February 2 may well be my favorite day of the year. The groundhog definitely saw a shadow at my place. Whether he’s right or wrong, the possibility of an early spring lifts my spirits. I celebrate every year by planting something.
Usually, I plant cool-season seeds and seedlings outside. I hadn’t planned to grow any early vegetables this year, but an unusually mild forecast changed my mind. I started a flat with spinach, collards, cabbage, and broccoli a few days ago that will hopefully mature before summer heat arrives.
I kicked off my 2025 indoor seed-starting operation on Groundhog’s Day–several weeks later than usual. Betting on an early spring almost never pays off. When Mother Nature ignores my schedule, starting seed too early creates problems I don’t need.

My indoor seed starting schedule is based on the number of weeks until the last frost. Moving back the last frost date shifted the whole schedule. I’m waiting even longer to plant heat-loving summer vegetables. The warmer the soil, the better they’ll do.
I’ve got a lot of seed, including several new varieties. We’ll see what ends up in the garden. I’m not one to count my seedlings before they sprout. I’ll keep you posted. As always, thanks for stopping by.