Monthly Gardening Tips 3rd Edition

March ahh to the gardener it's music to the ears.  March is the happening month.  The grounds begin to warm, the snow disappears.  Garden centers around town begin to fill up with supplies for the new season.  So much to do.  So what should you start with?  So glad you asked.

Prune - Yup once again on the list is to prune those dormant fruit trees.  Now is the most important time to get this done.  As the weather begins to warm they will begin to wake.  Ornamental Grasses should be pruned to 6" now before any new growth appears. I know will this item ever be taken off the list?  I am sure it will...maybe when the garden is fully awake.

Remove winter covers - Any winter mulch that was placed on your gardens can begin to be removed as the weather warms up.  Keep the cold frames or row covers over the tender plants but the hardy ones need a little cooling off now.  Still snow on the gardens?  Go ahead and skip this I know I will.

Harden off - An important step that many forget when starting seeds inside is called hardening off.  This is where you set seedling outside for a short period of time and gradually making that longer.  It should take about a week to get those seeds to a full day outside.  If they are going into a cold frame or green house hardening off isn't as important. Remember if there is still snow on the ground skip this step as there is no point to harden off plants if they can't be planted.

Organic matter - As the weather gets warmer and the garden appear under the melting snow you will notice that the ground begins to become workable.  As soon as it is with in your gardens it's time to add some compost or other organic matter.  Simply add the new material to the top and then loosen up the soil.  As you begin to loosen the soil the compost will be worked in. Yup like many other steps this one may have to wait till the end of the month.

Vegetables to start this month - This months plant starting list is a long one.  To begin lets look at the plants that can be transplanted this month.  If the ground is soft enough or they are going into a greenhouse or cold frame the following plants started last month may be transplanted - Broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, collards, kale, leeks, mustard and lettuce. 

                        - As long as the ground is soft enough or you have a greenhouse or cold frame the following vegetables should be direct sown this month - leeks, mustard, onions, peas, lettuce, celery, turnips, carrots, beets, parsnip, rasish, potato, and parsley.  Although some list on the packaging that transplanting is not recomended some of these can be started inside and transplanted.  Lettuce and peas as long as started in peat pellets, that have the mesh lining can be safely started indoors and then transplanted. 

                        -  Space willing the following vegetables can be started in flats or seed starting trays this month - Broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, collards, kale, leek, mustard, lettuce, spinach, chard, celery, tomato, pepper, eggplant, luffa, gourd, squash, and cucumber.

Flowers to start this month - Many of the flowers that could be started last month can also be started this month as well.  A few others have been added to the list as well so for the flowers to start in flats or seed trays this month - Perennials like candytuft, carnation, chrysanthemum, columbine, delphinium, floxglove, hollyhock, lupine, lavender, penstemon, pincushion flower, poppy, rudbeckia, alvia, statice, and yarrow.

Although many of the items in the list I can't do yet it's good to know that the list is getting longer.  It's nice to see that spring really is on it's way....even if it doesn't feel like it.

Monthly Gardening Tips 2nd Edition

Edition #2 of Monthly Gardening Tips

Don't forget what we talked about last month

February:

Activities continued from last month.
1 - Order seeds from Catalogs
          - Didn't get to it last month?  Thats ok you still have time.  Try to get them ordered by the end of this month that way you can start planting them.

2 - Check winter damage from storms, frost and pests.
          - I know this was last months activity as well but guess what.  Up here in NY we have gotten more snow and may still get more.  So this is just one of those activities that will need to be repeated.

3 - Prune dormant trees and vines.
         - Yup another one that is repeated.  Mainly cause if you couldn't (like me) get out there last month try to this month.  If snow still covers your yard like mine wait...just don't wait too long.

4 - Water, Dig, and Feed emerging Perennials, bulbs
         - Granted this step may be skipped for another month or so for some of us but it is a step that if can be performed should be.  If you can dig in the dirt now....as in it is not a frozen brown rock like mine then do whats called turning the garden.  Add in some organic matter or compost and just turn the dirt over.  Basically this loosens the soil up and allows the organic matter to get in deep.  Water and feed (if you use fertillizer) any perennials and bulbs that may be starting to pop up.  Here in NY yet another step to be done in another month....I can't even see grass.  Any plants that you have that are out on your porch or deck you may want to water them though.  Since these guys were out all winter they may not have been growing but they do still need water.  Not much grant you but twice this month would be good.

5 - Cover Rhubarb and Asparagus with manure or compost
          - Again if you can see them make sure these guys have a good layer of compost on top.  This will help them get going better once they get the word from mother nature to wake back up.

6 - Plant bare root items
          - If you couldn't last month and can now....do this.  As soon as you can dig in the ground get this done for the best results.

7 - TIME TO START PLANTING:
          - In flats or other seed starting trays it is finally time to start some of your vegetables.  Broccoli, Brussels Sprouts, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Collards, Kale, and Lettuce.  These are good ones to start now.  Again knowing your zone is where this part comes in handy.  For a Medium season we grow from April-October...or there abouts  So February marks the 8 week mark.  If you look at the back of seed packets and  in the description it says may be started indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost then that is this month.  If it is 4-6 weeks you can still start them now but you need to understand that once those seedlings are 4-6 weeks old they will begin to need more room.  You don't want to transplant them too many times so be careful.
          - Certain flowers can also be started this month in flats or seed starting trays.  Perennials like Carnation, Chrysanthemum, Columbine, Delphinium, Foxglove, Hollyhock, Lupine, Lavender, Penstemon, Poppy, Rudbeckia, Salvia, Statice, and Yarrow are good ones to start.

So get those seed starting items together and lets get to planting.  Until next month.....

Monthly Gardening Tips 1st edition

Each month of the year has something for every gardener to do.  Each month I will try to post some tips for what you can be doing in your garden.  The biggest thing you need to do before you start any kind of garden is
1- How much space do you have?
2- What kind of sunlight does that area have?
3- What kind of soil do you think you have?
4- How hot are your summers?

These things will help a lot when planning.  Most online gardening supply sites have sections that are special for each zone.  Or they at least have recommendations for each zone.  And some even have special seeds for hot dry areas vs hot and wet.
January

1 - Requests seed/supply catalogs:
           - This step isn't always necessary but for the newer gardeners it can be very important.  Go on line to your favorite garden supply sites and request a catalog.  Most likely it will be delivered to your home in a month or so.  If you have a short growing season take the time to have them delivered.  A Medium Growing season I would still ask for them but browse the site too.  If you have a long growing season....well like the medium guys go ahead and ask but you may end up with a late start.  Catalogs also give you more choices than you may see in stores.  Like tomatoes...did you know that there are purple tomatoes?  Well there are.  Did you also know that there are rainbow carrots?

2 - Make plans for veggie, flower, herb, or raised beds or drip irrigation:
            - Such an important step that most (including me last year) for get this.  It kinda goes hand in hand with other steps this month and throughout the year.  Get a piece of paper and jot down what you want to grow this year, how much space it will take to grow it, how many seeds you will need, and what you can plant around it.  This is where the catalogs come in handy.  Here you can visually picture your garden.  If you have enough of them you can even cut the pictures and really see what it may look like.  Take the time to be honest.  Do I really have the space to grow a grape vine?  Will we really eat enough tomatoes for more than one plant?

3 - Order seeds from catalogs:
          - Another important step.  Can't grow carrots if you don't have seeds. Again those catalogs are good to have here.  Don't go for just one store look at a bunch.  If you have to order seeds from 3 places but you get seeds that are best for your area then so be it.  Better to have lots of boxes come in than one and half of what you ordered isn't right for your garden.  Pay attention to the different varieties.  Try something new

4 - Prune dormant fruit trees, cane berries, vines:
         - A step I missed last year but one I plan to do this year....maybe when there is a little less snow but still.  Doing the pruning now or even a little closer to spring can help wake those dormant vines up but also doesn't kill new growth.  Because they are all resting for their long winters nap they haven't started to produce those little leaf blooms yet.

5 - Move living Christmas trees outside with protection:
          - There are other plants like this one that actually need a little time out in the cold.  You gave them a great start indoors but it is time to let them out and watch them really grow.

6 - Check winter damage from storms and pests:
          - Why check now when winter is far from over?  Well wouldn't you like to know now that you need to get a new arbor before the grapes start growing?  Or before those tulips start to emerge maybe that tree branch that fell in their bed should be moved.  Granted you may have to do this again....it never hurts to get a head start....well usually it doesn't.

7 - Plant bare root fruit trees, perennials, roses, cane berries, grape, artichoke, asparagus, rhubarb:
          - I know your saying "SAY WHAT?"  But if the weather permits its a great time to do just this.  They are dormant now anyways so as the earth begins to warm they will wake along with the rest of the plants....there for their roots will have a better chance of setting better.  Now if you have 2 feet of snow on the ground and your last frost date isn't till April (like me) then you may want to just skip this step....move to the next month, or the next, or just wait till you can actually dig in the ground.



Part of the planning of a garden as I have come to find out is also knowing when it is best to start seeds.  Some are best for direct sow and others do better with an indoor sow and later transplant.  When planning the garden and ordering seeds take this into account.  Corn doesn't like to be moved.....so that one will have to wait till spring.  Tomatoes?  They don't mind it too much so some varieties can be started now and will be good and strong by spring....ready to be placed in their summer home.