Gardening with Gary

Gardening Advice from an Expert

Seeds

Eleanor writes~
When do I start my petunia seeds in my house so that they will be best when planted outside this spring?

A. If you start seeds too soon you will have leggy plants that have outgrown the pots before it is safe to set them outside. To determine the best time to start seeds indoors, find the date of the last spring frost in your area. Check with local cooperative extension service if unsure. Count backward from that date the number of weeks indicated below to determine when to start seeds indoors:

12-14 weeks: onion, leek, chives, pansies, impatiens, and coleus
8-12 weeks: pepper, lettuce, brassicas cole crops, petunia, snapdragon, alyssum
    and other hardy annuals
6-8 weeks: eggplant and tomato
5-6 weeks: zinnia, marigold, cockscomb and other tender annuals
2-4 weeks: cucumber, melon, okra, pumpkin, squash