This warm weather makes me have spring fever. I cleaned out the greenhouse and set everything up. I will start my tomato and flower seeds tomorrow. Anyone else gotten the 'bug'?

Happy planting.

-- Debbie T in N.C. (rdtyner@mindspring.com), January 28, 2002

Answers

I started seeds for my hydroponic garden last week and loads of them have already sprouted. I am especially happy about it because some of the seeds were leftovers from 1996 which I wasn't even sure were any good any more. So far I have sorrel, mixed lettuce, a mesclun mix, and arugula up. I am in New Orleans for 9 days working on the Super Bowl, so I just left my seed trays sitting in an inch of water and I'm hoping some of the others sprout while I am gone.

-- Elizabeth (ekfla@aol.com), January 28, 2002.

Elizabeth, I envy you! Some acquaintances gave us a box of hydroponic lettuce two years ago and I still can recall that sweet taste--it was sweet and mild all the way through. Soo good. They sell to restaurants and have quite a big setup. Do you grow it just for yourself or sell some? How do you get started growing it?

-- Elizabeth in E TX (kimprice@peoplescom.net), January 29, 2002.

Isn't it awful when the weathers nice and you get the "jitters". And you just feel like you gotta get the garden started, but then you remember it's still winter! The weather was wonderful here today too! Was out taking care of the animals in a short seleved shirt. Very unusual for our part of the country for this time of the year.

-- Jo in PA (farmerjo02@yahoo.com), January 29, 2002.

My neighbor was gardening today. She has sage and sweet grass coming up. IT'S JANUARY IN MICHIGAN. Our yards are green and appear to be growing. What gives? Weird! What's next, palm trees?

-- Susan in Northern Michigan (cobwoman@yahoo.com), January 29, 2002.

My tomato plants are standing tall (4 to 7 inches :>) in their transplant containers.

-- Jay Blair in N. AL (jayblair678@yahoo.com), January 29, 2002.

I ain't heard no fat lady singing yet!

-- mitch hearn (moopups@citlink.net), January 29, 2002.

The weather here has been weird as well - close to 50 the last 2 days. Would certainly be easy to catch the bug until I looked at the weather forecast for the rest of the week - snow on Wed, heavy snow on Thur, and snow & sleet on Friday! I don't start any seeds until April at the earliest. I do still have sweet peppers from last summer growing in pots in the bedroom!

-- Cindy in NY (cjpopeck@worldnet.att.net), January 29, 2002.

Heck yes, this warm weather is attempting to seduce us all with its siren song of approaching spring but I'm not letting it fool me. It's still JANUARY. Now even in North Florida I know we're probably going to get at least one more hard freeze. In fact, we historically get one just before Easter so I'm not starting any tender annuals yet.

I did somewhat assuage myself by planting some greens though. Broccoli, kale and collards shouldn't be much affected by any cold weather lurking in the wings. I went out and looked this morning an sure enough two of the blueberry bushes I planted out last weekend have opened blossom buds. I'm thinking of dumping ice around them all...

.........Alan.

-- Alan (athagan@atlantic.net), January 29, 2002.

I'm trying to satisfy my urge by taking bush cuttings for my eventual landscaping. Also, was planning on forcing forsythia as I usually do at this time, but why--it's blooming!

-- Ann Markson (tngreenacres@hotmail.com), January 29, 2002.

I've got a dozen cherry tomato plants in my living room light-box that have fruit on them about dime-size now.

-- bruce (niobrara55@hotmail.com), January 29, 2002.

I was going to start them--then I remembered the devastation the deer and guineas did to my fall garden and decided to wait and just buy some plants IF my husband got a decent TALL fence put up in time; otherwise I just wouldn't. It was 74 degrees (25 degrees above normal) here yesterday after a nice rain--I looked outside and behold; my husband was putting in posts for my garden! Now my dilema is whether or not to start seedlings or just wait and buy the plants at the nursery! It is the 70's again today and he is out there right now working on the fence! :^) I guess I'd better go see if I can help! Have a great day and enjoy this beautiful weather.

-- Sharon (spangenberg@hovac.com), January 29, 2002.

i'm getting ready to next week! first, i am going to put some wild flower seeds and herb things in the cold frame to get cold and sprout on their own. then i am starting eggplants and green peppers, and tomatoes after that.....oh, and chard and kale to put in our unheated green house. i can't wait for next week to come (we are going out of town this weekend....)

-- marcee (thathope@mwt.net), January 29, 2002.

It's been snowing here in Washington, very unusual. In spite of this the bug hit me, I've started my tomatoes, celeriac, and first greens. annette

-- annette (j_a_henry@yahoo.com), January 29, 2002.

I always get the bug just after Christmas. We have had a very mild winter, but now the weather has turned cold. To cure my itch to start seeds I have bought a few new plants and I am busy making seed tapes. This will be the first time I will have perfectly spaced carrots.

Pat

-- Pat (hiddentreasuresfarm@hotmail.com), January 31, 2002.