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We are almost there-Getting a jumpstart on the next growing season.

Writer's picture: Angie HighAngie High


It's hard to know what the month of February is going to bring. Usually we are in store for some more snow flakes and cold weather. As I write this, my weather app says it's 61 degrees outside. Go figure. The weather is so unpredictable but you have to be ready for anything. That means we get a jumpstart on our seed starting to be ready for whatever weather comes our way. Of course it all depends on our estimated last spring frost but I need to be ready.


I started seeds in our basement grow room about 3-4 weeks ago. Yes, you read that right-it was in January. We use the soil blocking method and place them on seedling heat mats until about 50% of them have germinated, then they are placed under lights. The picture above is our young cat Poppy-she is enjoying the heat off the heat mat-I have a feeling I'll have some seeds that get pulverized by the cat. Oh well. So far our seed babies are sprouting and growing their way up to baby plants. It may seem a little early to plant seeds or plants outside but you can really get a jumpstart on your season by doing just that-as well as doing a fall planting. The weather sometimes makes us use row cover (frost cloth) to protect these babies but they will make good healthy plants. These are your cool season hardy annuals and they bring a plethora of color earliest in spring. Things like poppies, sweet peas, nigella, orlaya, bachelor button, dara, and that's just to name a few.


We grow part of our flowers in a high tunnel too so this helps us get that early start on our season. A high tunnel is similar to a greenhouse but it is unheated. We can get about a 2-4 week head start of blooming by putting seedlings in the tunnel compared to out in the field. Of course it all depends on the weather and the type of plant. Currently we have anemone and ranunculus growing in there-hoping to see just a few anemone blooms in the next 2-3 weeks. It will be a few weeks later until the ranunculus get started. I also hope to get my sweet peas seeded in the next week-I just love when they bloom. The whole tunnel smells of their sweet fragrance and when the fan is on in the tunnel it pulls the fragrance outside for a bit more enjoyment.


During February I also like to cut back my roses and panicle hydrangeas like Limelight and Little Limelight. Cutting them back promotes bigger blooms and longer stems and just rejuvenates the plant for the new growing season. You really won't hurt the plant because it is in dormancy. Last year I took off about 1/2 of the plant which seems severe but it needed it because it was overgrown. You may think it would have hurt the blooms for the upcoming season by pruning off so much but I had amazing blooms and stem lengths this past year-so don't be afraid. But you should be aware of the type of hydrangea you have. The panicle hydrangeas bloom from new growth so that's why you can cut them back in February. Many other hydrangea varieties bloom from old wood so if you cut if off now you have just sacrificed your spring blooms. Yikes! So don't do that-know what variety you have.


Well flower friends-we are coming into the spring home stretch. It's staying lighter longer and I can just sense it coming in the air even though we are still several weeks away from spring. I am so excited! The narcissus are popping up and I saw tulips sticking up as well. Spring is just around the corner!! Hope you have a great day and we will see you next time.

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Photos by Mayo Photography and Angie High
Website design with assistance by Carly Turner

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50 Seymour-Park Road

Horse Cave, KY 42749

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