The arrival of the first plants of the year

I received a call today from the Kube Pak plant company in Allentown, N.J. We get our transplants from them because they do a great job at less cost and time than I can do it myself. Our lettuce and spinach plants are ready for pickup and so on Saturday Dad and I will take the hour or so ride up to Monmouth County and pick them up.
Like an expectant parent, I have been preparing for this moment for the last two weeks. The ground has been prepared, the biodegradable mulch is on its way, the hoops for the low tunnels are waiting to be made and the Agribon sits patiently in the shed. The only thing needed now are the stars of the show and it's only a matter of time before they are here.
In addition to the many things listed beforehand, one of my other preps for this moment has been to patiently read the Farmer's Almanac to check on planting dates. Last year I started to plant by the Zodiac signs and I have found much truth to this method. Grandpop was a believer in it but he never confided in me about it. Dad remembers Pop talking about it and using the method.
Anyway, the Almanac says that we can plant the stuff as early as this weekend. The only problem is that I would like to harden the plants before setting them out and if we pick them up on Saturday, as we plan, that will not be sufficient enough time. The other issue is that it is supposed to rain all day Saturday so that would make it impossible getting into the field. Depending on the amount of rain, walking around in wet dirt is not good for the plants or the soil. That is a topic for another day.
 Hardening transplants is important as it gives the plants time to acclimate to the outdoor temperature and culture since they have spent their early life in the comforts of the greenhouse.
That being said, the Almanac points out that the next good Zodiac planting dates will be a week from Sunday, March 11. That is the date that I will be shooting for as it gives me more than enough time to harden the plants. Also the biodegradable mulch should be here and I can patiently plan out what I am going to do.