As March begins, we can’t be sure if it’s going to snow or rain but there are garden tasks for us to do. Snow has buried any sprouts peeking up from the ground but the good news is that the snow means more water availability come spring. As the days get longer there are indoor and outdoor garden preparations we can be doing now, including planting, pruning, and feeding! If you haven’t yet pruned your fruit trees (apples, pears, cherries,…
We’re finally in the time of year when we can plant some things into the ground. Some seeds can go in early, other seeds & plants need to wait for warmer days. How do we know what to plant when? In April and early May most soil is still too wet to dig or till unless you have raised beds. Let’s look at several ways to help determine when it’s best to plant seeds or put out transplants. Also, a…
Sunny, warmer days make the garden real in May. While there are many garden plants that can be seeded outdoors now, don’t be tempted to start working your soil if it is still wet. If you insist on tilling your garden it is very important to wait until the soil has drained and dried enough to be crumbly, not gooey or sticky. I do not till my garden soil at all because tilling is very damaging to soil & unnecessary. …
We’re slowly getting to the time of year when we can plant some things into the ground. Some things can go in early, other things need to wait for warmer days. How do we know what to plant when? Most soil is still too wet to dig or till unless you have raised beds. Let’s look at several ways to help determine when it’s best to plant seeds or put out transplants. Also, a few words about the benefits of…
Despite our recent wintery week April is National Garden Month so now is a great time to think about starting a garden and the planning and choices we can make. Most basically, “What should I grow?” depends on what you want to eat or to see in your yard, and the kind of work you can do. Soil & climate conditions in Vermont place some limits on our choices but we do have a great selection of hardy fruits, vegetables,…
The beginning of June brings better gardening weather, what a welcome change! Although it’s been a bit dry for Vermont spring, recent rains have created a great time to get some plants into their outdoor homes for the summer. Broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, onions, and more salad greens can move out now but it’s still a little early for heat loving plants like basil, tomatoes, beans, cucumbers, squash, okra, & peppers. Annual flowers like geraniums, petunias, marigolds, nasturtiums, and sweet peas…
The end of May has brought almost ideal gardening weather, what a welcome change! Although it’s been a bit dry for Vermont spring, it looks like a great time to get all those ready-to-go plants into their new homes for the summer. It’s still a little early for some heat loving plants like basil, tomatoes, beans, artichokes, okra, & peppers, but almost everything else can move out. Some adventuresome gardeners have already planted out their tomatoes and they might do…
In the previous topic I described some of the early pruning and fruit tree protection that can be done and it’s still not too late for that. Despite recent weather we are about 2 weeks ahead of last year so it’s not too early to get started growing. I also hope you will begin keeping your own garden journal as described last week, it a great way to record all the positive things you’re doing so next year you’ll know…