Not only does it feel like spring, with the crazy warm weather we are experiencing right now, it feels like summer already. Woohoo! Yes, let’s get going with our spring garden plans. Let’s start planting! Let’s get our garden growing. This will be the earliest beginning to the spring season ever!
Oh, but wait a minute…we live in the Rocky Mountain growing region. What does that mean? Well, for all of you have lived in this area for some time, you know what that means. There is more cold, snow, rain and freezing temperatures on their way. In fact, we may get walloped in a big storm with 20” of snow and cold temperatures down into the teens, or lower, just like last year! Not the kind of weather for an early tomato crop. Rats!
What does this mean? What should we do? Well, let’s not get ahead of ourselves. Let’s do what we know works for mid-March gardening and landscape care in the Rocky Mountains. First all, don’t worry about the early advancement of some of your trees, shrubs, flowers and bulbs. There isn’t anything we can do about it anyway. Let’s just take care of them. Most important, extra watering is extremely beneficial right now. Now is great time to work on your clean up tips as outlined in our Plants and Gardening Trends Blog this week.
Secondly, let’s begin planting the plants that like it cold and will withstand the spring storms that are sure to roll in. Pansies, in containers or ground beds are the most colorful annuals to plant this time of the year. They can take it! Early season perennials, shrubs and trees may be planted now if we keep them watered. Cool season vegetable transplants and seeds may be planted and sown now. This group includes broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, kale, lettuce, spinach, carrots, radishes, beets and peas. But to be honest, if you wait a couple of weeks, the ground will have warmed up a little more and will advance their development.
Work in concert with Mother Nature and your efforts will be rewarded and your disappointments will be diminished.
