How Does Your Garden Grow?
It is March 1! Usually it would mean, it is time to start thinking about this years garden. Prep the greenhouse, time to get those seedlings started. Working in the dirt whether in the greenhouse she shed or in the ground.......is such a happy place for us gardeners.
In the Gorge, gardens outdoors it is way too early to get the soil prepped. The ground needs to be cultivated, weeded, and warmer! Planting outside does not start until we can be pretty sure the morning heavy frost is done. If you listen to the elders advice, never plant until the snow disappears on Mt Defiance.
The growing season is later than in warmer city climates. This year, darn, there is still over 2 feet of snow on the ground. A person can't even think of the soil and prepping when its hidden.
Usually March 1 means; its time to get out to the greenhouse and start those seedlings, so when the air and soil in the garden is warm, we can transplant the starts. It is hard to predict if the deep snow will melt away and let the Spring sun appear in time to warm the soil if seedlings are started now.
Have faith! There may be knee deep snow now, but a little sunshine warms the soul to know what will come. After all, the snow will melt and the corn to be on time should be "knee high by the 4th of July". At first, walking through Costco and seeing all the gardening supplies, early annual starts to take home, was a little depressing. Knowing in the Gorge, our gardens are buried deep. Some years, we should be seeing the snow crocus now. Well, they are down there, pushing up. But, like a couple years ago, the snow melted and believe it or not, the crocus were done blooming under the blanket of snow before it melted.
The daffodils brighten the yard with a blanket of yellow by St Patrick's Day, this is only 2 weeks away. Will the snow be gone by then? My Irish instinct says yes! While the Gorge is today buried in snow ( with a darn for cast of more snow next week), by mid March, Spring will push up and show its colors. Maybe a little Irish jig or blessing is all we need for a little positive reinforcement. Until then, make your own garden how ever lifts the spirits, its time for the snow dancers to go back to sleep until next year and do the sunshine jigs. March is here, Spring is coming!
"There's a dear little plant that grows in our isle, 'Twas St Patrick himself, sure, that set it; And the sun on his labor with pleasure did smile, And with dew from his eye often wet it. It thrives through the bog, through the brake, and the mireland; And he called it the dear little shamrock of Ireland"
~Andrew Cherry