still looking at frozen ground! So, how do you know when to start your seedlings? And, I have never started my seeds in the house, always outside...How warm does it need to be to start them in the house, and then to put them outside? And just HOW do you start them inside?? Gosh you guys, I feel really dumb, but, I am truly at a loss. Sissy

-- sissy sylvester-barth (jerreleene@hotmail.com), February 06, 2001

Answers

ONLY 103??? IM lucky to get 85

-- Stan (sopal@net-port.com), February 06, 2001.

Not only are you in the mountains, but I expect it is rather arid also. Rather than when, best ask what to plant. Probably should talk to any neighbors that garden or the county ag agent.

-- Lynn Goltz (lynngoltz@aol.com), February 06, 2001.

Definitely talk to people in the area, because out there you have to not only think about "zone", but also your altitude. I think though that you are around Zone 4; if so, you don't have to start anything until next month, unless you have a greenhouse.

-- Joy Froelich (dragnfly@chorus.net), February 06, 2001.

hi Sissy. Here in Central Texas we start seedlings in January and plant out in March, but that's because our last average frost is midMarch and summers are way too hot to keep anything going. I agree that you should watch and talk to the local gardeners, and check with your County Extension Agent about what will grow and when. (We are moving to Colorado later this spring, and I will also have to learn to garden all over again.) To start seedlings in pots, my Dad moistens the soil with a spray bottle, covers with plastic wrap and sticks them in the water heater closet(where it's nice and warm) until the seeds come up. Then he moves them to an east window where they get lots of sun, and eventually out to the green house, the cold frame, and then the garden. I don't have all those nice sunny places out of the weather, so I haven't had the same luck. He starts his seedlings(tomato and pepper) about 2 months before plant out date. Hopefully someone closer to your climate and altitude will give us both some hints.~~ mary

-- mary, texas (marylgarcia@aol.com), February 07, 2001.

Thankyou for all your advice, and comments. I went to the Ag Extension on Friday and got lots of good info! I will start my seedlings next month. Thanks again, Sissy

-- sissy sylvester-barth (jerreleene@hotmail.com), February 11, 2001.


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