Spring Fever

It's a raw, rainy end to March -- just as it should be in Connecticut.  With unseasonably warm temps for most of the month, heck most of the winter, many people were eager to get out in the garden and start planting. I even warned a couple of folks not to plant anything yet, because it would probably just waste a lot of time and money.  The past week it's dipped down to below freezing several nights in a row -- Small plants are just too vulnerable to conditions like that.


Not to say there's not a lot of work to be done. The soil still needs to be turned over and prepped and yes, even weeded.

Look closely and you'll see parsley

I started by just taking a look around the garden and the soil. How does it look? You're looking for a nice rich, brown color. Are there worms? Because that's a really good sign that your soil is fertile. Is there anything from last year that's still going? As I noted in a previous post, many herbs like oregano, parsley and thyme are a perennial and they will come back year after year. And don't forget -- seeds from things fallen tomatoes will start to sprout, too. You don't always have to buy new plants or more seeds. Let Mother Nature do her thing.

Can you tell where I raked?

So once you assessed the situation, it's time to start turning or tilling the soil. Because I put a fresh load of manure in my garden in the Fall, I just used a rake to turn the soil over. But you still can, and SHOULD, add some sort of natural fertilizer to your garden if you haven't already. I purchased a truck load of manure from my local farmer for like $20. Some towns offer access to a compost pile at the Public Works station for free. And of course, you should have your own compost to add to the mix! Those are just some options to keep in mind before you plunk down your hard-earned cash on bags of fertilizer at Agway. If you're just adding the fertilizer now, it probably would be best to buy or rent a tiller and really work it in. 

Now it's time to think about what you're planning to grow this season. Of course, much of that will depend on your space. Cucumbers need a lot of room to run; tomatoes get tall and bushy; a small row of lettuce will yield more than enough for your family. Of course, you want to plant things that you or your family like to eat -- but don't be afraid to try new things. Give kale a try, or maybe white radishes.  A bag of seeds usually runs around 99-cents, so it's time to branch out!

For the most part, I start most of my plants from seeds stuck right in the ground --- once the danger of frost has passed. I prefer not to even waste the time of starting seeds indoors --- I've found they don't progress any faster, plus you're likely to lose a lot in the transition from inside to the ground.  Certain plants I do buy as seedlings at a local farm -- tomatoes and herbs usually are the hardest to start from seed.

But remember -- it's still March and that means it's way too early to put anything outdoors yet. But with proper planning and some good ol' fashioned elbow grease, we'll be enjoying the fruits of your labor in no time.

Happy Spring!