A.E. Araiza / Arizona Daily Star

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: Mother Nature dials up the heat in May : Only tough plants can handle summer sun : Bulb plants brighten spring and summer Searching for perfect tomatoes? Grow 'em: Get a jump on summer with heat-tolerant flowers : Get some great ideas from tour Saturday Early spring insect pests now abundant Gardening By John P. Begeman: March outside and start plantingGardening By John P. Begeman: Well-suited to desert: That's agave: Lift a glass to local wines

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The time is rapidly approaching to begin starting your seeds for spring's garden crop.

Most vegetables take three to four weeks to grow from seed to a seedling of size and vigor fit enough to be planted in the garden. Early plantings of tomatoes, peppers, squash and eggplant can go into the garden in March. That means it's time to get your seeds ready to start.

If you have seeds saved from last year or before, no doubt they can be used. However, keep in mind that the viability (ability of the seed to germinate) will be affected over time. The shelf life of some popular vegetables:

• Short-lived seeds (one or two years): sweet corn, onion, pepper, parsley, parsnip.

• Intermediate seeds (three or four years): tomato, bean, broccoli, pea, carrot, spinach.

• Long-lived seeds (five years): eggplant, cucumber, melon, squash, cabbage.

These times are based on optimal storage conditions that include keeping seeds cool and dry. It's no problem keeping them dry in Arizona. The cool part can be accomplished by storing seeds in the refrigerator at temperatures between 35 and 41 degrees.

First, keep various types of seed separate by placing them in small, zip-style plastic bags. Label each bag according to the type of seed and the date of storage.

Place the individual seed bags in glass jars with screw-top lids. To absorb any residual moisture in the jar, put a layer of desiccant, such as silica gel or powdered milk, in the bottom of the jar. Screw the lids on tightly and place them in the refrigerator. If you don't have the space, just place the jar(s) in a cool, dark location in the garage (during the winter), then back inside as the temperatures warm this spring.

Regardless of the way your seeds are stored, you can check their viability using a simple germination test. Take several seeds from each of your seed packets and wrap them in moist paper toweling. Place the paper toweling in a sealable plastic bag, in a warm location in the house. Check the seeds every few days to see if they have germinated.

At the end of 10 days, all the seeds that are capable of germination will have germinated. Even if only a small percentage of the seeds sprouted, that's OK. You still can use the seeds. Just plant more than you'll ultimately need to compensate for the loss in viability.

Flower seeds also can be stored. Some, such as marigold, cosmos, stock, pansy, petunia and verbena, will keep for several years. Just check seed viability using the same germination test.

Many gardeners prefer collecting garden seeds from their own plants. This is fine to do, but keep in mind that if those plants were hybrid varieties, then the seeds you collect, although potentially viable, will not grow a plant with the same characteristics as the mother plant.

If you are growing open-pollinated heirloom vegetables or flowers, the seed can be collected and planted in subsequent seasons. With some potential for variation, you'll have much the same plant in the offspring as you had with the parent, including fruit quality and taste.