Getting Ready for Spring

by Cammye Gray
I know most of us are enjoying the winter months. This is the time of year to spend the evenings curled up by the fire with our families. Spending time with the ones we love and spending long evenings at home in the glow of our peaceful,warm, comfortable homes is one of the rewards of this time of year. But don’t forget! Spring is right around the corner. A few fun activities done now can not only save time this spring but can also save money. Not only is it financially advantageous to begin your spring planning at this time, it is also a great family activity. If you don’t have a garden, this is the best time to think about what you might want to have growing in that empty space in your corner flower bed.

Take a few minutes to think about Spring. Do you have a garden? Would you like to? Gardening is so fun and rewarding. It is a great activity to get your kids involved in. What child doesn’t want to play in the mud. A little planning now can save time and money.

A small corner bed is a wonderful spot for a small herb garden or salad garden. A spot as small as four feet by four feet can provide all the fresh salad greens, tomatoes, and other salad fixings for your family all summer long. Wouldn’t it be wonderful as you are preparing your evening meal, instead of running to the store for fresh tomatoes, walk right out into your own back yard, snap off a red, ripe tomato, grab a handful of lettuce, a few green onions, a radish and off you go. A few green onions take up very little space but are used so often it is very convenient to have your own growing right outside in your garden.

If you are gardening on a slightly bigger scale, these are the months you will begin looking in your seed catalogs and searching out the local nurseries to see what seeds they have available. You can buy your plants in the spring, already up and ready to plant . However, it less expensive to grow your own plants from seed. You must determine if this savings is worth it.

Do you have the space to start your seedlings? The size of your garden and number of plants will determine how much space you will need. A small corner garden will take only a space about the size of a flat, or the size of you kitchen sink. You can keep your seedlings growing in a warm window or in a garage with a overhead light or grow light. If you are working with a larger space and are planning to have more of a selection of vegetables than just a salad garden, you will need a space that is three to four times that size just starting out. Of course, as the plants grow they will take up a slightly larger space as the plants get leaves and for a plant such as a tomato they may need one repotting prior to setting out in the spring. If you have the space you could make use of a cold frame, mini greenhouse or greenhouse to get your seeds started and get your plants up and ready for spring.

Whatever size garden you are planning, if you are planning on starting your plants from seed the time is here to get going. After you have determined the size of you garden, you should make sure you have the tools necessary. I have found many tools at estate and yard sales, but of course you can purchase them at any lawn and garden store. First, a set of good gloves is important. You may not think about it, but a good pair of gardening boots a good idea too. It never fails to rain just before it is time to pick that beautiful red, ripe tomatoe.

Of course if you are gardening on a small scale, you don’t need to worry about this. I have found that most people don’t think about such things until your looking down a muddy row and your broccoli looks just right. Of course there are ways around this too, as we will talk abut in later months. A big bag of leaves or hay can make nice paths down any row or as an edging or mulch, but protecting my shoes is always a priority!

Other tools, just as important are a long skinny shovel, or sharp shooter, to dig deep, narrow holes, a large flat shovel for adding mulch or mixing soil, a rake, a hoe for weeding and for dragging out rows and a pitchfork should be a good start. After the plants come up you will need a three tong fork or a hand trowel for breaking up the soil around each plant and for weeding.

Now that you know what you need and are getting an idea of what size garden you are planning think about what you want to grow. If you already have a garden that is prepared then hardy vegetables that start from seeds can be planted now. Some vegetables that can be planted now include: spinach, greens, and lettuce. Onions and garlic can be planted now too. Some vegetables that can be started from seed sowed directly into the garden but must be planted after the danger of frost has passed include beans, cucumbers, radishes, carrots, okra, peas and potatoes. Plants that need to be started from seed now to be ready to plant in the spring include: Tomatoes, peppers, broccoli, squash, zucchini, brussel sprouts and eggplant. Of course this is only a partial list. There is a huge variety to choose from and depending on your area. Some things grow better in some areas that others.

There are also some plants that need attention this time of year. Roses need to be pruned. This is dormant spray time. Dormant spray, organic of course, needs to be sprayed on all fruit trees. Iris, Crepe Myrtles and peonies need fertilizing. This is the best time of year to fertilize trees and shrubs. It is a good time to scatter annual seeds such as Candytuft, Larkspur and Poppy, just to name a few, on top of loosened soil in previously prepared beds. Bare-root stock, including Roses, may be planted, but no later than the end of February.