Get Growing
Cedarbrae
We are far enough
into spring that gardeners are getting their tools ready, seeds collected, and
plans drawn up for what all believe will be an outstanding year in the garden. Though
the weather isn’t cooperating, there are still many tasks to do before tomato
plants hit the soil. Here are a few things to do to get the gardening season
underway.
Firstly, prep your
planting areas. That may mean removal of yard debris and spreading a good two
to three inches of well aged manure or compost on the surface. Rototilling is
no longer considered a necessary job and in fact destroys the soil’s
well-organized structure. So just rake the compost evenly onto the soil and let
the spring rains wash the nutrients in.
If indoor
seedlings haven’t been started, now is the time. Tomatoes, eggplants, ground
cherries, and other heat loving plants can be started now so that when the soil
is warm enough in May, they will suffer minimal shock. Melons, squash,
cucumbers, and pumpkins should be started at the end of April – no
sooner.
Cool weather right
now is the perfect time to plant a few things for early harvest. Peas love it
cool, as do spinach, kale, radishes, and certain members of the cabbage family.
If the weather turns chilly, they can be covered with row cover which is usually
enough to prevent frost damage. Or, place hops and plastic over the space and
they should thrive.
If you are
planning to clear an area for a new garden space this is a perfect time to get
started. And, you don’t need a single digging tool! Collect as much cardboard
as you can muster up and lay it down over the space, ensuring the cardboard
sheets overlap each other by at least three inches. If you have enough for a
double layer even better. Then wet the cardboard thoroughly and completely
cover with a six-inch layer of compost or shredded mulch. That’s it! Now let
nature do the rest. The plants underneath will die off with no air or light and
the cardboard and weeds will break down underneath. By late May you should be
able to find that the cardboard and weeds are gone. Get ready to enrich with
manure and you’re set!
A final note on
spring gardening. Most folks have not used some of those muscles all winter so
tackle these tasks slowly and take lots of breaks. Don’t forget to stay
hydrated and wear comfortable clothing, gloves, and proper foot protection.
When working with soil and composted products the living bacteria can get into
a small skin opening and become a big problem. And above all, enjoy the warmer
weather and that wonderful feeling of working in the soil.
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