Gardening in the North

The pots and packs of impatiens that I haven't had time to tuck into the shady garden are sitting happily in place looking a bit smug, I think, since they are not up to their necks in the wet soil. It's one of the few times that my procrastination has paid off.

Three weeks ago, I heard a local TV garden person say that "now" (3 weeks ago) is the time to plant the fall vegetables. Imagine that. I used to do that in mid-August. Now I have to start thinking about fall with those impatiens still unplanted! It's time to quit fertilizing perennials so they can begin the dormancy process. We have such a short time to forget that winter is the longest season here. I think it makes us more appreciative gardeners. Our short season has to have the delights packed into a smaller space, so they seem more intense. I know that I cherish my garden time more than I did when there was more of it. I'm always looking for ways of extending it. That past life I mentioned was in the western part of the state of Kentucky where the growing season averages 183 days. Here the average is 122. That means I now have only four months for all the gardening I used to have to cram into six months. What do you do? Tell me your secrets for success. Tell me how you handle the long period when you can't play in the dirt? Let's talk about our special climate and its advantages as well as its restrictions.

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