Spring Garden

The spring garden is beginning to show signs of life again. Spring bulbs that I planted last fall, are poking up through the mulched beds. Perennials are beginning to awaken. My established pots of rosemary, sage and thyme are showing a slight ‘greening up’. I hope their growth doesn’t get too far along since mid-March is notorious for 60 degree days and 30 degree night temps.

Indoors, my five-year-old, potted Meyer lemon is responding to a dose of citrus tree fertilizer and is loaded with fragrant blossoms. Because the tree spends more time indoors than out, I use a natural hair paint brush to try and pollinate each blossom . I need to see a lemon -even just one- that remains on the tree to full development and ripeness. It’s been a struggle that is -no pun intended- fruitless!

I have not had a lemon tree in over twenty years. My lemon tree thrived all through the drought-stricken summer. That two-gallon Meyer lemon tree produced 20 lemons over the subsequent winter. With little input from me! I was even able to jar lemon curd from those gorgeous lemons. The present tree- zero. Little lemons form, grow a little and then drop-off dead. Literally. Yet I keep hoping, feeding and pruning.

Spring garden bed preparation

Outdoors, I had prepared the garden beds with compost and a cover of straw after planting bulbs in November. The raised beds have wonderful soft and loamy soil; the garlic will be able to spread and form large bulbs. Now, tips of the green, spear-shape leaves are visible. It was a different story in the garden beds; even with all the amendments I added to the soil, root crops of carrot and garlic struggled.

It’s still too early to start seeds indoors. If you start them too far in advance of outdoor target date, the seedlings will become leggy and growth will slow. For now, I’ll content myself with planning the ground cover around the new raised beds. Not sure what exactly that will be. I just know that I don’t want grass or stones as both are difficult to keep weed-free. I’m thinking about an herbal ground cover, maybe wild or creeping thyme or anything that has a compact habit and can withstand moderate foot traffic. Mulch would be the easiest to apply, but it’s my last choice because it doesn’t attract beneficial insects to the garden.

As it gets closer to planting time, I’ll add a top dressing of organic compost to the garden beds and pots. It will give an extra boost to the early spring garden crops of arugula, lettuce and kale.