Maureen Strawn of Quality Gardens plants seeds Tuesday at the greenhouse in Adams Township. Gardeners say now is the time to make plans for the growing season.

This winter's warm temperatures have some gardeners' fingers itching to plant.

Whether a vegetable garden, a flower garden or a combination of both, now is the time to make plans, say experienced Butler County gardeners.

Peg Campbell and Ellis Christy, both Penn State University Master Gardeners with the Butler County Master Gardeners group, said January and February are months for soil testing and gathering seeds.

“First-time gardeners will want to get their soil tested to determine if they need to adjust the condition of the soil,” Campbell said.

Western Pennsylvania soil tends to be too acidic, said Tom McMeekin, owner of Quality Gardens on Route 228 in Adams Township.

A soil test kit, bought from the Butler County gardeners or another source, and sent to PSU, can determine if a gardener needs to pour lime on his beds or make other adjustments.

From there, it's time to determine what to plant, Christy said.

Experienced gardeners should examine what they planted in the past, what they liked, what grew well and what they want to change, Christy said.

“Keeping a garden journal is very important in this process, but if you find some plant that you really like, you can just jot the name on a piece of paper to remember it,” Christy said, adding that she only acquired an actual garden journal a few years ago.

Campbell said some gardeners like to map out their gardens, determining where plants should go.

“Obviously, if the plant will be tall, it needs to go in the back with short plants in the front. Is there a focal point or is the bed an unusual shape? Can you walk around it? You need to take all of that into consideration,” Campbell said.

The planning process should also include determining if plants will be grown from seed or bought as small plants from a nursery or mail-order company.

“You can order catalogs and buy seeds and plant that way, or you can pick up most plants and seed packets from stores and local nurseries,” Christy said.

Seed packets are more economical, but need to be started indoors before being transplanted into an outdoor bed or container. Christy said when she started gardening she got a small plastic tray with a greenhouse top that can be bought at big-box stores such as Home Depot or Lowe's.

“If you have a sunny window sill and want to start plants there, give it a try. This doesn't have to be expensive, and you can just keep trying new things,” she said.

McMeekin said the best way to determine when to start seeds is to count back six to eight weeks from mid- to late May, when the region's last frost usually hits.

“If you start them too soon, they get leggy and will have problems when planted outside,” he said.

The exception to this rule would be the cold crops — lettuce, cabbage, peas — which can go into the ground sooner than other plants.

“We grow most of our stuff here at Quality Gardens with our stock in full swing by the first week of April,” McMeekin said.

All gardeners can usually find a helping hand from their local nurserymen or from the master gardeners.

“We'll be on the phone in the spring to answer all the questions we can,” Campbell said of the Butler County Master Gardeners' Green Line at 724-287-4761.

To learn more about the Butler County Master Gardeners and the Penn State University Master Gardener Program, go to:extension.psu.edu/butlerOn the left side of the website, click on “Programs” and then click on “Master Gardeners.” There is a list of gardening classes, master gardener resources and information on how to become a master gardener.Other class listings include:• Allegheny Master gardeners at — extension.psu.edu/allegheny. A landscape integrated pest management seminar is being offered at The Chadwick in Wexford on Feb. 23;• Old Economy Village, Ambridge, is offering a spring gardening workshop April 14. Call 724-266-4500, or visit www.oldeconomyvillage.org/• Glade Run Lutheran Church in Zelienople is offering gardening classes April 21. Call 724-452-4453, Ext. 1236.• Classes are offered at Phipps Garden Center, Shady Avenue, Pittsburgh: phipps.conservatory.org/classes-and-programs/index.aspx• Herb Society of Western Pa. meets every third Monday of the month and has a speaker at each meeting. E-mail Peg Campbell at powell99@zoominternet.net if interested.• Southern Butler County Garden Club meets monthly, usually the last Tuesday of the month, in Seven Fields and has a program each month. Contact Gina Bianchi at rbianchi@zoominternet.net• Master Gardeners of Butler meets the second Wednesday of the month, starting in February. Contact Mary Ellen Walters at mwalters565@aol.com.