Spring Gardening Journal

Well, yes, this is about what there is to do if you are into Spring Gardening. This short article includes a flashback to my Spring Gardening Journal in 2020. Hang on to your hats for lots of tips, notes, ideas and links. The quotes are from Ruth Stout:

Lots of recycled containers with new Curly Kale growing inside under lights almost ready to move out to the greenhouse and outside — Inside under lights - 5 week old Curly Kale to be moved to greenhouse in a few weeks ...

I love spring anywhere,
but if I could choose
I would always greet it in a garden.

Spring Gardening 2022 First ...

It has been a busy and productive Spring beginning in February, starting inside under lights with kale, basil, parsley, spinach, chard and lettuce. I save, wash and recycle hundreds of cardboard coffee cups each year for seed starting and plant directly outside
The garlic planted last October (our Fall) has survived a very wet and chilly winter and is coming along fine
A packet of Detroit Dark beets was planted outside in early April to grow a crop (50 - 60 days) before the tomatoes are planted out in late May
On a rainy wet day this past week, spent several hours digging up half the strawberry patch to get rid of the horrible creeping buttercup and saved about 50 strawberry plants. The other half still to be transplanted!
. . . And of course there are also always the "chores" like washing the greenhouse as soon as day temperatures warm up.
Mid April Update: Very tall kale moved to greenhouse 2 weeks ago. 6 plants transplanted to the garden to see "how they fair". Weather is still very wet with some low night time temperatures
Tomatoes growing inside - extremely healthy some Rutgers, Earliana & Starfire varieties now 10 inches tall. Into the greenhouse at end of April. Note all tomatoes are seeded inside in larger pots to avoid transplanting (shock). They will be planted out in the middle of May.
Squash and cukes just seeded inside are also up
Have a new 4 x 8 feet raised bed garden - thinking of growing potatoes there this year
... and here are some more ideas "15 Spring Cleaning Tips for your Garden"

Raised bed garden full of Red Russian garlic planted previous Fall with some self seeded Italian parsley - both delicious

There is peace in the garden.
Peace and results.

2020 Flashback (from my Spring Gardening Journal)

It's been a crazy busy week & is a fun time of the year. I am always amazed how fast the plants & transplants grow. Our unheated greenhouse is a great bonus & since March has had seeded veggie greens & tomato plants growing.
Many tasks in the yard are now being repeated: seeding, transplanting, etc & here's how it went starting Week of April 19 ... ~ A new small garden bed (24 sf) along the back porch stairwell will provide space for 36 Scarlet runner beans & 4 peppers. Transplanted 4 herbs as well oregano, parsley, thyme & rosemary to this new garden.
This has freed up a complete 4' x 4' bed for kale transplants ~ Noticed some birds found & dug up some veggie seeds so reseeding & will "cover" this with loose chicken wire until plants show. Watch out for slugs & bugs in early Spring
Planted small garlic plants around garden borders (space permitting) for "greens" - great in a veggie stir fry with turkey burgers. I do this every year.

I am watching my grandchild watching my garden grow. No strawberries or radish yet — Watching my garden grow with grandchildren ~ a great big positive

Planted 50 onion bulbs (Spanish for cooking)~ Radish & kale are up in main garden but slugs & sow bugs are attacking both. Plants seeded in cold frame (spinach, mesclun, lettuce small but growing well
Eight 6" tomatoes planted in ground in green house - Variety: Rutgers & Beefsteak. Remaining tomatoes not outside for a few weeks & may have to transplant into larger pots
Still eating our daily kale (last years) but coming to an end soon~ Planning to can a little rhubarb this weekend if enough matured in the garden
Fruit trees in blossom. Not too many insects to pollinate so far ~My husband has spent hours ridding the flower garden of Creeping Buttercup - a thankless job much appreciated

Magnificent white blossoms on a fruit tree which looks like an apple tree. — Bees & insects beneficial in early spring to pollinate fruit blossoms

"In all things of nature
there is something
of the marvelous."
~ Aristotle

In Closing:

My closing comment in 2020 applies to this Spring as well. "Weather continuing a little cooler but cloudy days are a good time to transplant " I just love it when someone asks me how on earth I keep so busy now I am retired ~ always makes me laugh ~ Hope this whets your appetite to try your own veggie garden this year. Happy Gardening!
Best wishes ~ Liz