By Mark Abromaitis
THE ERICKSON TRIBUNE

From the lush resident gardens and large ceramic pots to the personal plantings that surround back patios, everyone at Maris Grove seems to love getting their hands dirty in the summer time.

But with cool Pennsylvania spring evenings, one expert gardener recommends starting your garden indoors to get an edge on the summer growing season. Karl Gercens, display expert at Longwood Gardens Conservatory, says, “It doesn’t matter if it’s vegetables or flowers for cutting, there are a few rules you can follow, and you’ll be on your way to a great garden this summer.”

Make the right choice
Gercens says choosing  the right plant variety is key for any amateur grower. “When it comes to vegetables, you want things that are hearty,” he says. “Tomatoes are the easiest to grow.” But if you want a little bit more of a  challenge, he recommends squash or heirloom bell peppers. Heirlooms are his personal favorite. “They are great in flavor and color,” he says. “So often there has been a movement to hybrid plants that extend the shelf life of a vegetable or make them grow bigger, but nothing really beats the flavor of an heirloom. Their taste just can’t be beat.”

As far as flowers for cutting, Gercens recommends new gardeners try zinnias or marigolds. He says they come in a “ton of varieties and colors” that can meet the demands of any flower lover. “And they are tough,” he says with a laugh.

Potting basics
Gercens recommends using regular potting soil and a smaller sized pot if you are starting from seed. The type of pots—plastic or clay—doesn’t matter.  Small peat pots also work well if you will be moving the plants outdoors, he says.

“It’s just important not to put the seeds too deep,” he explains. “You just sprinkle them across the top of the medium and push them in the soil about a quarter of an inch. Then you sprinkle them with some water and put them in a warm spot.”