April showers bring May (and June) Flowers. Snow drops have been showing for a few weeks and daffodils are soon to blossom. This means we gardeners have lots to do to get the season started. Along with early pruning and planting there is the necessary clean-up and garden preparations. In this article we will cover details of these renewing tasks and offer a couple reminders about why we garden. Mostly we garden because we enjoy growing plants for flowers and…
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,…
Despite the winter season there’s plenty to keep a gardener occupied. If you haven’t ordered your garden seeds yet, start by listing seeds leftover from last year. Then look at the short list of local seed companies that I list below (or any others that you like). Browse online catalogs from the comfort of home. Don’t delay, the best varieties sell out early. In this article I suggest a few winter tips and easy-to-do ideas that will make the coming…
The 2024 gardening season has begun with the arrival of new seed catalogs! Mid-winter is the ideal time to take inventory of what happened in 2023, which seeds will be needed and begin preparations for the next gardening season. It’s also important to take care of indoor plants and get started with early pruning of woody plants when we have an occasional nice winter day. Here are some details… Got seeds? Before ordering new seeds, I like to check my…
June brings better gardening weather, what a welcome change! Although it’s been dry for Vermont spring, recent rains have created better conditions to get new plants into their outdoor homes for the summer. Broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, onions, and salad greens have mostly been planted out. It’s time for heat loving plants like basil, tomatoes, beans, cucumbers, squash, okra, sweet potatoes, & peppers to be in the ground. Annual flowers like geraniums, petunias, marigolds, nasturtiums, and snapdragons will do well outside…
My guess is that you garden because you enjoy growing plants for flowers and for some food. It is a great satisfaction to bring in food & flowers that you grew yourself. My hope is that you do this mostly using organic practices. Perhaps you also buy organic foods when you can. If you also feel that organic foods tend to be too expensive to buy all the time, you might like to watch this short (3 minute) video published…
As March moves ahead, we can’t be sure if it’s going to snow or be mud season. Recent snows have buried any sprouts peeking up from bulbs such as irises, lilies, snow drops, and early crocuses. Good news is that the added snow means more water availability come spring. Nevertheless, there are some garden preparations we can be doing now, including planting onions and petunias! If you haven’t yet pruned your fruit trees (apples, pears, cherries, etc.) any mild days…
Like it or not, the gardening season in the Green Mountains has ended, mostly. Before our thoughts turn completely to the holiday season there are a few tasks worth attending to before we’re totally snowed in. There are also a couple easy tips to help keep your Christmas tree green and fresh longer. Christmas tree health. I can offer two simple tips that will help your tree stay green and hold its needles longer: 1) Just before placing your tree…
June brings better gardening weather, what a welcome change! Although it’s been dry for Vermont spring, recent rains have created a great time to get new plants into their outdoor homes for the summer. Broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, onions, and salad greens have mostly been planted out. It’s time for heat loving plants like basil, tomatoes, beans, cucumbers, squash, okra, sweet potatoes, & peppers to be in the ground. Annual flowers like geraniums, petunias, marigolds, nasturtiums, and snapdragons will do well…
Snow has been replaced by slippery mud, a sure sign that spring is almost here! We now get just over 12 hours of daylight per day and that stimulates new plant growth. It also makes our gardens irresistible on warmer days. Don’t be tempted to get too ambitious just yet, but there are several jobs that can be done before digging soil. Houseplants and indoor sheltered garden plants would benefit from a feeding now. I prefer to use a liquid…