Start Your Seeds the Right Way

Find out how you can start the garden of your dreams, whether that’s a few herbs or a backyard vegetable oasis. Having trouble viewing this email? [View this email on the web.]( [The Old Farmer's Almanac Gardening Club]( Starting Seeds Find out how you can start the garden of your dreams, whether that’s a few herbs or a backyard vegetable oasis, with your subscription in The Old Farmer’s Almanac Gardening Club. [The Old Farmer's Almanac Gardening Club]( Dear Seed Starter, Abraham Lincoln once quipped, “I want it said of me, by those who knew me best, that I always plucked a thistle and planted a flower where I thought a flower would grow.” You could interpret that a few ways, but we like to think of it literally, which is good news for anyone who is ready to get their garden going. A flower, or plant, can grow almost anywhere—even on Mars—if we’re to believe Matt Damon in the movie The Martian. Science fiction aside, starting seeds, whether for an indoor herb garden or to transfer to an outdoor garden, is an easy way to get your garden off to a good start. In fact, many herbs will prosper in a sunny windowsill well before the last spring frost. You can start rosemary seeds indoors, for instance, 8 to 10 weeks before the last spring frost. That’s as early as January 1 in Sacramento, California, or mid-March in Bismarck, North Dakota. Cilantro lovers will need to wait until after that last spring frost, though. We don’t recommend starting cilantro indoors. As for vegetables, you can start pepper seeds indoors by planting three in a pot. As soon as the second set of leaves emerges on the seedlings, thin out the weakest one in each pot, leaving the other two. Keep these pairs together and treat them as if they were one plant when you transplant them into your garden (when the soil is at least 70 degrees F). They will help support one another, and the combined foliage helps protect the fruit from sunscald. You can also start cucumber seeds indoors to get a jump on the season. Put planted seeds on top of the refrigerator or atop the water heater to take advantage of the extra warmth; they love bottom heat. When the seeds sprout, move the plants to a sunny spot. Get more seed-starting tips, gardening ideas, and a look at the best days for planting some of the most popular crops with your subscription to [The Old Farmer’s Almanac]( Gardening Club. Celebrate your Love of Gardening with The Old Farmer's Almanac Gardening Club! [The Old Farmer's Almanac Gardening Club]( Save 42% with your Gardening Club Charter Membership! Claim your Old Farmer’s Almanac Gardening Club Charter Membership—save 42% today! [Yes! Sign me up now!]( [Starting Seeds—Part 2]( Long before the final frost, you can start the seeds for your garden indoors. Here are a few of our favorite tips for starting seeds: - Cover the pot or tray with a loose layer of plastic wrap to conserve humidity. Check it daily and remove the plastic as soon as the seeds begin to sprout. - Use a spray bottle to moisten the soil and keep the soil damp, not soggy, to avoid damping-off disease. - Rotate trays and pots of seedlings each day for upright growth. - Harvest microgreens when they’re about 2 inches tall, using scissors to cut a few stems near the soil line. If you don’t uproot the whole plant, greens will regrow. - Start new trays of microgreens at 2- or 3-week intervals for a steady supply. Rather than sacrifice the entire crop for one salad, use the zesty microgreens to dress up a tossed salad or add crunch to a sandwich. Learn everything you need to get your garden started with your subscription to [The Old Farmer’s Almanac Gardening Club](. [The Old Farmer's Almanac Gardening Club]( [Easy-Grow Greens to Toss Into Your Salad]( Looking for some new taste sensations in your salad? Try Claytonia. Also known as miner’s lettuce or winter purslane, Claytonia has heart-shape leaves and loads of vitamin C. It regrows quickly and is one of the most cold-tolerant greens. Or if you love the tongue-tingling, sinus-clearing rush of horseradish, try fast-growing wasabi arugula, which is perfect for succession plantings. It is quick to bolt, but the yellow flowers are edible. Learn more about planting these tasty treats, and so much more, with your subscription to [The Old Farmer’s Almanac Gardening Club.]( Celebrate your Love of Gardening with The Old Farmer's Almanac Gardening Club! [The Old Farmer's Almanac Gardening Club]( Save 42% with your Gardening Club Charter Membership! Claim your Old Farmer’s Almanac Gardening Club Charter Membership—save 42% today! [Yes! Sign me up now!]( If you want more gardening tips and much more useful information, wit, and wisdom, you can get it in The Old Farmer’s Almanac Gardening Club! With your subscription to [The Old Farmer’s Almanac Gardening Club](, you get everything you need to be ready for any season, including the classic edition of The Old Farmer’s Almanac, The Old Farmer’s Almanac Gardening for Everyone, our Gardening Wall Calendar, and The Old Farmer’s Almanac EXTRA!, our monthly digital magazine that includes articles on weather, gardening, and other content not found in the print edition. It’s a great way to keep up-to-date on Almanacky topics throughout the year. With your subscription in[ The Old Farmer’s Almanac Gardening Club]([The Old Farmer’s Almanac Gardening Club](, you’ll learn more about: - How to keep your houseplants healthy throughout the winter - The latest gardening technology - How to plan and plant the perfect fruit or vegetable garden - Container gardening and how it can work no matter how little space you have - Planting by the Moon’s phase, including both the planting dates and the Moon - Favorable dates for more than 50 common vegetables Celebrate your Love of Gardening with The Old Farmer's Almanac Gardening Club! [The Old Farmer's Almanac Gardening Club]( Save 42% with your Gardening Club Charter Membership! Claim your Old Farmer’s Almanac Gardening Club Charter Membership—save 42% today! [Yes! Sign me up now!]( Tap into the deep well of resources at The Old Farmer’s Almanac for a bountiful harvest of gardening tips and tools with a Charter Membership in The Old Farmer’s Almanac Gardening Club! Announcing [The Old Farmer’s Almanac Gardening Club](! This exciting club is designed especially for you—with just the inspiration and information you need for all your gardening projects! We’ve put together essential Old Farmer’s Almanac resources to celebrate your love of gardening and give you tons of tips for making your next gardening project as lush and lovely as it can be. And it all starts, of course, with The Old Farmer’s Almanac. You’ll be prepared for any gardening project. Whether you garden for food, for flowers, or just for fun, a Charter Membership in [The Old Farmer’s Almanac Gardening Club]( will keep you entertained, informed, and inspired all year long! Since 1792, The Old Farmer’s Almanac has been a traditional resource for dedicated farmers, avid and casual gardeners, folks who like to get a long view on upcoming weather trends, and people who love to collect little snippets of country wit and wisdom that they can share with family and friends. We’re not just the oldest published almanac, but the oldest continuously published periodical in North America— and we’ve been around longer than any newspaper or magazine, too. Get your [Charter Membership in The Old Farmer’s Almanac Gardening Club]( today—with resources to inspire you in the garden. From time-honored country gardening tips to modern garden gadgets, come share in the bountiful harvest! With your Old Farmer’s Almanac Gardening Club Charter Membership, you get everything you need to keep your garden at its greenest: - 2022 Gardening Wall Calendar—Our 45th anniversary edition! Rich illustrations accompany useful gardening tips on everything from attracting hummingbirds to your garden to the best tools to use to avoid back pain. - The 2022 special Classic Paperback Edition of The Old Farmer’s Almanac—Loaded with the tips, trivia, and insights that make it a family favorite. - NEW for 2022! The Old Farmer's Almanac: Digital Edition—Everything you love about the Almanac, and then some. It's portable and printable! Need to check the tides while you're on the road? Want to read that article about the Alaskan farmer? It's all just a click away! - NEW for 2022! The Old Farmer's Almanac: Your Local Almanac—Get detailed information about where you live—specific sunrise/sunset times, moonrise/moonset times, and more from our calendar of the heavens. - Gardening for Everyone—This beautiful print edition covers the best of The Old Farmer’s Almanac's gardening advice. Grow food and herbs you love, surround yourself with spectacular flowers, and get tips on the latest gardening tech! - NEW for 2022! Early Digital Access to each new issue of The Old Farmer's Almanac Garden Guide—PLUS Instant Unlimited Access to The Old Farmer's Almanac Garden Guide Online Library—you'll find eight years of Garden Guides packed with no-nonsense tips, tricks, and shortcuts to make your garden a jewel in the neighborhood or out in the country. - Cooking Fresh—Make the most of your garden's bounty with our digital cookbook. You'll find more than 160 recipes using fresh fruits, berries, herbs, spices, and vegetables! - The Old Farmer’s Almanac EXTRA!—Our monthly digital magazine includes articles on gardening, food and other content not found in the print edition. It’s a great way to keep up-to-date on Almanacky topics throughout the year. - BONUS—Not only will you get a new Old Farmer’s Almanac EXTRA! each month—you get free access to every issue of EXTRA! in our digital library. That’s more than 70 issues of great gardening tips, delicious recipes, and more! [Shipping Now! Celebrate your Love of Gardening with]( [the Old Farmer's Almanac Gardening Club!]( [Image - OFIE]( Save 42% with your Gardening Club Charter Membership! [Claim your Old Farmer's Almanac Gardening Club Charter Membershi](p! [Yes! Sign Me Up Now!]( [An Old Farmer’s Almanac Gardening Club Charter Membership will deliver exciting rewards for you—and at a special rate, right now, for all new Charter Members](. When you join today, you’ll ensure that you are planting the seeds of success for your garden when you tap into the time-honored wisdom of The Old Farmer’s Almanac. Enjoy all these benefits as an Old Farmer’s Almanac Gardening Club Charter Member: - Your best garden ever—Almanac gardening advice, planting dates, timesaving tips, and detailed guidance from experts will get you growing like never before. - You’ll know in advance about every important astronomical event in 2022—and how the phase of the Moon can influence the success of your garden. - You’ll save time and money when you follow all of the practical advice and tips that we deliver to you about everything from gardening to food preparation and cooking. - You’ll be the first to know about top tips, tricks, and shortcuts for taking your garden from good to great. - You’ll learn more about gardening gadgets and gear that can make your work in the garden even more enjoyable. - You’ll discover new approaches to planting—for color, for purpose, for stress relief. - Whether you’re a beginning gardener or a skilled green thumb, you’ll find do-it-yourself projects to fit your schedule—and your garden. How can you not consider becoming an [Old Farmer’s Almanac Gardening Club Charter Member](? What You’ll Get With an Old Farmer’s Almanac Gardening Club Charter Membership There’s so much gardening knowledge to gain as a [Charter Member of The Old Farmer’s Almanac Gardening Club](: In the convenient Classic Paperback Edition of the 2022 Almanac, you’ll find a bumper crop of gardening tips. Many gardeners consider the Almanac their most valuable tool, so this year, for all of you trying to grow food, we’ve got foolproof advice that promises a harvest the first year and every one thereafter. Perhaps you grow flowers—or want to: In the 2022 Almanac, you’ll learn all about growing flowers, when to pick them, and how to use them (e.g., last year, we told members to pick apple blossoms in late spring and sprinkle them onto a Waldorf salad and use impatiens all summer long as a garnish). But that’s not all. Here’s a taste of other tips you’ll find in the 2022 Almanac: - Best days for planting, pruning, weeding, grafting, and controlling pests - Daily weather forecasts for all regions of the United States, including Alaska and Hawaii - Fresh new ways to savor vegetables from your garden - Easy, delicious, Almanac prize-winning recipes (and an opportunity to share your own!) Each month, you’ll get new articles and original content with our digital magazine, The Old Farmer’s Almanac EXTRA! It’s a treasure trove of Almanac information that you won’t find in the printed edition. EXTRA! leads you to some interactive fun when you’re ready for a change of pace. [Shipping Now! Celebrate your Love of Gardening with]( [the Old Farmer's Almanac Gardening Club!]( [Image - OFIE]( Save 42% with your Gardening Club Charter Membership! [Claim your Old Farmer's Almanac Gardening Club Charter Membershi](p! [Yes! Sign Me Up Now!]( It’s never too early to plan next season’s garden, so enjoy the rich illustrations in our Old Farmer’s Almanac Gardening Calendar. This compact calendar is the perfect size to fit on the wall in your kitchen, den, or potting shed. Each month features rich, full-color illustrations along with tips, history, or background information on the artwork. Here are just a few of the types of tips you can find in our 2022 Gardening Calendar: - If you like your asparagus more on the sweet side, cover the growing green spears with black plastic or bury them in soil or hay. The covering keeps chlorophyll from developing, giving you a harvest of sweet, white spears. - You can’t eat its fruit, but you can grow one species of banana tree for its lush foliage as far north as Zone 4. It can grow as high as 18 feet tall! - For a pet-safe garden, try planting pansies. They’re safe for dogs, and delicious in salads! - Ants can be your partner in pest control. They love the nectar on peonies, and will drive away other insects while they’re foraging for food. Be sure to rinse blossoms before you bring them inside for a bouquet. - For seedling success, transplant your young plants on overcast days or in the evening. - Parsnips love a cold snap. Harvest your parsnips after a hard frost. That helps the plant convert its starches to sugars, making your parsnips sweeter. - If your compost pile smells like ammonia, try adding shredded leaves or straw. You’ll love the advice, folklore, and gardening secrets in our 2022 Gardening Wall Calendar! As you count the days until your next planting or your next harvest, peruse the pages of Gardening for Everyone for tips on how to grow better, naturally! From the practical to the ornamental, plan your prolific garden and learn how to: - Plant edibles indoors and out, no matter how small your space is. - Create a serene and leafy oasis—and why you should. - Make a living herb wreath—a kitchen garden in the round. - Grow blooms that beautify your surroundings and make breathtaking bouquets. - Serve up your harvest in style with recipes that will let you savor the flavor of homegrown food. And all of this is available to you—right now—when you claim your [Old Farmer’s Almanac Gardening Club Charter Membership](. [Shipping Now! Celebrate your Love of Gardening with]( [the Old Farmer's Almanac Gardening Club!]( [Image - OFIE]( Save 42% with your Gardening Club Charter Membership! [Claim your Old Farmer's Almanac Gardening Club Charter Membershi](p! [Yes! Sign Me Up Now!]( What are you waiting for? Become a [Charter Member of The Old Farmer’s Almanac Gardening Club]( today! No other Almanac has so many fun and fascinating facts, timely and accurate events and predictions, and topical and useful articles all in one place for your easy access and use—and covering more regions of North America than any other almanac or resource! Add The Old Farmer’s Almanac EXTRA!, The Old Farmer’s Almanac Gardening Calendar, Gardening for Everyone, the Garden Guide Online Library, and Cooking Fresh Digital Cookbook—and your garden will be the prolific pride of the neighborhood! Why Not Join Right Now? Gardeners everywhere have been using The Old Farmer’s Almanac for years to guide their gardening plans, and now the [Old Farmer’s Almanac Gardening Club Charter Membership]( offers you all things gardening in one place! Charter Offer for You—Join Today! SAVE 42% When you respond today, you’ll be among a select group of Almanac friends to take advantage of this special Gardening Club Charter Membership offer. With your Charter Membership, you’ll receive The Old Farmer’s Almanac Gardening Calendar, The 2022 Old Farmer’s Almanac—plus a digital version of the 2022 Almanac and a digital local Almanac, The Old Farmer's Almanac Gardening for Everyone (including early digital access), access to The Old Farmer’s Almanac Garden Guide Online Library with eight years of Garden Guides, our digital cookbook Cooking Fresh, and a subscription to our monthly digital magazine, The Old Farmer’s Almanac EXTRA!—with full access to our complete EXTRA! library. Plant the seeds of success for your garden today—with this incredible deal! [This is a limited-time offer, so take advantage of it right now](! When we first created the Gardening Club, we wanted to make it easy to use, easy to order, and packed with valuable gardening content that you could put to use right away. Be the best gardener you can be with your [Old Farmer’s Almanac Gardening Club Charter Membership](. Sincerely, Janice Stillman Editor The Old Farmer’s Almanac P.S. Remember researchers have found that spending time in nature strengthens a person’s immune system, reduces stress hormones, and lowers blood pressure. Furthermore, it may improve learning and increase empathy. [Shipping Now! Celebrate your Love of Gardening with]( [the Old Farmer's Almanac Gardening Club!]( [Image - Ofie]( Save 42% with your Gardening Club Charter Membership! [Claim your Old Farmer's Almanac Gardening Club Charter Membershi](p! [Yes! Sign Me Up Now!]( We reserve the right to substitute items based on availability. [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [Pinterest]( [Instagram]( [View web version](