Cl*—Lancaster Farming, Saturday, February 28,1981 Start your garden now DOYLESTOWN - Are you getting “itchy fingers” to start some gardening’ In many areas of the Umted States, especially the north, you can begin from late February mto March This is the prune tune to sow seeds indoors for vegetables and flowers that need a headstart to get them up and growing Seedlings of most varieties take about 6 to 10 weeks to develop mto transplants ready for the outdoor garden. Exceptions are begonias and geraniums which should be grown mside longer You think you don’t have a good place to start seeds indoors, or you’ve had disappointments before’ “This year you can have fun and be successful,” says Jeannette Lowe, horticulturist with the W Atlee Burpee Co. “A greenhouse is an ideal place to start seedlings, but I don’t have one Like most gardeners, I start seeds on my sunniest windowsills and under plant lights I do provide the few essentials necessary for good germination (sprouting) of the seeds and growth of the plants, but they don’t get any pampering.” Here are Miss Lowe’s pointers for you to follow for success Concentrate on varieties that need headstart. These include flowers and vegetables with tiny seeds, or which take a long time to develop into flowering or producing plants Three important flowers are Impatiens, Petunias and Snapdragons, especially the glamarous Liberty Bells Hybrid Snapdragons If you have plenty of room and ambition, consider Asters, Begonias, Coleus, Bedding Dahlias, Geraniums, Salvia and Vinca rosea (Periwinkle) Hybrid Marigold—Climax, Ladies, Nuggets and the new Fireworks— usually produce more plants from each packet of seeds if sown inside The same is true of Hybrid Zinnias, including Zeniths, Bouquets, Peter Pans and debutante Pink Splendor Here’s Something That Should Be Part Of YOUR Program: TWO Jobs In ONE Operation ★ Efficient Glenco Chisel Plowing ★ Nitrogen Application with Cold-flow Ammonia Custom Applied By The PROS TRY US - We Have The Product and The Knowledge ORGANIC 'j* [ PLANT FOOD CO. open 2313 Norman Rd , Lancaster, PA 17601 Mon Fn 7 30 to 4 30 Phone; 717-397-5152 Closed Sat Hybrid Zinnias and Marigolds grow so fast, however, that a 5 to 6 week indoor headstart is plenty long enough for them In vegetables Tomatoes are a “must”, especially hybrids in cluding Burpee’s Big GirP Hybrid VF, Supersteak Hybrid VFN and Burpee’s new Early Pick Hybrid VF Other vegetables that need a headstart include Broccoli, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Eggplant, Head Lettuce, Onions and Pep pers Grow your own plants and you’ll have the best varieties, and the exact ones you prefer, for your garden That’s one of the biggest benefits of starting your own seeds You don’t have to depend on what may be available at garden marts later on If you’re lucky enough to have a greenhouse, that’s the ideal place to grow seedlings In the average house or apartment, however, you can arrange a suitable place or “nursery”. Windowsills that get sunshine aaigood light most of the day, where temperature runs about 65 to 75*F or a little cooler at mght, are fine. No bright windowsills 9 You can create “sunshine” at the flick of a switch with plant lights, or fluorescent light tubes hung about 3 to 6 inches above the tops of the plants on a table or bench With these lamps turned on 12 to 16 hours a day (off at night), a dark corner or a moderately warm, airy basement can double as a greenhouse or hotbed An automatic timer to turn the lights on and off saves work in tending the seedlings and also lets you go away for a day or weekend now and then With the ‘ nursery” arranged, you’re ready to sow seeds, in sterile planting material Do not use garden soil unless you bake it first in a 180°F oven for 30 to 45 minutes to kill fungus organisms that often cause germination (sprouting) failures of speeds or Damping Off, the sudden collapse and death of seedlings Let soil cool before using The easiest, safest and most successful way to start seeds is to use some of the sterile seed starting aids on the market Burpee’s Early Start Kit supplies all the essentials, peat pots and seed-sowing trays, a plastic tray to hold them, planting formula in which to sow seeds, and label stakes Jiffy-7 - Peat Pellets, Fertl-Cubes - , and Seed ‘n Start Planting Trays also work well Follow the directions that come with them Sow larger types of seeds just deep enough to be hidden from view Scatter fine seeds, including begonias and petunias, over the wm Old Guard EOoqOQDQQ OffISmD’QDQG© S@DDfl[p®[JQ\y ‘Friend of Farmers since 1896 5 * - A strong mutual Company who is dedicated to providing the broadest coverage at the lowest rates to Penn sylvania farmers Let us show you what we can do for you See our agent in your area GLENN C. FISHER Bedford Pa WAYNE A. FREY R D #1 Germansville Pa ROY 0. HALYE 37 E Mam St Bloomsburg Pa INSURANCE SYSTEMS, INC. 2720 Lititz Pk Lancaster Pa ...SAVES FUEL & MAN HOURS HERD has what you need to cut your energy use Both fuel and physical energy are saved with HERD broadcasters HERD also has a mim hopper so you can spread both small seeds as clover and alfalfa and oafs at the same time doing two jobs in one fast trip and with no strips Cover up to 40 acres per hour • With HERD'S ability to center the spread you can use HERD broadcasters for all types of seeds fertilizers herbicides and insecticides with an even pat tern guaranteed • HERD has 7 sizes to choose from from 77 lbs to 2440 lbs or 12buto 32 bu 3-pt electric or V-belt driven so you can get the one of your choice The GT-77 (shown right) has been pro moted from garden fractor/seeder (shown) to a farm seeder Many are putting this seeder on ATVs 3-wheel Motor Bikes with flotation tires and an assortment of vehicles to get the seeding done when ground is wet and soft Why not have fun while doing your seeding 9 WRITE TOR COLOR CATALOG PLEASE CONTACT YOUR LOCAL DEALER OR HAMILTON EQUIPMENT, INC. WHOLESALE DISTRIBUTORS 567 South Reading Road, Ephrata, Pennsylvania 17522 Phone (717) 733-7951 Exit 54 on Interstate 81, Raphme, Virginia 24472 Phone (804) 377-2628 surface of the planting material and press them in very lightly. Too deep sowing often results in poor germination (sproutmgl of tiny seeded varieties Also some, such as petunias,- need the stimulus of light to come up well Label each variety with name and date of sowing. Keep the planting material slightly moist all the time, but not soaked Use a misty spray that does not dislodge seeds or seedlings As soon as shoots appear, grow the seedlings in your bright, airy but not drafty ’nursery” Elevate containers on windowsills to the level of the glass panes so the tiny plants won’t have to stretch for the light Also turn them around each ELMER L STOLTZFUS 171 QUARRY ROAD, LEOLA, PA 17540 PH: 717-656-9041 r day so they will grow straight It’s a combination of suificient light moderate temperatures, (60 to 70°F }, enough but not too much water and ample growing space that results in sturdy, dark green seedlings. If you started your seeds m Jiffy. 7’s- , Fertl-Cubes- or other in dividual containers, thin or snip to the one best seedling in each. Come spring, you can move the plants to the garden with minimal distur bance to the roots If you sowed seeds in flats (shallow boxes with drainage holes in the bottom) trays or pots, transplant the seedlings to roomier quarters when they have at least two pairs WORRIED ABOUT FUELISH HEATING BILLS?? i SURDIAC Coal Burning Stoves will comfortably heat your entire home for approximately *250 per heating season!! *l5O - (Turn to Page CIS) This stove remains unexcelled in ★ BEAUTY ★ QUALITY ★ PERFORMANCE ★ MINIMAL CARE & MAINTENANCE ★ EFFICIENCY
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers