What's happening in the late March edible garden

Daffodils and hyacinth blooming, daylilies sprouting

Saturday, March 20, 2021

Spring in our garden has come later this year.  We had a two week frigid spell with ice and snow in mid-February that slowed everything down.  Took a couple of weeks for the ground to thaw.  Daffodils, forsythias, hyacinths are in full bloom now.  The Bradford Pear and redbud trees are just starting to flower.  Seeing some in bloom in the area, but ours just have buds so far.  

When forsythias bloom, it is time to apply corn gluten for weed suppression in the garden and yard.  Corn gluten keeps seeds from sprouting and provides nitrogen.  It will also keep grass seed or garden seed from sprouting so use only where you don't want seeds to come up.

In the edible garden, onions, parsley, horseradish, carrots, cilantro, garlic, garlic chives, Bronze fennel, and chervil are all popping up in the garden bed.  Overwintering Giant Red mustard, celery, chard, lettuce, arugula, cress, sprouting broccoli, pok choi, cabbage and broccoli are growing again.  Chickweed is flowering.  The garden is giving greens for fresh picked salads.  

Cool season crop transplants are at the local nurseries and big box stores.  They have broccoli, cauliflower, Brussel sprouts, onion sets, spinach, chard, beets, lettuce and more.  It's time to buy what you want for your spring garden and transplant!  

Overwintering cabbage and broccoli

I'll be buying lettuce and spinach to supplement what overwintered.  I'll also plant snow pea, lettuce and spinach seeds to keep the salad greens going through June.

They also have many herbs at the big box stores.  The ones that can be planted now are thyme, sage, garlic, parsley, and celery.  I'd hold off on the rosemary and especially the basil.  If it gets even close to freezing, basil can be killed in the garden.  You can buy and keep in a sunny window in the garage and they should be fine.

I saw tomatoes in the store, too.  I'd wait on those as well.  Tomatoes, peppers and eggplant all need warm days and warm soil to thrive.  A freeze can kill them.  I usually wait until May to plant these summer lovers.