Things are really starting to take off and wake up at the Nursery. Although our Spring has been not so Springy, the trees and shrubs are still starting to pop with the almost forgotten, but oh so welcoming color of green. The Forsythia and Azaleas are starting to open up with their bright colors to welcome a new season ahead. Our Greenhouse is filling up! We have some new and unique varieties of Annuals and Perennials growing and patiently waiting for the weather to warm up so they can find their happy place in your yard.
As the temps are beginning to warm, we are all getting the urge to get out and plant. Just remember to check for our last frost date (typically around late April to early May) and plant after for the health and safety of your plants. Until then, now is a good time to prep your garden area- Don’t forget that if you had trouble with disease on your plants, try rotating the veggies in your garden. Here are a few tips to get you started….
*Start by digging up the area. 6-8” deep is fine but up to 12” is good for root crops such as potatoes and carrots.
*Add lots of organic matter such as OMA-GRO compost or manure. Mix this in with the existing soil.
*Cover the bed with a thick layer of mulch (3-4”). This will help keep down weeds, protect your plants and help them retain moisture. If you are not using mulch, use a garden safe weed & feed product to help control weeds and fertilize your garden.
With just these few simple steps, your garden bed is prepped. We will now wait for Mother Nature’s thermostat to be set comfortably for our new plants to be put in their new home.
When it comes to planting – potatoes, onions and garlic are very popular veggies to plant in the garden.
When planting potatoes- cut the potatoes into 1 1/2”-2” pieces, each with one or two good eyes (buds). Allow cut surfaces to heal (dry) usually about a week. Plant the pieces eye up about 4” deep and 12” apart in rows 2-3’ apart. 10-12lb of potatoes will plant a 100’ row. No room for growing potatoes in your yard? Use a Gardman Potato Tub. They are compact to use on porches, decks and small apartment patios, but will still give you a great yield of potatoes. As the plant grows, mound the dirt up around the plant. Once the leaves start to turn brown, it is time to harvest!
When planting onions-
Green onions- plant 1-2” deep and 2’ apart
Slicing onions- plant 1-2” deep and 4’ apart
Plant in rows 18-24” apart in well-drained soil that is high in organic content. Water regularly and fertilize every 3 weeks. Onions will mature in 60-90 days. Harvest when leaves start to yellow and fall over.
When planting garlic- Break apart garlic bulb and plant a single clove 2” deep, 4-5” apart. Garlic does great in the ground or in pots! Harvest when leaves yellow and start to fall over.
We carry a few different types of potatoes. We have Kennebec, Yukon Gold, Norland Red and Russet. We will also have Red Candy, Walla Walla, Ringmaster, Candy and Superstar onions along with some California soft neck Garlic.
Don’t forget we also carry many, many types of veggie starter plants and seeds along with all of your soils (in bags and bulk) and amendments you would need for your garden. Hopefully this will help you get off on the right foot with your garden. Please remember to feel free and stop by or call if you have any questions on getting your garden started.