Ready for Spring
© Leda Meredith
Late February and early March are dangerous times for gardeners and foragers like me who live in a northern temperate zone. Winter has gotten old, and there are signs of Spring: the leaves of bulbs pushing up through their brown leaf mulch, buds swelling on the trees, new growth at the base of the lemon balms, sundown a little later each night, even a few crocuses blooming. My tempo quickens with the increasing hours of daylight, and whatever the human equivalent of sap is, it's starting to rise.
The seeds I ordered or swapped for arrive, and I know it's too early to plant most of them, and yet I feel the urge to do something to get underway with the season ahead. The space under my plant lights and on my meager windowsills is maxed out, so I compulsively rearrange the container plants over-wintering indoors, trying to make room for where the tomato seedlings will eventually grow.
If, like me, you're getting restless to get out into the Green, take heart! There is plenty to do to ensure a bountiful garden in the warm months (and to cure your late-winter blues).
Prepare the Ground (or pot, or box, or whatever you've got)
If you have garden space, this is a good time to lightly turn the earth, working in any soil amendments you may need. Choose a day that the ground is neither soggy nor frozen. Most city gardens need the addition of lime or bone meal to counter acidity, and something to improve drainage and water retention (leaves are a good addition, if you saved the ones you swept off the sidewalk last fall; vermiculite is a good store bought alternative). Compost is always welcome: try spreading an inch or two over several layers of newspaper. The newspaper will eventually decompose, and meanwhile you'll be cutting down on weeds as well as enriching your soil. Do not use this method where there are wild plants or reseeding annuals that you want to encourage.
If your garden consists of containers, take stock of what's in them. All empty pots should be scrubbed clean with hot, soapy water, which will go a long way toward preventing the spread of diseases and non-beneficial insects. Old, depleted soil from last year's annuals may need replacing (add the old soil to your compost pile if you have one). Take note of which perennials will need repotting when they show signs of active growth again, and make sure you have enough soil and clean pots or other containers on hand.
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