Now is the time to start your garden plans for the Maritime Northwest climate. Getting a jump on your season can save you a headache or two once the physical planting time comes.
Check your garden soil. Preform a pH test and amend your soil if necessary. If you are planning on a diverse pH planting, make sure your planting area and itβs medium is set for the specific vegetation. Ex, blueberries will require a more acidic pH medium than leafy vegetables.
Weed your garden. Seriously. Start weeding now, your produce seedlings will thank you. The less they have to compete with at a young age, the stronger plant you will have.
Turn your soil. Especially the areas that got hit by the 2021 February snowstorm. Turn your soil after weeding your garden. If you need to amend your soil, this is a good time to do it as you will be mixing your amendments throughout your entire growing area.
Start your warm season seeds indoors. If growing potatoes or fava beans, have their growing plot ready to go by March. Sprout your potatoes a week or so prior to planting. If you need to divide a large seed potato, make your cuts are done 2 days minimum prior to planting to reduce the risk of rot. Fava bean (seeds or starts) can go directly into the ground the first week of March as they are cold hardy and can tolerate light frost.
Start pest prevention early. For slugs use copper tapes and salts to deter them from your seedlings. Use cabbage collars on your cabbage seedlings to prevent cabbage root flies from getting at the stems. Net your seedlings in advance for prevent loss to birds. Use floating row covers while seedlings are young to prevent pest damage and to keep some extra warmth. Donβt forget to remove covers as the weather warms up so benifical pollinators can reach your garden.
Check your garden tools are sharp, oiled, and ready for the growing season.
FOR CANNERS ONLY: If you plan on canning your harvest this year, stock up on a case or two of your preferred canning jars. Once canning season is in full swing, items such as lids, rings, jars, pectin, etc. can be difficult to find.
Try something new. Save a small patch of space in your garden to test out a single planting of a crop you have always wanted to grow! If it performs well, you can add it to next yearβs plans. If it doesnβt meet you expectations, you didnβt put a large amount of cost into growing the crop and can try something else next year.
Below is a list of seed companies I trust and use in my garden. My personal favorite are highlighted in green:
1 inch of water equals 16 gallons (60.5 liters)
Succession plant crops every 2 weeks for continuous harvest.
Preform a vigilant 4 year crop rotation to prevent disease in your soil.
Plant marigolds among your crops to keep pests away.
Use flash tape and netting to keep birds out of the garden.
Plant flowers and herbs for benifical insects to assist in your gardens pollination. Some of the best flowers for bees are:
Lavender β Lavandula spp.
Rosemary β Rosemarinus officinalis
Coneflower β Echinacea spp.
Sunflower β Helianthus spp.
Penstemon β Penstemon spp.
Lambβs Ear β Stachys spp.
Bells of Phacelia β Phacelia spp.
Black-eyed Susan β Rudbeckia spp.
Oregano β Origanum spp.
Yarrow β Achilliea millefolium
Honeywort - Cerinthe major
Ask box is always open on this blog. There is never a need to wait until a Submission Saturday to ask for help with your garden.