I "start" ordering seeds in Jan ;o)

Started broccoli and cauliflower plants several days ago. If all goes well, will get them in the ground in late February. If you like growing flowers, you can start petunias in January. I know what you mean being anxious to get started. Happens to me every January too.

I'm in zone 7B.

I will start Brassicas the first of February. English peas and Irish potaoes go in the ground around the middle of February. Tomatoes, Eggplant, Peppers started last of February, first of March. I have learned over the years not to rush the season. Lose more often than I gain.

No starts yet. I want to try bottom heat this year anyway so I need a heat mat. Since dad insists on tilling the garden yearly I have to wait till mid may to plant in most years. The spring rains make the garden into a marsh which the tiller would sink into otherwise.

Way too early here. Seeds are ordered but like farmerdilla, I'll wait until Feb. and March before getting started (other than onions). Learned over the years that giving into the "itch" to go usually leads down a dead end road. ;)

Dave

I think the trouble begins over the holidays. With all the time on my hands, all I do is sit around looking through seed catalogs. By the end of December, I'm bursting at the seams! Got to find something else to occupy my time from now til February! Hmmm

Opal52, I'd like to try Broccoli and beets. Heard Cauliflower was way too hard to grow.

Dave, when do your start your onions?

I haven't started anything yet. Cabbage will be started later this month for planting in the garden by the end of February or first of March. Peppers and Tomatoes will be started in February with Eggplants being started in March.

There's plenty of time for gardening. Last year (2007) I had 213 consecutive days above freezing. Now is the time for planning the garden. :)

WAAAY too early for me to start anything, although I am going to start my peppers earlier this year and my onions before the middle of February.
Ourhappyhome,
Cauliflower is no harder to grow than broccoli or cabbage. Just get it going early so it matures before warm weather sets in. I never even tie the leaves up over the heads and still get nice heads. Snow Crown is what I usually grow.

Yesterday I started Bright Lights Swiss Chard, India Mustard Greens, Summer Crisp Looseleaf Lettuce, Seven Top Turnips, and Red Bowl Looseleaf Lettuce. I have a square foot garden and use a mini-hoop greenhouse over it (to cover when it freezes).

Today the high is going to be 77 degrees -- so it's been quite warm so far this winter. We've only had one week this year where the temps got down to freezing at night for about 3 nights in a row. There is supposed to be a cold night next week -- I'll just cover the garden up for that night.

I'm also planning on what I'll be growing this coming spring!! I need to get my mind made up so I'll know if I need to order any seeds for varieties that I don't have seed for.

Judy

Here is a link that might be useful: Ft2Garden.com

Way too early here too.

tomakers, you don't have problems with the imported cabbage-moth?

I probably started too early. I started a few tomatoes before Christmas hoping to put really big transplants in the garden in order to get earlier tomatoes. I started a few more the other day plus some peppers and some flowers.

This will be second growing year, so maybe it was a mistake to start so early.
I may just have to cut the tops off some milk jugs and put them out during the day and bring the in at night.

pete

Wow -- got some sprouts already! I just started the seeds on Wednesday :-) In just 2 days I have baby India Mustard, Summer Crisp Lettuce, Seven-Top Turnips, and Red Salad Bowl Lettuce germinated and already breaking thru the soil. Still waiting on the Swiss Chard... it may take a couple more days.

Judy

Here is a link that might be useful: Ft2Garden.com

Tomatos

scyther,
EVERYBODY has problems with cabbage moths. I am only growing about 4-6 plants at a time and I hand pick the worms. They are for my own use anyway and the worms don't scare me. I used to put out a bug light and it seemed to get quite a few of them. I wonder where I put it???
You can use Dipel or there are many other controls if you don't mind what you put on your own food.
Tom

I on the other hand, hate to hand pick worms, especially the gigantic tomato hornworms. Dipel dust and diatomaceous earth have become my best gardening buddies. This year I'm adding a few row covers as well.

Do the worms attack brussel sprouts as much as everything else? In my friend's garden, the brussel sprouts were covered with aphids but there was no worm damage. Is this the norm? If so, I'd like to try some this year as a substitute for cabbage or broccoli.

magnolias4ever, I really like the square foot garden website. Nice photos. I see you have seven top turnips. Are they already in the garden? That is, did you direct sow or start them indoors? I read that its best to direct sow all root veggies.

Last week I put padre spinach and red sails lettuce and escarole in my cold frame. It has all sprouted and doing well. We have gotten real cold here so at night I put a light inside and cover the box with a quilt. Soon I will start my brocc, cauli and cabbage. I may try starting tomatos earlier. I am getting a greenhouse by the end of Feb! Whhhaaahoooooo! Right now I work with 2 cold frames.

Susan in NC

Hi,

I'm in zone 8 (Merced, CA) and started my tomatoes (22 types), peppers (16 types), and eggplant (7 types) today.
I'll be starting things like chard, leeks, brussels sprouts, and cabbage tomorrow.

Anne