| Dear Reader,
By now, my family members in the South are well ahead of me in their gardening. They gloat (good-naturedly) by sending photos of flowers in bloom from Arizona, Kentucky, and South Carolina—a welcome treat for my winter-weary eyes. Here in New Hampshire, though most of the snow has melted, March is still too early to work the soil, and we’re a ways off from our last frost. Yet, there’s plenty of gardening to do! While we northerners wait for the ground to thaw, it’s prime time to start seeds. I’m sowing beets, eggplants, fennel, melons, Swiss chard, and tomatoes, filling every sunny window (plus a small grow table) with little pots of promise. I love gazing at those green shoots while I plan and prep for the busy season to come. |
| This will be my first full growing season in my new home, and the list of potential projects grows longer by the day. I’d like to redraw the boundaries of my vegetable plot to show off a weathered wooden gate that came with the property (and to keep nearby hardy kiwi vines from taking over). I’m dreaming of at least one new bed for testing varieties of beans—the area is overgrown, so I’ll likely need help clearing it. I’m still deciding whether to expand the perennial herb garden or relocate it. I have a whimsical vision for a tall “fence” of sunflowers along the roadside. As soon as the snow is gone, I’ll be on the lookout for alliums, crocuses, daffodils, and hyacinths—several hundred bulbs I eagerly tucked into the ground last fall. |
| Soil health is also on my mind. I built compost bins in November, so I won’t have enough of my own compost come spring. I’ll need to order a load—another project—and figure out how much to spread on each bed. Before the invasives fully wake up, it’s a good time to plan how to deal with them. In my yard, that means targeting a clump of Japanese knotweed I noticed late last year, a few stubborn patches of poison ivy, and a stretch of Virginia creeper I’m still peeling off tree trunks. Another task I’m finishing up is pruning fruit trees. March is my last chance before buds appear, but I inevitably spot more suckers and stray limbs as the light shifts. |
| Honestly, I’m not quite sure how my southern kinfolk manage with so little downtime in between seasons! Still, it’s fun to watch their gardens flourish while I strategize and dream. Here’s to the start of spring—wherever you are—and to the bounty the season ahead brings. |
| In the meantime, if you’re itching to get your hands dirty (and maybe bring a little sunshine indoors), you’ll find some of my favorite practical tools and goodies at The Old Farmer’s Store: Enjoy this wonderful, anticipatory phase of the gardening year—and don’t forget to treat yourself to a tool or two that’ll make all your hard work easier. Wishing you a bright spring and a flourishing garden! |
| P.S. Ready to equip yourself for spring? Visit The Old Farmer’s Store to discover more gardening books, goodies, and tools. |
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