LADY BUG: WITH THOUGHTS OF SPRING, GARDENERS GET ITCHY FINGERS

The days are getting noticeably longer and the ground hog promised that in about four more weeks we will have spring. What a happy thought!

Are you getting itchy fingers to begin gardening? It is about time to start seeds indoors for those varieties of flowers and vegetables that need a head start. Seedlings of most varieties take about six weeks or more to develop into transplants ready for the outdoor garden.

Of course, a greenhouse is the ideal place to start seeds indoors, but most people do not have one, so how about starting seedlings on your sunniest windowsill, on top of the refrigerator or under lights, where the daytime temperature runs about 65 to 75 and is a little cooler at night?

Authorities tell us that the most important item is the planting material. They emphasize not to use garden soil unless it is first sterilized in a 180-degree oven for at least 30 minutes. A long, long time ago before all of these wonderful media were on the market, this was the way gardeners prepared the soil for starting their seeds of vegetables mostly in order to get cool weather crops out early in the springtime.

Vermiculite is especially good for germinating seeds. Use it alone or mixed with peat moss. Good seeds are the next most important ingredient. Do not depend on seeds saved from last year's flower bed. Such seeds often produce plants of variable and inferior quality. Good seeds will be most rewarding at harvest time.

Today there are peat pots, seed-sowing trays, planting formulas ready to start seeds, and other early starting kits to make planting easier.

Cabbage and its relatives such as broccoli, cauliflower, bok choy, collards and the many varieties of lettuce, all germinate best at 70 degrees. Night temperatures between 55 and 60 are ideal, with daytime temperatures running a little higher. If cabbage is grown too warm or in poor light, it may develop thin, weak stems, which are subject to disease when the plants are moved to the garden, a specialist said.

Sow larger-type seeds just deep enough to be hidden from view. Scatter fine seeds, such as begonia and petunia, over the surface of the planting material and press them in very lightly. Some, such as petunias, need the stimulus of light to come up well. Use a misty spray to keep the medium slightly moist all the time, but not soaked.

Flowers that need a head start include petunias, impatiens, snap-dragons and geraniums. If you have plenty of room and ambition, consider coleus, salvia and one of the many new varieties of vinca.

A news release from W. Atlee Burpee Co. says "Vinca perk up your garden," alerting the public to these heat lovers, so ideal for our Southeast Missouri hot dry summers. Vincas come in shades ranging from rose and pink to a new vivid red and white, all with rich, green glossy leaves. Also known as periwinkle, this is a perfect bedding plant that stays with us through the entire summer into fall when they are killed by frost.

Choosing the varieties of your favorite flower or vegetable may be a problem this year as there are so many new ones to choose form. In Tomato Growers Supply catalog there are more than 250 varieties of tomatoes and 86 peppers.

Perennials from seeds have been increasing in popularity each year. Some flower during the same season the seeds were planted. Burpee also offers the Turbo Perennial Plants. These are field grown in bottomless pots, so as soon as they are planted in our garden the healthy roots go to work nourishing the plants.

It is traditional to plant lettuce on Valentine's Day. Ours was sown outside that day in a cold frame inherited from a friend and moved here with us. Seeds were sown between the pansies and a very few Sweet William.

Cook's Garden of Londonberry, VT, lists 20 varieties of lettuce with a step-by-step planting guide in their new catalog, which is in color for the first time.

As a starter fertilizer Schultz-Instant aids in seed soaking, rapid root development and in forcing plants to earlier growth, blooming and fruiting. In transplanting, it minimizes shock and helps establish strong root systems.

Another fertilizer, Schultz-Instant 7-Drops per quart of water, allows small amounts of balanced nutrients to feed plants at every watering. This is ideal to start feeding house plants at this time of year since they do not need fertilization during the winter months. Now, as the days get longer it is again time to begin feeding the food hungry plants.

The Schultz Catalog includes a new Bloom Plus 10-60-10, which is designed to be used with as little as one-fourth teaspoon per gallon of water. There is also an orchid food, an insect spray made with natural botanical pyrethrins, lawn-food concentrate 40-4-4 plus iron, and a whole yard feeder, plus a cut flower preservative. Check your local garden supply store.

~Mary Blue is a resident of Cape Girardeau and an avid gardener.