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.]( [OFA Banner]( 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. [Hero]( Dear Almanac Reader, 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. [Shipping Now! Celebrate your Love of Gardening with]( [The Old Farmer's Almanac Gardening Club!]( [OFIE Image]( Save 48% with your Gardening Club Charter Membership! [Claim your Old Farmer’s Almanac Gardening Club Charter Membership!]( [Yes! Place My Order!]( 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. [Image - Seedlings]( 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. [Shipping Now! Celebrate your Love of Gardening with]( [The Old Farmer's Almanac Gardening Club!]( [OFIE Image]( Save 48% with your Gardening Club Charter Membership! [Claim your Old Farmer’s Almanac Gardening Club Charter Membership!]( [Yes! Place My Order!]( 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, 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 Become a Charter Member of the Old Farmers Almanac Gardening[body link](Club today, and you’ll never run out of advice, tips or inspiration! And right now, when you become a Gardening Club Charter Member you will save 48%. [Claim your Gardening Club Charter Membership Now!]( When you activate your Old Farmers Almanac Gardening Club Charter Membership today, you’ll get access to everything you need about gardening: Summary of Gardening Club Membership Benefits Charter Membership in The Old Farmer's Almanac Gardening Club $66.72/year $34.97! A 48% discount! The 2023 Old Farmer’s Almanac—The classic edition has everything you’ve come to expect from the world’s premier Almanac—forecasts, folklore, and more. It’s loaded with the tips, trivia, and insights that make it a family favorite. INCLUDED The Old Farmer’s Almanac 2023 Gardening Wall Calendar—Enjoy rich illustrations and useful gardening tips on everything from planting to enjoying your garden. INCLUDED Gardening for Everyone—A curated collection of inspiring, colorful, informative, and fun gardening articles and ideas presented in a softcover book. INCLUDED 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. INCLUDED The Old Farmer’s Almanac Best Everyday Recipes - 98 delicious and reliable recipes for every occasion, from quick dishes to grilling ideas to satisfying sides. You’ll find new ways to enjoy your garden harvest, plus much more! INCLUDED The Old Farmer’s Almanac EXTRA!—Because once a year is not enough! EXTRA! digital magazine is a monthly treasure trove of updates and Almanac content not found in the printed edition. INCLUDED Complete access to our ever-growing EXTRA! digital library, with more than 70 issues! BONUS Shipping and Handling INCLUDED Join today you’ll be prepared for any gardening project. Whether you garden for food, for flowers, or just for fun, a Charter Membership in Old Farmers Almanac Gardening Club will keep you entertained, informed, and inspired all year long! Sincerely, Janice Stillman Editor The Old Farmer’s Almanac P.S. I think you’ll agree that this really is an unusual offer—48% off when you become an Old Farmers Almanac Gardening Club Charter Member today! It’s an incredible deal that you don’t want to ignore! [Shipping Now!]( [Celebrate your Love of Gardening with]( [The Old Farmer's Almanac Gardening Club!]( [Image - OFIE]( Save 48% with your Gardening Club Charter Membership! Claim your Old Farmer's Almanac Gardening Club Charter Membership! [Yes! Sign Me Up Now!]( We reserve the right to substitute items based on availability. You received this email because you signed for updates from The Old Farmer's Almanac. 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