* Don’t fool around any longer. Start seeds of peppers, and eggplant this April Fool’s Day or soon thereafter in order to have vigorous seedlings for transplanting in late May. At temperatures between 75 and 80 degrees F, the seeds should germinate in about 7 to 14 days. That means the seedlings will be about seven weeks old at the time of transplanting. Research has shown that to be the ideal age for these vegetable transplants. Tomato seeds are best started about a week after seeds of peppers and eggplants.
* Make sure you know which of your ornamental shrubs produce flowers on old wood, that is last year’s growth, and which flower on new wood, i.e. this year’s growth. Those which flower on new growth may be pruned now.
* Cut back the tops of ornamental grasses and old shoots of any herbaceous perennials which were no topped last fall before new growth begins. If growth has begun, be careful not to cut any of the new shoots.
* Make note of areas in the yard where pools of water remain for several days after the ground has thawed. Standing water indicates poorly draining soils. Trees, shrubs, or other plants that cannot tolerate “wet feet” for several days at a time should not be planted in those areas.
* Remove a little of the mulch material that is covering strawberry beds and perennials in the flower garden. As the weather continues to warm, gradually remove the rest of the mulch. Plants don’t like sudden temperature changes; that’s the reason for the measured approach to removing mulch.
* Water houseplants a few hours before repotting. If not dividing the plants into smaller segments, then repot plants into larger pots. Pot sizes are measured as the diameter at the rim. Plants that were growing in pots six inches or less should be moved up to pots one inch larger. Plants grown in pots larger than six inches should be moved up to pots that are two inches larger.
* Take frequent strolls around the yard and enjoy the little surprises which pop up at this time of year. By surprises I mean the early spring bulbs such as snowdrops, crocus, and winter aconite. They’ll brighten your day.
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By now most gardeners are familiar with floating row covers. If you’re not one of them, let me break the news to you. Row covers are translucent fabrics made of tiny fibers of polypropylene or polyethylene. They are very light weight with a texture or feel similar to that of single ply facial tissue. Unlike solid sheets of polyethylene, the fibrous nature of these plastics permits water and wind to pass through. Yet, they do allow for a buildup of some heat and humidity beneath the fabric.
I use row covers over newly seeded crops in the garden, or over vegetable transplants. When applying a row cover, secure the edges with soil and leave some slack in the cover. As plants grow they lift the fabric. Soil beneath row covers heats up faster in spring allowing for earlier germination of seeds and development of plants. Row covers can also be useful in protecting plants from invading insects, thus reducing the need for pesticides. Though I now routinely try to avoid using plastic products, some, such as floating row covers, have benefits which need to be considered. Also, with care, row covers will be re-useable for several years.
