Earlier harvests. Peppers grown from seeds or transplants usually take at least a few months to fruit after spring planting.

Once the danger of frost has passed in the spring and temperatures are reliably above 50°F, you can harden your plant off by putting it outside during the day and bringing it back in overnight.

This week's gardening column tackles "heeling in" plants for the winter, when to prune rosebushes and how to keep squirrels from eating tulip bulbs.