In this issue:
- March in the Garden
- YouTube: Grow Artichokes – Not Aphids
- Gardenerd Tip of the Month: Bed Prep
- Gardenerd Product of the Month: Grow Your Own Mini Fruit Garden
March in the Garden
This month rings in the beginning of spring in the Northern hemisphere on March 20th. Southern hemisphere dwellers shift into fall. The change of seasons is refreshing, a time to start again. Our gardens shift to a new set of crops and all the bounty that comes with it.
In the Test Garden, we’re turning over beds to ready them for spring crops. We cut down cover crops (leave the roots in the soil), chop them up in the beds, and cover the biomass with a 1″ layer of compost. Then we water well and wait 3 weeks to plant. We’ll plant those beds with heavy feeder crops like tomatoes, peppers, and corn once they are ready. The citrus trees are blooming, so it’s time to feed them. Time to tuck in spring lettuces, spinach, arugula, and a quick round of radishes before hot weather arrives. Soon thereafter, it will be time to plant squash, beans, cucumbers, basil and all the warm season crops. Exciting times, gardenerds!
In this newsletter, you’ll find our latest YouTube video, and instructions for bed prep. If you need more guidance, join in our upcoming Spring Garden Planning Webinar and it’s not too late to join The Great Grow Along (starts March 19th!). Let’s enjoy the equinox outdoors in our gardens.
Happy gardening,
Christy
2. YouTube: Grow Artichokes – Not Aphids
In our latest YouTube video, Christy shares guidance for growing artichokes (from seed or seedling) and how to shepherd plants through to maturity while keeping ants and aphids at bay.
YouTube: Grow Artichokes – Not Aphids
3. Gardenerd Tip of the Month – Bed Prep How-To
The Equinox is the time to prep garden beds for spring (or fall in the S. Hemisphere) planting. Bed prep is the most important step before planting new crops. Old beds are tired and need some lovin’ before you get plantin’, especially if you plan to grow heavy feeders like tomatoes, peppers, corn, and winter squashes. Whether you are pulling spent plants or chopping down a cover crop, here is a helpful video to guide you toward readiness.
Bed Prep How-To
Want a little extra help planning what to plant where? Join our upcoming Spring Garden Planning Webinar here (April 3rd).
4. Gardenerd Product of the Month – Grow Your Own Mini Fruit Garden
Reset the Garden — Start a Fruit Garden This Spring! Christy’s new book is coming in April, 2021 (yes, another delay in shipping due to the pandemic!). Grow Your Own Mini Fruit Garden has everything you need to get started growing fruit in small spaces. Whether you have a balcony, patio, or back yard (or front yard…hey, we did that at Gardenerd HQ) you’ll find the best guidelines for designing your space, choosing the best varieties, planting and care, and so much more. Celebrate the arrival of the equinox; pre-order your copy today for the gardenerd or fruit lover in your life (even if that’s you!).
Don’t want to wait for a new book? We have autographed copies of 2020’s Gardening for Geeks ready to ship now.
Stay tuned for more tips and tidbits from Gardenerd.com. Let’s reset the garden together and get growing! Happy Equinox.
Search our archives here.