April... Inside: I've got lovely little plants flourishing under grow lights. Outside: everything is sopping wet. It's still pretty cold and dark. Every morning going to the window to see if the clumps of snow have finally disappeared (answer: no... but we're close!). The ground is probably pretty frozen under all that mud and yuck.
The waiting is killing me.
Knowing how much work awaits me in the garden, I am itching to get a jump on it, but the weather this Spring just hasn't cooperated. As I'm limited to the weekends, it really depends on a few hours of sunshine at just the right time (in our house: baby's nap time!). Do you hear me Mother Nature?? I need some warmth and sun please!
In the meantime, I've got thoughts of planning and decisions to make:
- compost versus aged manure? Both? What about mulch? When can I put it all in the raised beds? Is there anything else I need to add (lime?? bonemeal??)
- hoop tunnels versus cold frames?
- when to start hardening off
- what to use for supports for peas, peppers, cucumbers, tomatoes...
- when can I really start planting out the lettuce, leeks, onions, spinach...
- can I convince The Hubs to build me a garden shed next to the house?
- is this Spring really going to be as cold and crappy as the Almanac predicts?
- WILL I GET A CUCUMBER THIS YEAR OR WHAT?
Here in Indiana spring finally sprung after the most brutal winter on record. I feel your pain in the anticipation of getting started. We're still trying to catch up since so much time was lost from the extended winter.
ReplyDeleteI can't answer most of your questions, but have found hoop tunnels to be a great season extender, provided you get some sunny days. I'd take a sunny 20F day in a heart beat over a 35F overcast day.
Good luck with your gardening this season!