When should you have "The Talk" with your kids?

I have a daughter who is approaching double digits in age and I am wondering when we should have the "talk" concerning the "birds and the bees"?



I'm sure my wife will handle most of the talk with the daughter but we have a son right behind so I'll probably take the lead with him. Does the answer to the question vary depending on the gender?



Just so you know, my parents never even broached the subject. I had to learn "on the streets" or in a sex-ed class I got at some point.