GREEN COVE SPRINGS – With winter finally feeling like it was upon us in the last week, gardening may be the last thing on some people’s minds as they begin the New Year. However, North Florida’s winters rarely last long and it is the time of the year to plan your spring garden.

One great way to cheaply and effectively grow your garden and landscape is with seeds. Seeds are the reproductive offspring of plants and there is a surprising amount of diversity within their numbers. For every type of plant you would want to grow, there are often numerous varieties of seeds available with some thriving in our climate and others wilting away in the heat.

There are a few key things to look for to ensure you will have an effective garden. First of all, will the variety do well in our climate? Some seeds ordered through catalogs or bought in a store may have been produced in a different region of the country and may not be well suited for Florida. You should also research if it is resistant to major diseases as well as its site needs such as water, soil, fertilization and amount of sunlight.

Some types of seeds to begin indoors this time of year include tomatoes, peppers, eggplant and annual warm-season flowers. Other seeds such as squash, cucumbers, watermelons, sweet corn and beans should be planted directly into the garden when the weather warms.

When starting seeds indoors, they are very much like growing a plant outside as each type of seed will have its own unique set of needs. Seeds may need light or dark, some do well covered, others may be planted deep, and some need to be soaked in water before planting. It all depends on the type of seed being used. There are even some seeds that require scarification, which is when the seed is sandpapered, acid dipped, baked, or even sometimes burned to cause the seed coat to crack and the seed to germinate. You will need to do a bit of research from reliable sources such as UF/IFAS Extension, other state Extension programs, or from the seed company to ensure success.

Most seeds started indoors do well in a soilless potting media, kept moist. Vermiculite or commercial starting mixes can work well. They can be started and grown to transplant size directly in a pot or can be started in another container with other seeds then transplanted into another container before planting. Following germination, most plants will require a spot with some sunlight to encourage food production and growth. A small greenhouse can be optimum if available but often a warm windowsill will do just fine.

You should also pay attention to the days to transplant for your variety of plant as this will allow you to make sure the plants are not too young to survive the stress of transplanting or will grow too old and large for its container.

Once the danger of frost leaves, usually in February, many spring vegetables can be put into the garden. If planted at this time, most will be ready for a late spring harvest and will avoid the heat of the summer when you should consider solarizing your garden with clear plastic to attempt to kill pests and weeds. Not many vegetables will thrive under the full force of a Florida summer.

You can also save seeds from some types of produce and landscape plants for planting but in some cases the seeds will have the same characteristics as the parent plant or may carry disease. Some plants also are sterile and the seeds will not germinate at all. Remember that germination rates drop the longer the seed is stored so older seed will likely produce less sprouts than newly collected seed.

A great resource is the Florida Vegetable Gardening Guide that is available online through the University of Florida and in print at the UF/IFAS Clay County Extension Office as it lists many good varieties, planting recommendations, and timing for planting and harvest. It can also be found at http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/vh021.

If you are interested in learning more about seeds and how to start them for your spring garden, consider coming to a workshop entitled “Sprouting: Growing Your Garden With Seeds” at the UF/IFAS Clay County Extension Office on Jan. 23 from 6-8 p.m. Cost is $18 if you pre-pay and register at www.eventbrite.com or $20 at the door. You will receive seeds and supplies to start your garden from this workshop.

If you have any more questions about seeds, any other landscape and garden topics, or need plant or pest materials identified, contact the University of Florida/IFAS Extension Office online at http://www.clay.ifas.ufl.edu, follow us on Facebook, or call by phone at (904) 284-6355.