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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Proposed Medford charter school hits roadblock ... Lightning possible, heat certain in coming days ... MADGE arrests six in raid on Medford home ... Proposed Medford charter school hits roadblock ... Lightning possible, heat certain in coming days ... MADGE arrests six in raid on Medford home ... Paul Rogers: Ground unworkable, despite spring's arrival Comment By Paul Rogers More Content Now MailTribune.com By Paul Rogers More Content Now Posted Mar. 24, 2015 at 8:55 AM By Paul Rogers More Content Now Posted Mar. 24, 2015 at 8:55 AM » Social News The vernal equinox arrived on schedule Friday, leaving us with diminishing piles of snow and ice and soil still waterlogged and frozen. Yes, in some locations the surface turns muddy during the day but refreezes nightly. It will continue to do so until the soil truly thaws. Only then can the snow melt drain away, allowing the ground to warm. Until then, conditions are not suitable for seed sowing or transplanting of even the cold-hardiest of plants. Super-saturated soil cannot support the germination of seed or the growth of plants. The spaces between soil particles are occupied with water, not air. Our vegetables and flowers depend on air (oxygen) to breathe, just as we do, thus it is necessary to bide our time. Wait until after the puddles disappear, as that will show that thawing of the deeper layer of soil has taken place. Are you impatient to begin planting? There are two operations that you can undertake. The first is to test the suitability of your garden soil for planting and the second is to begin planting — indoors. To test the state of your garden soil, gather a handful and form it into a ball, then squeeze it. If water flows out of your hand between your fingers, the soil is much too wet to work. If the soil remains in the form of a ball after you have opened your fingers, the soil is still too wet to use. Only when the ball crumples under a slight poking with your finger is the soil ready to use. Indoor seed-starting can cautiously begin. Select the seed of plants that are known to be cold-hardy. The list would include kale, cabbage, spinach, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower and evergreen onions. Lettuce is also to a degree resistant to the cold, but develops rapidly. The sowing sequence for heat-demanding but slow-to-develop crops is as follows: eggplants, peppers, then tomatoes. While these crops cannot safely be planted in the garden until late in the month of May, they do take time to produce a quality plant. Each is slow to germinate and to develop, will need to be transplanted several times, and if proper attention is given them, will end up in a 4-inch pot as a sturdy, stocky plant. Use care. Sow only a limited amount of seed. Sow the seed thinly. Provide good light and moderate amounts of water. Prime indoor space for seedlings is limited. You cannot start an entire garden indoors. Nor do you want to. Your objective is to develop a limited number of starter plants to lead a parade of successive plantings. As the snow recedes, exposing your shrubs and other yard plants, you may view parts of your property as an unmitigated disaster. It is unlikely that this assessment is true. Bent branches will either return to their original form, or light pruning will redirect new growth. The root systems of snow-protected plants rarely suffer serious damage. Fractured and broken branches will need attention, but not immediately. Give your plants and yourself time to assess the difference between cosmetic injury and extensive damage. Paul Rogers is a columnist for The Worcester (Mass.) Telegram & Gazette. By Paul Rogers More Content Now MailTribune.com By Paul Rogers More Content Now Posted Mar. 24, 2015 at 8:55 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... 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