Kelp extracts are widely available at most garden centers and I use it at one-third of the dilution strength recommended on the container. This mixture provides all of the nutrients your developing plants could want, has no smell, and it won't burn tender plants like many chemical fertilizers can. When the soil warms up outside and the weather is mild, it is time to set your plants into the garden and you have a huge head start on the spring growing season. This is a very fun project for those gardeners in northern climates where the garden seems miles away in winter. But those of you in milder climates can also benefit from sprouting your own seeds by saving money on expensive transplants that are often produced in nurseries that are heavy users of toxic chemicals.
Seeds are available at most nurseries and garden centers.
Some grocery stores also carry seeds for the garden. Next time we will be discussing winter care of your fruit trees. Don Trotter's Natural gardening columns appear nationally in environmentally sensitive publications. Look for Don's book Natural Gardening A-Z from Hay House at bookstores everywhere and at all online booksellers and check out Don's columns in Hearst's Healthy Living Magazine coming in March.