Spring Gardening Tips

What has felt like one of the longest winters we have had in a long time is finally ending. Ahead of us is only sunshine and blooming flowers. Great weather is critical to a healthy garden, especially after all of the flooding. This week we want to share gardening tips to keep the spring bloom going and your garden healthy over the hot summer. 

Try growing your groceries this summer, or at least a few. Homegrown tomatoes are one of the easiest and most delicious vegetables to maintain and care for. April is the perfect time to get your tomato seeds into action so that you can enjoy them in the summer. Tomato plants generally require about one to two inches of water a week as seedlings or ¼ cup of water a day. If you don’t want to start from scratch, you can always buy the tomato plants themselves from your local garden center. If you want to grow them right in your kitchen window or the porch, you can easily give them a little water every day on your way to work. 

Whether an expansive in-ground garden, a few raised beds, pots, and grow bags, getting the soil ready to receive seeds and seedlings is essential. Plants like easy soil for their roots to move through and rich in the nutrients that will sustain them as they grow and produce. Gone are the days of digging down 24 inches and turning the soil. Rotating soil sounds like a great idea in theory, but in reality, it destroys the tilth. Rotating soil once or twice a year with fertilizer is all your garden needs to stay healthy, no need to put in all the extra work. In our clay soils, rototilling tends to polish the bottom layer, making it difficult for plant roots and water to penetrate. And microbes living in the ground, which help support your plants, don’t like being disturbed.

Take advantage of the perfect spring weather and get your hands dirty to check for weeds or pests in your garden. If you have a free afternoon, plucking up those pesky weeds from your soil is the biggest threat if not taken care of, especially before giving your garden a once over with fertilizer. The next biggest threats are squirrels and raccoons, who will feast on those tomatoes you have been giving so much love. We recommend buying a cage to keep them out or just keeping these smaller pots indoors in sunny windows. 

Use the spring weather as an excuse to work on your garden, check in on your soil, and plant your homegrown tomatoes just in time. These are quick and easy tips to keep your garden alive and well in the spring and prepared for the hot summers.