Fat buds in pots of snowdrops and hyacinths on sidewalk displays tell us that spring’s arriving soon. It’s so tempting to buy one or two pots and enjoy the blooms inside. But later, many end up as green waste.
That’s because not everyone with garden or container space knows that if planted again these bulbs can recycle themselves many times and produce years of bloom — and the very best time for transplanting is while the soil is still moist from winter rains. In subsequent years, replanted hyacinths transform into a slightly-taller, more elegant flower that blooms in mid-spring.
Their survival is virtually certain because their bulbs are big enough to withstand hardship. Snowdrops are more of a gamble, but when they do come back, they tend to spread rapidly.
For container gardeners, transplants of flowers and/or vegetables acquired in planting season are an easy and time-saving way to start. But people with more space to fill who like the wide choices and inexpensive option of seed-starting can begin cleaning containers and acquiring seed-starting mix and seed very soon.
Some seeds are best started inside early because they’re slow-growing. These include geraniums, snapdragons, sweet peas and dianthus. Leeks can be started inside too and as soon as garlic and shallots (multipliers) appear in stores, they can be planted when the soil is no longer frozen.
The onion family is phenomenally hardy and mature leeks stand deep cold quite well. But leek seeds won’t germinate outside until the weather warms up. Like other long, thin vegetables, leeks fit well into containers.
Seed of storage onions can also be planted inside any time now. The gardener who grew the biggest onions I ever saw planted the seed inside at the beginning of December. He had a greenhouse, but compact four-tray plant lights are widely available now.
In outside gardens, voles will eat almost anything that can’t run. Garlic is safe, but they eat root vegetables and shallots from below. When I tried a teaspoon of red pepper powder on each shallot being planted, they weren’t touched. It worked for peas too.
Whether you’re gardening in containers or an outside garden bed, it helps to plan for crop rotation before spring planting starts. This is ensuring that crops are planted where the same kind of vegetable hasn’t grown for several years.
Crop rotation keeps nutrients in balance and ensures pests are kept confused and starved out as they hike around to find where their food supply has gone.
Memories being what they are, it helps to write down where things are planted and keep the list to refer to in later years. A three-year rotation is good, four years is better but even a two-year rotation is better than not doing it at all.
It helps to remember that cabbage pests will move from one kind of cabbage to another. Tomatoes, potatoes and peppers also have their habitual pests. So do peas and the bean family. The root vegetables also share the same pests.
Anne Marrison is happy to answer garden questions. Send them to her via [email protected]. It helps me if you mention the name of your city or region.
