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Show Dont Be Deceived SECTION Dont be deceived by the weather. This is just a typical, Utah springtime. And the experienced gardeners from these parts know that to insure a successful wetter-than-avera- garden when the weather isnt cooperating, is to start the garden Wednesday April 11, indoors. 1984 F -- Experienced gardeners know that the best time to begin a garden is during the frosty winter months They start some of their plants indoors and when spring tomes, transplant them outside This lengthens the growing season and provides slow maturing such as tomatoes or peppers crops extra time to develop Its also more etonomital than buying nursery plants spring garden can be started in almost any is pe ol container Milk caitons. styrofoam tups and soup sans work well lor individual seeds, such as melons or squash Peat pots and nursery flats are suited for vegetables like onions that usually are planted in groups No matter what type container is used, it should have a hole lor drainage so the tender seeds can draw water from the bottom tray Covering seeds with milled sphagnum moss will help prevent damping off disease It's important to calculate carefully the best indoor planting time for your crops Some gardeners begin their crops too early and give them insufficient light that results in long, thin, leggy stems by transplanting time To help avoid this, read the directions on the back of the seed packet or consult a seed catalog, then count backwards from the date of the last expected frost Indoor planting can early harvest begins with Indoor garde begin anywhere from four to eight weeks before planting time, de- pending on the vegetable. Tomatoes and onions, for example, need time to develop a strong root system and should be planted at least eight weeks ahead. Melons and lettuce, on the other hand, germinate faster and should not be planted until four weeks before they are due to be moved outside. The contents of the starting soil are important for the successful germination of the seedlings It should include vermicuhte, fertilizer, sterile soil, lime and bone meal Sterile soil reduces the chance of the young plants developing seed rot or disease and can easily be purchased from most lawn and garden stores Many gardeners prefer to use a starting mixture, which can also be easily bought The advantage of using a soil-lemixture is the assurance that it is sterile In addition, most mixes have the right pH balance to encourage growth Indoor seedlings, like all plants, need plenty of light A combination of a flourescent, cool white bulb with a grow light will work well for vegetable seedlings The lights should be placed close to the young plants, about four to ten inches above Check a gardening guide for specific distances for each kind of plant And, on dont forget to cycle the lights for 16 to 18 hours and off for 6 to 8 hours each day soil-le- ss ss By the time early spring arrives, you should have a houseful of maturing seedlings almost ready to move out Two weeks before transplanting them, the seedlings should be set out- side (in their pots) tor lengthening periods of time or placed :n a cold frame This way, they can be gradually introduced to the outside temperatures t new & versatile awnmowe rS to consider replacing it with one of the efficient, durable mowers on the you think your lawn takes a beating every year, take a look at your lawn mower .1 Come this spring, you may find that the old mower lacks the go needed tor yet another year of grass tending It so. it might be time market today The new generation ol walk behind mowers offers some ternlic eflort-sa- v time-an- d mg features In reecnt years, manufacturers have m troduced mowers that both cut and mulch These machines finely chop dippings inside the mower and deposit them between the blades, re turning nitrogen to the soil quicklv Some manufacturers also are mowers with the option to add either a rear mounted grass bagger or a mulching plate at tachment These highly vetsatile mowers allow homeowners to cus tomie lawn care depending on the season or the growth rate ol the grass A mulching plate attachment chops clippings in spring and summer to recycle nutrients A grass bagger can collect clippings and slow' deteriorating leaves in autumn to help prevent a build-u- p of thatch A heavy layer of thatch can prevent ram and nutrients from reaching grass roots Riding mowers continue to gam m popularity, particularly among homeowners with larger lawns usuof an acre or to one-haally more. The price of an economical riding mower today is not that much d higher than mat-ketin- g walk-behin- d rear-mount- one-thir- d ll walk-be-hin- mowers. And, powered by engines, eight- - to e riding mowers provide a less expensive alternative to lawn tractors for mowing. rear-engin- ; vt |