DENVER — As spring begins and the feel of earth between our fingers beckons, prepare for planting. Take stock of your tools and supplies.
Clean and sharpen your tools. Make sure you've got all your seed-starting supplies, such a trays, pots, plastic domes, labels and potting soil or seed starting mix.
Hurry up and order or shop for seeds. Make a seed starting plan.
Seed packets tell us when to sow. Cool season flowers and crops can be sown outside way before the last frost-free date, which is generally around May 10 along the Front Range. Many seeds germinate best during cool weather. They need early sowing for the plants to germinate and develop properly. Seeds that can and should be planted outside very soon include peas, cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, radish, lettuce, spinach, kale and chard. Flowers such as bachelor buttons, California poppy, nigella and larkspur should be planted now.
Warm-season flowers and crops need a head start indoors. If a seed packet instructs to sow the seeds six to eight weeks before that date, count back from May 10 and you can see we'd better get busy. Select a bright, warm place not in direct sun. The moment the seeds germinate, move them to a sunny position or under grow lights.
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