Was that blast of spring-like air last week fair? February is tough. We might get a few nice days and then…back to winter. Remember this time last year, when we had more than 10 inches of snow on the ground. It’s hard to tell what might happen between now and the official vernal equinox. It’s even harder to tell what will happen between the vernal equinox and planting season in May.

The nice weather allowed for a stroll through the yard and garden without the need for multitudes of layers to keep warm. Winter has done minimal damage this year. The ice storm brought down some small to medium branches, but they were already weak or dead and now I don’t have to prune them as much.

I noticed an unusually large number of leaves on the ground. Didn’t I deal with them last fall?

Little green shoots were spotted in the bed on the south side of the house. I normally don’t see daffodils this early, but their lovely green against the gray of the winter landscape and the house in terrible need of painting was refreshing and helped me forget that the mild weather was not going to last.

The soft gray catkins of the pussy willow tree have begun to emerge. These are the future leaves of the tree and what a refreshing sight to see as I contemplate seed starting.

If you decide to start seeds indoors, this is a great time to get set up. Seed flats, despite all their convenience, are not the best choice for the environmentally conscious gardener. Anything made out of plastic should be avoided unless, of course, it is made from a material that can be recycled in your community. If you must use plastic, reuse the flats year after year.

I like peat pots for several reasons. Number one, they can serve as a place to start a seed and never have to mess with transplanting the seedlings into larger pots. Secondly, there is no waste. The seedling and its pot can be planted directly in the garden when the temperature warms.

Start seeds in a soilless seed starting medium. You can mix your own or you can buy it already bagged. For the novice gardener, this is best as it is sterilized and contains no weed seeds. Never plant seeds in soil from the garden.

I do need to mention one downside to peat pots; they have a tendency to get moldy. Unfortunately, this mold will kill your seedlings. Taking proper measures to prevent the mold from growing is easier than you might think.

Adequate light is a must. Without it your seedlings won’t thrive and your peat pots will mold. Placing your newly planted seeds in a southern window may not be enough. The natural light that comes from even the sunniest window has a tendency to produce leggy seedlings. Invest in a shop light with fluorescent bulbs.

There’s no need for fancy racks to hang the lights. Be creative. Hang the light from a wooden dowel and place it over two chairs if nothing else. You’ll want the light to be as close to the seedlings as possible.

Seedlings don’t need full spectrum light. Eventually they will go outside to the garden where they will receive all the light they’ll need.

Proper air circulation is necessary to keep peat potted seedlings from molding. Don’t overcrowd your pots. Place them on a tray with some distance between them. Water from the bottom up but don’t let the pots sit in too much water for too long. Drain off excess as needed.

Seedlings don’t need fertilizer until after they develop true leaves. The leaves you see when the seeds first sprout are not leaves at all but cotyledons that store food for the plant until its true leaves appear. Once the seedling has two to three sets of leaves you can fertilize with a weak solution of liquid organic fertilizer once a week.

Strong seedlings become strong plants. If you take care to give them the right environment you will be impressed with the plants they become.

Starting your own seeds saves money and allows you to plant varieties that are typically unavailable at local garden centers.