ACL Letter #22 - April Seasonal check-in
April Seasonal Update
Spring has officially arrived, and gardeners everywhere are in full planting mode. With April being the busiest month of the year, it's important to make sure you're fully prepared for the task ahead. Ideally, you started preparing your garden last fall by mulching and keeping it planted throughout the winter. Neglecting your garden in the fall can lead to weeds taking over and topsoil erosion, making spring garden work more difficult. But, if your garden is in disarray, don't fret. I'll discuss how to get back on track below.
Frost Date (revisited):
I wrote this last month:
"Do you know what your last frost date is for the spring? Your spring frost date is dependent on your USDA Hardiness Zone. Find your zone here. For most gardeners in the south, your frost date will be between late March and early May. We live in north Alabama, zone 7b and I roll with a last frost date of April 15th. These dates are calculated based on previous data that shows a less than 10% chance there will be a frost in your region after your last frost date."
That is still relevant. Plants like tomatoes, peppers, squash, cucumbers, eggplant, and basil are all sensitive to frost and will need to be planted after the threat of frost has passed. Most summer vegetables are sensitive to frost and will need to avoid being left uncovered if you have a frosty night in your area during April.
Sometimes, unexpected cold weather happens. If you have already planted your warm-season vegetables outside, you can simply cover them during the night and they will likely be fine as long as the temps do not get too low (<32) for too long (a couple hours). I use a cover that is specifically made for protecting veggies from frost and also bugs. So far, the covers are going strong and have lasted me 5+ years.
"I'm Overwhelmed and don't know where to start"
That's ok. Most people have flower beds around their house already. The easiest thing to do to get started is to go buy a few vegetable plants at your local garden or feed and seed store and stick 'em in the ground in your established beds. Make sure the spot is south facing (best) and not on the north side of your house.
"I want to put a garden in, but don't have a tiller! And I don't want to till!"
Me either! That's why I don't till... Ever! And you don't have to till to establish a garden. In fact, I recommend mowing down the grass as low as you can get it (I used a weed eater to get it all the way down), placing cardboard down (if you have it, if not, you can skip), putting some compost on top of the cardboard (6-8inches) and then covering with a couple inches of mulch (Chopped leaves, woodchips). Then plant directly into the compost. BAM! you have a garden plot.
Here is a podcast episode where I talk about starting our garden from scratch when we moved into town.
One exception to the above is if you have Bermuda grass. If this is you, send me an email to taylor@acommonlife.co and we can chat through it. Bermuda is really tough to get rid of and mowing it to the ground, covering it, and then planting on top of it will NOT work. Unfortunately.
"my garden is a mess from last year and it feels daunting to get it going again"
No problem. Remove all plant residue, add mulch, and plant away. If you don't want to remove plant residue from last year, just cover it up with mulch and plant away. Ideally, gardens are kept clean from old plant residue because it promotes pests and disease. However, mulching heavily will help increase the soil biology and fertility of your soil and will help get it back in alignment and balanced. If your garden is full of weeds and a complete disaster, email me at taylor@acommonlife.co and we can talk through it.
Monthly To-Do's
Transplants go in this month! Warm season veggies will be going into the ground. Be sure and harden off your plants if you have been raising them inside in ideal conditions.
Direct seed in mid/late April - Beans, Cucumbers, Squash, Cantaloupe, Watermelon, Okra
Plant your sweet corn in blocks 1x weekly for a staggered harvest after threat of frost has passed
Direct seed your flowers into the garden as well. Try seeding: Calendula, Clarkia, Larkspur, Sweet peas. Sunflowers and Tithonia will need to go on the north side (or back) of the garden to avoid blocking out any sun.
Keep "hilling up" potatoes.
Timely Tips
Trim bushes and hedges now. Now is also the time to prune your trees if you haven't already.
Now that days are starting to get longer, it's a great time to pot-up house plants and give them a good feeding.
As the soil warms up, pests and weeds will begin to emerge. It's a good idea to go ahead and start looking out for these pests and stay on top of removing them before they get established.
Seasonal Activities
Farmers Markets usually begin to open in April. It is always a fun time to go stroll a market early in the season. The farmers are happy and the produce crisp. Look for leafy greens and lettuces. The cooler nights of March and April will offer up the sweetest greens of the year.
U-Pick season is here and it starts with Strawberries! Depending on your goals, this can either be a fun family adventure or a bargain spree. If you take kids, it's a great opportunity to teach them delayed gratification and see larger scale food production up close.
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