In March we can’t be sure if it’s going to snow or rain but there are garden tasks 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, etc.) use a…
February is too early to start most seeds indoors but not too early to get organized and ready for planting in March-April. Our growing season is too short for many plants (tomatoes, peppers, and many flowers) to sow their seeds outdoors in the spring but we can get a jump start by starting them indoors and effectively extend the season. If we provide the right conditions of soil, light, and temperature our favorite plants will be ready to transplant in…
April showers bring May flowers (and muddy roads). Snow drops, crocuses, and winter aconite have been showing since the mid-March snow melt and daffodils are soon to blossom. We survived the late March ice storm and can begin early spring preparations. This means gardeners have lots to do to get the season started. Even the bees are beginning to forage for pollen and nectar. Along with early pruning and seed starting there is the necessary clean-up and garden preparations. In…
February is too early to start most seeds indoors but not too early to get ready for planting in March-April. It’s also a great time to make a few New Year Gardening Resolutions for yourself. Our growing season is too short for many plants like tomatoes, peppers, and many flowers to sow their seeds outdoors in the spring so we can get a jump start by starting them indoors and effectively extend the season. If we provide the right conditions…
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. …
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…
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. …
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…
Sunny, warmer days make the garden real in mid-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 because it’s a very damaging & unnecessary practice. If you have…
Despite this week’s chilly nights, spring is officially here and gardening season has begun! New birds and wildflowers are appearing almost daily while rhubarb and daffodils have come to life. The previous article described some early pruning and fruit tree protection techniques that should be done and it’s still a good time for those important tasks. In this week’s topic, starting your own garden plants from seed assures you get better varieties and it’s very satisfying to grow your own…