After a couple weeks of gloomy and frigid weather (but no snow, what's up with that?!), we finally got some sun the last few days and, unfortunately, a string of warm temperatures.

(I know a lot of people are probably ready for spring, but we're in desperate need of snow in Central Oregon!)

Although it feels good to be outside, this mild week (and unseasonably warm winter) is making all our plants confused. Some of my raspberries never dropped their leaves this season, and a few friends have flower bulbs coming up early.

People are getting overly excited and starting their tomato seeds indoors... which is WAY too early for this area. (We've still got months of freezing nights ahead!)

But who can blame them? Most of us are itching to go outside with these longer days. I know I am—I've got a big list of things I want to get in the ground this summer since we finally built our deer fence.

Speaking of which...

• ​Peaceful Valley (one of my favorite sources for row covers, seeds, and trees) is offering 10% off 3 bareroot trees or more through February 28 with code BAREROOTBUNDLES2026.
• ​FastGrowingTrees (where I've bought several fruit trees and shrubs) is running a Backyard Harvest Event—get 20% off all fruit trees with code FRESH20.

But starting seeds too early often doesn't work in your favor because those seedlings need to go somewhere by the time they've grown to a good, healthy transplant size. If you don't have a greenhouse or a lot of indoor space with sufficient light, you risk weakening all those plants you spent a lot of time growing.

On the flip side, starting seeds too late means you're likely to miss the ideal window for planting and harvesting, which also makes succession planting challenging.

So, when's the best time to start seeds in YOUR area?

​Find out with my personalized planting calendar, which tells you exactly when to start seeds in spring—all based on your specific area.​

(Not your hardiness zone, which is highly inaccurate.)

​

Seasonal Tips

Don't Make These 5 Mistakes When Buying Seeds Read more

When to Sow Seeds vs. When to Transplant Seedlings Read more

31 Heat-Set Tomato Varieties for Hot Climates Read more

The Beginner's No-Fail Guide to Starting Seeds Indoors Read more

Moroccan Orange Blossom Tea: 2 Ways to Use Fresh Citrus Flowers Read more

How to Get Rid of Mealybugs Read more

Can you tell I'm obsessed with seeds?

If you're still organizing your seeds, I just made a video that shares how I inventory over 400 packets of seeds—quickly and easily!

​

I've been going through my seed collection and setting aside old seeds that are nearing (or past) their "sell by" date.

Now obviously, seed packets don't print an expiration date but you can figure out when they're most viable with my seed expiration chart here.

This chart tells you how long your vegetable and herb seeds will last under optimal conditions. Some may last longer than suggested, but usually at the expense of reduced vigor or poor germination rates.

My "bad" seed hack

For seeds that are on the cusp of expiring, I like to save them for a different use in the garden: to grow as a living mulch.

Most of us probably fill the spaces between plants with straw or some other organic matter, but another sustainable option is to mulch the bare soil with more plants.

I like to broadcast my old flower seeds, onion seeds, lettuce seeds, and other seeds (that typically get left over and forgotten about) right in my garden beds with my transplants. Just mix them all in a bowl and toss them out there!

As these "filler" seeds start to sprout and grow, they do a great job of suppressing early weeds and forming a nice green mulch to protect the soil.

Most of these seeds don't grow to maturity since they're left un-thinned on purpose. They might come in all at once or they might take weeks to germinate. Some areas might be sparse where the old seeds failed to germinate at all—and that's okay.

It's a fun way to cultivate a "wild" garden that's more aligned with the natural ecosystem, and gives new life to seeds you might otherwise compost or discard.

Try it and see how it works for you. 😊

​

P.S. Don't start seeds too early—or too late. Find out when's the best time to start seeds in your area with my personalized planting calendar.​

P.P.S. Want to use those same seed inventory spreadsheets from my video? You can download them here and customize them for your own garden! (Or don't—I created these templates so everything is predefined and you can start using them right away. No setup needed.)

$9.00 Seed Inventory Templates Digitize your seed inventory with these easy-to-use spreadsheets! Keep track of the seeds you have, how much is left,... Read more Get them here

​