Your weekly guide to the events and happenings in and around Boyertown, PA

What to do? Where to go? Here is your one stop list of community events, music, arts, food, business specials, and historic events for Boyertown and beyond…

As a Boyertown graduate, a real estate agent at Glocker Realty, and also a proud member of Building a Better Boyertown, I have had the joy of watching our little town grow. I enjoy having any part in helping our community to move forward. I hope this weekly blog will help shine a light on all the great things happening in and around Boyertown, PA

Here is what’s going down during the week of 3/4/2021 – 3/10/2021

GET A JUMP ON GARDENING, START INDOORS!

The snow is melting away and the thoughts of warmer days are in the minds of many of us. Spring fever is beginning to boil, and that gets me thinking of my favorite spring past time…planting a garden. It might seem too early to start thinking about gardening, but now is the perfect time to consider starting your garden from seed indoors. Each year I plan for which fruits and vegetables to grow, and how to improve the soil and planting methods, to yield the best crop I can. Last year I started my tomatoes indoors for the first time. It worked out great! I had some of the nicest plants and fruit ever. So, this year I’m going to expand my early indoor planting. There are a few things I learned last year that I would be happy to pass on.

First of all, you do not need any elaborate setup to grow seedlings indoors. I planted the seeds in styrofoam cups that I had sitting around. I poked holes in the bottom and placed them in a pan for excess water. You could also purchase seed growing trays from your local garden center. Fill whatever containers you choose with soft soil. It is best to use soil from the garden that you will be permanently planting them in. If that soil isn’t soft enough for seeds, you can mix in some store-bought seed starting potting soil. Place the seeds just under the soil or otherwise stated on the seed package. Of course, you want to place the trays by a window that gets ample sunlight. Make sure to water them a couple times a day when the top of soil appears dry. You will want to use a spray bottle to heavily mist the soil so not to disturb the seed or compact the dirt. That is all you need to do until the plants are ready to be transplanted.

You are probably wondering what plants to start indoors and when to start them? Some plants do not like to be transplanted. I compiled a list of fruits and veggies below that can handle being transplanted. You will want to “harden” them before permanently placing them in the garden though. As for timing, each plant has its own germinating time. It also depends on the area you live in. When to transplant int the garden is based around the last frost date in your area. In Southeastern Pennsylvania, you should be safe for outdoor gardening after May 8^th. By using that date, you can figure out the seeding dates for each plant in the details below.

If you have never tried starting your seeds indoors, you should give it a shot. You will have a lot of fun watching the little plants grow. It can also give you the impression of an early spring. So, grab your seeds, get your hands dirty, and start your garden early this year!

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Tomatoes -Tomatoes are a favorite among gardeners. They are a good choice for starting inside because they can be transplanted without problems. The seeds should be started indoors about 6 weeks before the last predicted frost. Tomatoes can be transplanted 2-3 times before they wind up outdoors, and you do not want to transfer them outside too early. Make sure the soil is warm before you plant them in the garden. You want daytime temps above 70°F and nighttime temps above 50°F to make for the happiest tomatoes.

Cabbage – Cabbage is frost resistant and can be set out while the weather is still cool but after the last severe freeze. start them inside 4 to 6 weeks before transplanting. The indoor planting can help combat cabbage worms too.

Cucumbers – Although cucumbers do not like to have their roots distributed, which can make them tricky to transplant, it is worth the risk. Start the seeds 3 weeks before you plan to transplant them into the garden. Since cucumbers are warm weather plants, you should probably wait 2 to 3 weeks after the frost date to transplant, when the soil has warmed.

Lettuces – Lettuce is a good option for transplanting, because this crop can tolerate cooler soils and will continue to sprout even if the soil outside is cool. Start your seeds about 3-4 weeks before your last predicted frost. By getting an early jump on growing, you’ll be eating salads from the garden long before your neighbors!

Peppers – If you don’t want to wait until late in the summer to enjoy your peppers, start them inside, because peppers are notorious for taking for-ever to germinate. Whether we are talking sweet bell peppers or hot peppers like jalapenos or chili peppers, it’s all the same, you typically want to start them at least 6 weeks before your last predicted frost. Peppers thrive in warm weather, so you will want to plant them outside when the daytime temperatures are above 70°F.

Broccoli and Cauliflower – These two vegetables are easy to transplant and they hearty enough to survive cooler soil temperatures. They should be started about 7-9 weeks before your last predicted frost. Transplant them to the garden a week or two before the average last frost date allowing this cool-weather crop to reach maturity before warm weather arrives.

Eggplant – Because eggplants have such a long growing season, they are a great candidate for starting indoors. It is best to sow eggplants indoors 7 to 10 weeks before transplanting outside, then transplant outside 4 to 6 weeks after the last frost, into a warm and sunny location.

Celery – Celery can be a challenging plant since it has such a long growing period—130 to 140 days of mostly cool weather. Because of this, it is best to start celery seeds indoors 10 to 12 weeks before the last frost. When the seedlings reach 4- to 6-in. high, they can be transplanted to the garden a week or two before the last frost date.

Melons – Melon plants are very frost sensitive and need warm soil to grow. Get a head start on the growing season by planting watermelon seeds indoors approximately 3 to 4 weeks before the last frost date. You can then transplant the melon seedlings 2 or more weeks after the frost date once the ground soil warms up.

EAT LOCAL MARCH MADNESS CONTEST! – Vote for your favorite restaurants in this March Madness style event! Hello 422 has set up as bracket competition consisting of 64 local restaurants. There are six rounds, with three days allowed for voting in each round. The winning restaurant will win an awesome prize pack of goods/services worth $3,000, courtesy of Hello 422, Signarama Limerick, SEO Locale and Toast Chesco! One voter will win a $100 gift card to the winning restaurant! Make sure your favorite restaurant/s make it to the final four! Only one will win. Make your vote count!

VOTE HERE

GIRLS NIGHT OUT BASKET RAFFLE – Help the Junior Women’s Club of Boyertown support the Boyertown Library with an exciting two day event w/ over 100 baskets, door prizes, and grand prizes! The event will be held at the Boyertown Library on March 19th and 20^th. Tickets are limeted, so pre-order now. The admission fee of $25 which allots you 25 raffle tickets. More raffle tickets will be available on the day of the event. Get your ticket befor you run out

See some of the great baskets at BJWC 4th Annual “Girl’s Night Out” Basket Raffle

For admission tickets, order through email at gfwcraffle@gmail.com or in-person at the Boyertown Library

LEARN ABOUT PEOPLE FROM YOUR COMMUNITY on The Cast at Glocker! Livestreaming at Glocker Realty & Insurance on Facebook or YouTube every Wednesday at 6pm. Hosts Matt Green & Jeff Frederick talk with people and businesses from the Boyertown and surrounding communities and also discuss local events. Join us live and be part of the conversation!

This week we spoke with Lisa Rose, owner of Happy Zen Mama! Watch episode below…