The calendar has turned over to March, which is usually prime time for gardeners to plant their seeds.

But due to the bitter cold winter, they may have to wait substantially longer than usual to put their green thumbs to the test.This time of year, customers would normally look to purchase lettuce, peas and onion seeds, said Linda Guy, store manager at Lehighton True Value Hardware in Lehighton.Grass seed would also normally be planted when it is still cool, Guy said."Some people try to put other seeds down, but the soil is too cold for anything else," she said.Over at Marzens Feed and Hardware in Lehighton, greenhouse manager Phil Nuccio said stock was full."We have pretty much everything available," Nuccio said. "If you're starting your own, you should have your tomatoes, peppers and eggplants started now or within two weeks."Nuccio said it's important for gardeners to make sure they have plenty of light for them."I don't think people are going to be able to get to their gardens because of the severity of the winter that we had," he said. "That's why it's important to put your garden to bed in the fall so that you can get to it early in the spring."Nuccio added "we're ready for spring, ready for planting. The greenhouse is not heated, but we're pushing everything back."We're going to be behind ourselves trying to get everything ready," he said. "I've got to remove 5 to 6 feet of snow from the greenhouse."So ready for springSeveral readers posted on Facebook that they are starting seeds indoors in anticipation of planting their garden.Tessy Cznadel Serfass said her husband had some seeds planted. "We are so ready."Judi Gross said she was "just waiting for the snow to melt so I can see my crocuses pop up."AJ Everett added, "Started my herbs last week, giving it another few weeks for my veggies."Bill Eade said, "I started my hot pepper seeds last month already. Hoping for an early and full harvest this year."The cold temperatures have taken their toll on farmers as well.Jeff Borger of Kunkletown said he didn't plant anything yet."It looks like it's going to take some time for this to all go away, and then the ground has to dry out," Borger said. "It's going to be a very late spring."Borger said he plants soy beans, oats and about 10 acres of sweet corn."The last few months have been very difficult to operate," he said."It's hard on the cattle, it takes much more feed in cold temperatures, and it makes our expenses and our job hard to do for that reason.""It's not a pleasure going out in zero degrees and feeding cows and having to take care of them."The good news is that a warmup is on tap.But, until temperatures stabilize, chances are those tomatoes may take a bit longer to ripen than usual.A look at The Farmers' Almanac Gardening by the Moon Calendar lends more insight.It is determined by their age-old formula, and applies generally to regions where the climate is favorable.Because the gardening calendar is based on the phase and position of the moon, it's consistent across all growing zones.Therefore, recommended dates are still "weather pending" and gardeners should talk with their local greenhouse or agricultural extension offices for the optimal window of time within which to use these dates.• March 14-15: Any root crops that can be planted now will do well.• March 16-17: A barren period, best suited for killing plant pests. Do plowing and cultivating.• March 18-19: Good for planting cucumbers, melons, pumpkins, and other vine crops. Set strawberry plants. Good days for transplanting. Favorable days for planting beets, carrots, radishes, salsify, turnips, peanuts, and other root crops.• March 20-21: Cultivate and spray, do general farm work, but no planting.• March 22-23: Favorable for planting crops bearing yield above the ground.• March 24-25: Seeds planted now tend to rot in ground.• March 26-28: Excellent for sowing seedbeds and flower gardens. Best planting days for above-ground crops, especially peas, beans, cucumbers, and squash where climate permits.• March 29-31: A most barren period, best for killing plant pests ordoing chores around the farm.