Tips For The Anxious Gardener.

I have been on the edge of my seat waiting for all this GD snow to melt. We got 3-4 feet this year and of course my husband and I bought a house and started construction during the first of approximately 5 consecutive blizzards. Needless to say we have all been glued to the weather channel for some sign that the sun and heat would, eventually, return. Anyhow, I jumped the gun a little bit this year with my indoor green house and the seedlings so I thought I could spare others the frustration of dying seedlings.

Clearly not happy plants.

First I started my seeds about 2 weeks to early. That doesn't seem like much but in New England we only get 4 or 5 warm months a year to grow and the frost will get you every time. So I quickly realized that larger plants like squash and sunflowers grow really, really fast. I mean seriously, especially in a greenhouse. My advice is if the seed itself is on the larger side, plant those last. There are lots of websites to give you advice on when to plant in your region, I checked them out and filled a planner. Then I planted stuff early anyway, cause ya know, I'm smaht.

Even the toddler is confused about spring.

Second, I recommend being very organized with your labeling and time scales. Seriously, stuff gets jumbled very easily as seedlings sprout and need to be turned and moved toward the sun. At this point I'm going to have to plant the unrecognizables together and move them when I figure out what they are.

Third, Yes it is, in fact, warm out. However, it's still friggan cold at night. I have already killed several seedlings that were ready for planting and a grapevine that I was very excited about. (Don't worry I am totally getting another one.) So, seriously you have to be realistic about the time of year and that sometimes you are still trying to shed the freezer burn from winter and your baby plants are not equipped for that cold.

Finally, don't forget there are projects that can be done while you wait to be elbow deep in worm castings. Climbing vegetables are a great way to save garden space but you need trellises. I went the cheapo way and screwed together some 2x4's and stapled trellis netting to it. Took five minutes and it's pretty solid. However, since you have this time you could always paint it up make it look fancy or something. Get your potted plants settled in their homes in the house, watch the sun through the windows to pick the sunniest rooms. At this point you can also get those herbs growing, they do just fine indoors and are easily set into window boxes and the like. (PS. For the life of me I can not get my Rosemary to grow to I advise finding a nursery or garden center for clippings or the whole plant. Keep in mind that basil takes forever to sprout and parsley and cilantro grow tall and a little wild so you may need a cage to direct them up, eventually.)

Helping me do the yard work to prepare for garden season.

Be patient my loves it will be soon be warm enough to reap the rewards of your hard work and patience. Every year, I have found, you learn a little more and you get a little better so even if it doesn't work out as planned this time you have another whole year to try again and learn some more.

How have you guys been doing? Are you growing anything out of the ordinary? I am trying pumpkins and climbing strawberries.