Gardening

Siwsan

(26,289 posts) Wed Mar 13, 2024, 11:28 AM Mar 13

The hardest thing about this time of year is restraining my urge to clean the gardens

We've had a number of 60+ degree days but nothing like 5 in a row so I'm mindful of the insects developing in those dried leaves.

I just took a stroll around the 'estate' and saw that the Forsythia flowers are opening and the plum tree is not far from blossoming. That might not be a good thing, depending on what Mother Nature has in store. This is the earliest I've ever seen that kind of progress with the plum tree.

The Daffodils that are next to the house are looking beautiful and the ones more distant from the foundation should be blooming VERY soon. Fortunately they seem to ignore any freak cold weather activity.

I'm heading out, tomorrow, to buy veg seeds. Not sure what I'll plant, this year, I haven't done peas or beans in a while so maybe I'll try those, again.

4 replies

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The hardest thing about this time of year is restraining my urge to clean the gardens (Original Post) Siwsan Mar 13 OP

Same here. My yard looks horrible because of all the dead brush and flower stalks, Ocelot II Mar 13 #1

Peas... 2naSalit Mar 13 #2

I'm itching to get out in the garden! MontanaMama Mar 13 #3

Piedmont of NC codfisherman Mar 13 #4

Ocelot II

(115,835 posts)

1. Same here. My yard looks horrible because of all the dead brush and flower stalks,

Reply to Siwsan (Original post)

Wed Mar 13, 2024, 11:37 AM

Mar 13

but it's important to leave that stuff until later in the spring because it's where a lot of native bees and other creatures spend the winter and you don't want to disturb them too early. I've got tulips coming up already, which is sort of freaking me out.

2naSalit

(86,775 posts)

2. Peas...

Reply to Siwsan (Original post)

Wed Mar 13, 2024, 11:43 AM

Mar 13

And possibly beans, are nitrogen fixers and are good to use in rotation to help recharge the soil with nitrogen in alternating seasons and as nearby complementary plants to others in the garden.

I am trying to decide how I will garden this year, I may be relocating to a different unit so I'm not sure where I should put everything. I have a substantial seed cache so I really didn't need to buy the seeds I got a couple days ago but if you don't get them now, they'll be gone next week. I was filling a couple gaps in my catalogue.

We are looking to have a nasty drought this year here so I'll have to really plan this out.

MontanaMama

(23,337 posts)

3. I'm itching to get out in the garden!

Reply to Siwsan (Original post)

Wed Mar 13, 2024, 11:56 AM

Mar 13

All my veggies are in raised beds and I went out the other day to take soil samples for testing and everything was still frozen. We’re supposed to have temps in the low 60’s next week so maybe the beds will thaw out. I ordered bed covers in the hope of getting a jump start on getting plants/seeds in the ground.

codfisherman

(64 posts)

4. Piedmont of NC

Reply to Siwsan (Original post)

Wed Mar 13, 2024, 01:35 PM

Mar 13

Just started cleaning out flower beds yesterday. I have onions, garlic, and fava beans in from last fall. I transplanted cabbage and brocolli in last month. Seeded in collards, mustard, and radishes a few weeks ago. Need to seed kale, tatsoi, and beets this weekend. I put in red potatoes the other day, and it looks like the Kennebecs I put in deep in December are coming up. I started using clay pot ollas last year in anticipation of drought, and they help my tomatoes develop a good root system.

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