Gardening season is here! And I for one think I might set up a tent in the backyard just to keep from having to be indoors one more second. I am going to live in my garden for the next 7 months. Sure, it may get a little weird that the kids have to visit me in the backyard, but everyone has a little weird in their family, right?
Seeds I’m Starting Indoors this Month
- Fenugreek Sprouts
- Cucumbers {Marketmore, Lemon, and Burpless}
See the full list of seeds I’ll be planting this year
What I Plan to Transplant Outside this Month
- Carrots {Round 3 direct sowing and they are super easy to grow!}
- Kohlrabi {direct sow}
- Celery
- Alysum {clumping flower, perfect for borders}
- Poppy Flowers {direct sow}
- Beets {I love beets! I plant Gourmet Blend, Bulls Blood, and Detroit Dark Red}
- Pansies
Plants and/or Bulbs I Plan to Purchase this Month
- Asparagus crowns {How to Plant Asparagus Crowns}
What I plan to Harvest This Month
- Fenugreek sprouts
- Rhubarb {Towards the end of the month if I’m lucky}
- Carrots {Just a few}
Houseplants and Indoor Bulbs
If you forced bulbs, you probably have flowers now. Enjoy the indoor color and water the flowers a little more regularly. Also now might be a good time to fertilize the houseplants.
Trees and Shrubs
Rake up any fallen flowers from early blooming shrubs to avoid fungus problems. Prune trees and clean up raspberry canes and blueberry plants.
Weed and Pest Control
Continue regular weeding. You may start to see caterpillars and slugs in your garden. {I use Sluggo to keep the slugs off, as an organic solution.} I also sprinkle Ortho Home Defense around the perimeter of the house to keep bugs away. It smells like bacon!
Lawn Care
The HH will be fertilizing the a lawn this weekend. It’s still a little too chilly to plant grass seed, but he can edge the driveway and back patio for me. 🙂 Also, if you have a teenage son, now might be a good time to bribe him with a couple of sacks of Doritos so he will pressure wash the patio for you. 😉
These garden chores are based on my Zone 8a Seattle/Tacoma WA location. Find your garden zone HERE.
Laurel says
So sad, I’m in zone 4a. The glaciers are receding, nut no planting for at least a month.
Laurel says
oops…BUT no planting…
PattyB says
I’m in 5a. Some days look like full on Spring, but don’t be fooled, the next day it could snow and kill your tender plants. It’s so hard to wait for May!
Lisa says
I’m in 8, where we had nice spring weather in the 70s a few weeks ago. Now it’s not only raining, but storming, and very cold again! 30s and 40s cold.
My peas are doing poorly. My carrots never came up. There may be water rationing, so I may not get more than a tomato in a container to plant.
kcb says
What plant is the one pictured with the large grayish green leaves?
Virginia says
Whoa Nellie…. I thought you were organic? Please tell me you don’t use ORTHO Home Defense anywhere near your garden or where the rain run off will go to your garden!
Mavis Butterfield says
No I don’t use it in the garden. 🙂 I just use it around the foundation of the house.
Emily says
I’m a 5b. Indoor plants only for me for a bit. My orchid is blooming and we have some tulips on the dining table, so at least it feels like spring in the house. I started a few cilantro seeds just to have something growing.
Gen says
Mavis, make sure your son wears safety glass or goggles while pressure cleaning. I know several people who got infections, seriously hurt, and one actually almost lost an eye to a flesh eating bacteria (yikes!) after getting stuff in their eyes while pressure cleaning. Be careful!
susan macisaac says
Hi mavis, I’m so envious! I live in southern New Brunswick, Canada. We are a zone 5, but we presently have waist deep snow with more on the way this weekend. I will be starting everthing inside this year. Who knows I may be able to plant them out by july.