Is it spring yet?

I feel like I have been asking this question a lot lately. When is it going to be spring? And more importantly, when can I start planting something? It looks as though the spring equinox is March 20, so we are getting close. But being from Oklahoma where we would have put our cool season vegetables in the ground a month ago, it’s not close enough for me. Feeling this intense need to get my hands dirty and plant, I thought we would talk a bit about seeding some herbs indoors this week to try and hold us over for the time being.

The first thing you will need are some containers. I would recommend small pots or seed starting trays. Pick up some soilless potting media or rooting cubes. Now for the best part, do some seed shopping.

I would look at different varieties of basil, since I have had much success growing them indoors. There’s cinnamon basil, which would make a lovely tea. Holy basil is one of my personal favorites due to its clove-like aroma and flavor. Both lemon and lime basil would make nice additions to your meals. And don’t forget about large lettuce leaf basil which is a great lettuce substitute on sandwiches.

Mints are another easy addition to your indoor garden. Flavored varieties in the mint family include pineapple, chocolate, lemon bergamot, apple, and even banana. Banana? Now there is one mint I am going to have to try.

Chives also reportedly do well indoors, but may take several weeks to germinate. You might want to skip parsley, if you are in a hurry like I am. This plant seems to take forever to sprout.

Here are a few seed starting basics. Read the seed packet. I cannot emphasize that enough. The seed pack will tell you how deep to plant the seeds, as well as the light requirements and average days for germination. It will also give you information on seed spacing and days to harvest.

Cover your seeding trays with a humidity dome or use plastic wrap on the top of your pots just until the seeds have sprouted. After germination, make sure your plants are receiving at least six hours of direct sunlight, so place them near a sunny window. A preferred location would be near your kitchen for easy access. On really chilly days, move them away from the window. You can also use two 40 watt, cool white fluorescent bulbs 14 to 16 hours each day placing them about a foot from the top of your plants.

If you aren’t interested in something to eat, then think about picking up some petunia, marigolds, or snapdragon seeds. These could easily be transplanted outdoors in May. My motto this week is just plant something. . . anything to remind us that winter won’t last forever.

Kelley Rawlsky has an M.S. in horticulture and is the director of Bringing People and Plants Together, an organization dedicated to bringing horticulture education and therapy to the community. For more information: PeopleAndPlantsTogether@gmail.com or follow us on Facebook.

Originally published in the Broomfield Enterprise - March 11, 2018