By Jim McGinty
Yes, I know it’s still cold outside, and I do know that there are still twenty inches of rotting snow and ice out there, but it’s still time to plan for this year’s “Most Successful Garden Ever!” – keep this phrase in mind for use in October 2017.
Now is the time to think about what you want to eat, plant, and save in this year’s garden: garden-partner Pat and I planted Brussels sprouts last year (for the first time in decades), and ended up feeding the aphid-infested sprouts to the chickens, and the two-foot tall stalks became chew toys for Buster the Wonder Dog. We’re still learning how to successfully grow Brussels sprouts, as we are planning to grow them again this year (we’re either eager learners, or garden masochists), with some modifications to our techniques. And that’s the thing with gardeners: we learn from our mistakes, improve what we do, and pass along that knowledge to other gardening folks – I have never met a “real” gardener who hides their plant-based errors, or who refuses to share solutions.
After determining what you want to grow, eat, and save in the garden, please order your seeds SOON! Last year was not a great year (again) for the folks who grow crops just for the seed companies (lots of crop failures), so the supply of seeds (especially for the heirloom, self-pollinating, heritage, organic seeds) is finite and quite small.
If you plan to buy plant starts from your local farmers’ market professional, now is a great time to call them (you DID remember to ask for their farm business card last summer, right!!??), and see what they plan to grow, and maybe mention that you might like to try a new variety of an old favorite, maybe something you noted in a 2017 seed catalog, or heard about during the last meeting of the local garden club.
If you start your garden plants indoors from seeds, this is the time to begin the journey for all those cool-weather crops: egg plant, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, leeks, onions, lettuce, broccoli, cabbage, kale, chard, endive, parsley, etc. Longer-growing plants such as tomatoes and peppers can be started now, as well – hopefully, by the time the warm-weather plants are ready to transplant out into the open garden, the open garden will be ready for them!
Towards the end of March, your orchard will be calling your name, asking for limb pruning, dormant spraying, and an application of aged manure and wood ashes (the potash in wood ashes will pump up the quality and quantity of green leaves and blossoms on fruit trees).
If you have established rhubarb plants, and want more rhubarb this year, apply a shovelful of aged manure under all those 2016 leaves, and then cover the plant with a half-barrel or other sturdy tub, for an early spring crop.
GARDENING CALENDAR
On the 1st of March, those charming crop cultivators, the Master Gardeners of Pend Oreille County, will offer a class on starting, growing, maintaining, harvesting, and processing tomatoes, just tomatoes, at the Camus Center (1981 LeClerc Road, Cusick) from 6-8 p.m. The class is free, and you can call the WSU Extension Office in Newport (509-447-2401) for details and to register.
On the 11th of March, those same Master Gardeners will offer a class on landscaping with native plants, and how to propagate same: the class will be held in the WSU Extension Office (227 S. Garden Ave., Newport) from 10-11:30 a.m. and will cost $5 per person. Seating is limited, as the propagation part of the class is a hands-on experience, so call now to register for the class: for the class, you will need to wear gardening clothes, and bring gloves and pruning shears.
On the 14th of March, our local garden club will meet for the first time this year (YAY!), in Camden Grange (21 Elk-Camden Road, Elk), from 7-9 p.m. We’ll watch a slideshow on how to extend our growing season, using various techniques and tools, and we’ll discuss what we want to do in our gardens this year, and we’ll undoubtedly all whine about the soon-to-be-previous winter. You can obtain more information on the club and our March meeting right here.
On the 15th of March, I will teach a class on (appropriately enough) fruit-tree pruning, at the Newport College Center (1204 W.Fifth Ave., Newport), from 6-8 p.m. We’ll talk about the basics: when, how, and why to prune, with an eye to higher quality, more numerous fruit. You can obtain more information on the class by calling 800-845-3324, or you register on-line at www.sccel.spokane.edu/ACT2
That’s it for now – it’s time to check on the baby pepperoncini and lettuce plants – their leaves are looking a little pale, but then so am I – it’s been a long winter, and the sunshine is calling MY name.
Yes, I know it’s still cold outside, and I do know that there are still twenty inches of rotting snow and ice out there, but it’s still time to plan for this year’s “Most Successful Garden Ever!” – keep this phrase in mind for use in October 2017.
Now is the time to think about what you want to eat, plant, and save in this year’s garden: garden-partner Pat and I planted Brussels sprouts last year (for the first time in decades), and ended up feeding the aphid-infested sprouts to the chickens, and the two-foot tall stalks became chew toys for Buster the Wonder Dog. We’re still learning how to successfully grow Brussels sprouts, as we are planning to grow them again this year (we’re either eager learners, or garden masochists), with some modifications to our techniques. And that’s the thing with gardeners: we learn from our mistakes, improve what we do, and pass along that knowledge to other gardening folks – I have never met a “real” gardener who hides their plant-based errors, or who refuses to share solutions.
After determining what you want to grow, eat, and save in the garden, please order your seeds SOON! Last year was not a great year (again) for the folks who grow crops just for the seed companies (lots of crop failures), so the supply of seeds (especially for the heirloom, self-pollinating, heritage, organic seeds) is finite and quite small.
If you plan to buy plant starts from your local farmers’ market professional, now is a great time to call them (you DID remember to ask for their farm business card last summer, right!!??), and see what they plan to grow, and maybe mention that you might like to try a new variety of an old favorite, maybe something you noted in a 2017 seed catalog, or heard about during the last meeting of the local garden club.
If you start your garden plants indoors from seeds, this is the time to begin the journey for all those cool-weather crops: egg plant, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, leeks, onions, lettuce, broccoli, cabbage, kale, chard, endive, parsley, etc. Longer-growing plants such as tomatoes and peppers can be started now, as well – hopefully, by the time the warm-weather plants are ready to transplant out into the open garden, the open garden will be ready for them!
Towards the end of March, your orchard will be calling your name, asking for limb pruning, dormant spraying, and an application of aged manure and wood ashes (the potash in wood ashes will pump up the quality and quantity of green leaves and blossoms on fruit trees).
If you have established rhubarb plants, and want more rhubarb this year, apply a shovelful of aged manure under all those 2016 leaves, and then cover the plant with a half-barrel or other sturdy tub, for an early spring crop.
GARDENING CALENDAR
On the 1st of March, those charming crop cultivators, the Master Gardeners of Pend Oreille County, will offer a class on starting, growing, maintaining, harvesting, and processing tomatoes, just tomatoes, at the Camus Center (1981 LeClerc Road, Cusick) from 6-8 p.m. The class is free, and you can call the WSU Extension Office in Newport (509-447-2401) for details and to register.
On the 11th of March, those same Master Gardeners will offer a class on landscaping with native plants, and how to propagate same: the class will be held in the WSU Extension Office (227 S. Garden Ave., Newport) from 10-11:30 a.m. and will cost $5 per person. Seating is limited, as the propagation part of the class is a hands-on experience, so call now to register for the class: for the class, you will need to wear gardening clothes, and bring gloves and pruning shears.
On the 14th of March, our local garden club will meet for the first time this year (YAY!), in Camden Grange (21 Elk-Camden Road, Elk), from 7-9 p.m. We’ll watch a slideshow on how to extend our growing season, using various techniques and tools, and we’ll discuss what we want to do in our gardens this year, and we’ll undoubtedly all whine about the soon-to-be-previous winter. You can obtain more information on the club and our March meeting right here.
On the 15th of March, I will teach a class on (appropriately enough) fruit-tree pruning, at the Newport College Center (1204 W.Fifth Ave., Newport), from 6-8 p.m. We’ll talk about the basics: when, how, and why to prune, with an eye to higher quality, more numerous fruit. You can obtain more information on the class by calling 800-845-3324, or you register on-line at www.sccel.spokane.edu/ACT2
That’s it for now – it’s time to check on the baby pepperoncini and lettuce plants – their leaves are looking a little pale, but then so am I – it’s been a long winter, and the sunshine is calling MY name.
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