What a difference a week makes in the garden.  Although we have one chilly morning coming on Monday, it looks like the weather patterns are turning warmer. Spring is finally here so let's start planting.
  This week I'll plant beans, squash, and cucumbers direct seeded in the garden. I'm waiting until next week here on my farm for the warm season transplant of peppers, eggplant, and tomatoes as my place tends colder than the community garden. But certainly you may plant those crops also. Basil will go in now also for those who want a little pesto. I am also waiting on Okra and sweet potatoes, both of those crops like really warm soil.
   Summer squash such as Zucchini sprawl, so give them space. you'll do well to plant one hill of zucs now and another in 3-4 weeks. That will extend your season and prevent the dreaded squash overload.
  Cucumbers do well growing on a trellis, even something as simple as the wire tomato cages. That will get the cucumber plants up off of the ground  and keep them healthier.
   I grow bush bean varieties, quicker to produce, but the pole varieties will give you a longer season. Once again the pole beans will require a trellis. Bush beans can be seccessionally planted.
  Speaking of tomato cages, they work great to prop up your pepper plants. Pepper plants are brittle and you will be surprised when  the plants get overloaded late in the season and the stems break. So plant your peppers in a cage.
  Don't bother with the tomato cages for your tomatoes, drive a sturdy stake in the ground and tie the growing plants to the stakes.
  And of course, continue planting/transplanting lettuce seedlings.
  It's such an exciting and optimistic time in the garden. The sprouting of seeds and growth of newly planted transplants certainly puts a spring in our step.
Happy gardening!

   As much as I want to get started planting the garden, Mother Nature keeps reminding me who is in charge. This week we saw 33 degrees on the back porch Thursday morning with a coating of light frost over the yard. I'm looking for cold temperatures tomorrow morning also.  February was abnormally warm but now maybe real spring is coming late.
  We are safe with peas, beets, carrots and potatoes. Plant onion sets now for a crop of green onions . And with the green onions, plant more every couple weeks for a longer harvest. Same with radishes. Otherwise, we're in a holding pattern for planting our warm season crops. I'm starting lettuce seeds indoors, they will go in the garden soon. If you like spinach, you can start those indoors or direct seed those seeds in the garden.
  If you have onions and garlic, it's time for one last fertilization with a high nitrogen fertilizer such as blood meal. Those crops are starting to make bulbs and a little fertilizer with plenty of moisture will get you big onion bulbs and large garlic cloves. Don't worry that your onions are literally bursting out of the ground, that's what they do. Do not mound soil around the onions to keep them covered, it's not necessary.
  From a quick check of my rain gauge, we didn't get as much rain as initially forecast. So keep your plantings moist without overwatering. Watering is more art than science.
Happy gardening.