Today is the first gardening day of spring! We plan to work in the orchard today. We have tiny fruit trees we planted last year. They are just starting to leaf out. We need to spray them, and we are going to spread the wonderful rich compost around each one, and re-mulch them. I also found pansies on sale at Lowe’s for just $1 and $3 for a flat of 24 – I’m not kidding, I got 48 pansies for $3! They were on the discount rack since they looked wilted, but they are fine and perked right up. I’m going to add them around the front of the house. We also have forsythia, azaleas and rhododendrons to add to the front of the house. And don’t forget the vegetables! I’ve got cool weather annuals that will begin to harden off today, and seeds to go in this week – lettuce, spinach, swiss chard. I think I’m behind on this, but I still can’t get the New York/Long Island gardening calendar out of my head. This week in the newspaper they had an article on harvesting potatoes. I thought John was going to leap up from the living room chair. “You can grow POTATOES?” he demanded, waving the paper at me. I shrugged. I had no idea! Now he’s already talking about growing potatoes over next winter. Where I’m not sure, but I have a feeling more of the yard is going to get dug up. I can’t wait 🙂
Our latest scheme is to add grape vines…and I have my eye on raspberry bushes, but since my husband loathes raspberries, in every way shape and form, I’m going to have to sneak them in somehow….
And strawberries. Back to Lowe’s this week to pick up some strawberry plants.
Let the gardening begin – it’s officially spring!
Yes, grow potatoes. The vines will help to break up the soil for future use. Grow everything that you can, even if just for the experience of growing it. If you don’t like something, you can always trade it with another gardener for something else to your liking.