Gardeners Almanac

(Page 3 of 3)

April/May 2005
Edited by Carol Mack 
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— Bill McDorman, Seeds Trust, High Altitude Gardens, Hailey, Idaho

RELATED CONTENT

Pacific Northwest

Most of the Pacific Northwest is not safe from late spring frosts until May 15, but there is plenty to do in the meantime. Start now on weed control — pull, hoe or mulch weeds while they are still small to save hours of work later in the season. Sow carrots, beets, lettuce, arugula, peas, radishes, spinach and mesclun mixes. Transplant leeks, chives and brassicas (cabbage, broccoli and relatives). If you have not started these indoors, purchase several varieties with different maturity dates to extend the harvest. Consider planting extra tomatoes this season. The average American consumes 90 pounds of tomatoes a year, and they are easy to process or dry. Get some off to an early start with Wall-O-Water protectors or cut out the bottom of plastic gallon jugs and place them, lids-off, over your seedlings. But pay close attention to the temperature under there — on sunny spring days it can get too hot and stress the seedlings.

— Rose Marie Nichols McGee, Nichols Garden Nursery, Albany, Ore.; and Josh Kirschenbaum, Territorial Seed Co., Cottage Grove, Ore.

Southwest

Prepare the earth for another season of plenty by feeding the microorganisms in the soil — which will in turn provide nutrients for your crops. We incorporate cover crops of winter rye, Austrian winter pea and hairy vetch, throw an inch of compost on top and fork it all into the top 4 to 6 inches of soil. This feast for the microorganisms pays off in vigorous, disease-free plants. Peppers, tomatoes and eggplants are still in the greenhouse in cooler areas and require regular foliar feedings of compost tea to keep them healthy until they can be transplanted. As night temperatures warm, plant these and other heat-loving crops outside. Meanwhile, build trellises where the climbers will be planted. Continue cutting back perennials to allow room for new growth. A side dressing of compost will help them produce beautiful blooms for you and nectar for beneficial insects

— Erica Renaud, Seeds of Change, Santa Fe, N.M

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