Last Frost Date
In the south, April, not March, is the month we get to forget about cold weather and plant our favorite warm season crops. It’s always funny to me how the big-box garden stores start pushing out the warm season vegetables and flowers in early March. It never fails. We warm up to the 70s for a few days, trees begin to bloom, and folks can’t help but buy plants for their gardens and yard. Those big-box garden stores love it. They know, in a few weeks, many of those same people will be back to buy those same plants because there is almost always a late freeze before we get into the meat of April. It’s like clockwork.
As far as determining your frost date … can I be honest? Things keep changing. Generally I’d say look at the USDA Hardiness Zone Map and find your zone. Then follow this:
Zone 6 (Kentucky-ish): Avg. last spring frost is April 30
Zone 7 (Tennessee and N Alabama - ish): Avg. last spring frost is April 15
Zone 8 (Much of Alabama) - Avg. last spring frost is April 1
If you just want to put in your zip code and have a date spit out for you, try this website: https://www.almanac.com/gardening/frostdates Their results seem pretty accurate.
🏡 In the Garden
I highly encourage mulching in your garden. It has a lot of positives and is a must for those of us who do not till. However, there are a few downsides of mulching. The one I want to mention here is this: mulch will keep you garden soil cooler in spring as the temperatures rise. The problem with this is, warm-season crops, such as tomatoes and peppers prefer warm soil. If their soil isn’t in the 70s, they aren’t going to grow. With this in mind, pull your mulch back in the areas where you are going to plant your warm-season crops (tomatoes, peppers, eggplant primarily) a week or two before planting. That means now! This will help your soil warm up in time for planting.
👉 Direct Seed in late April after threat of frost has passed: Beans, Cucumbers, Squash, Cantaloupe, Watermelon, Okra, and Sweet Corn
👉 Transplant after threat of frost has passed: Tomatoes, Peppers, Basil, Eggplant
👉 Plant Sweet Potato Slips in late April
Some Timely Tips
✔️ Early spring is also the time to plant blackberries, raspberries, and blueberries.
✔️ Any shrubs or trees planted in the spring will need to be watched carefully, watered deeply, and mulched heavily. It is important to not allow these plantings to dry out.
Seasonal Living
If you don’t have a garden, what better way to welcome spring than by putting in a new garden. I talk about how we put in our garden in this newsletter and here in this podcast.
Here are the highlights for anyone putting in a new garden:
First, understand which way is north. This is important because this will tell you which way shadows will be facing throughout the year. Your garden should go on the southern side of tall structures or trees!
Consider how storm water moves across your property and where it collects! Avoid areas that get really boggy after heavy rains or areas where a lot of run off moves through.
Think about your soil. The most important thing to consider here is contamination. If you or the previous owner had an old car sitting out for a few years in the spot that you want to put your garden, it’s probably a bad idea to put your garden there. Other than an outlier situation like that, I’m of the opinion, most soils can be remedied and brought back to life.
Do you want an in-ground garden or a raised bed garden? My suggestion is: If a raised bed garden means you must wait or makes you feel overwhelmed, definitely go the in-ground route! That’s what we do and it’s the way I prefer.
So you have your spot picked out, now what? Weed whack everything down to the ground, add a couple inches of compost and peat moss, cover with mulch, and then plant directly into soil. Remember to pull your mulch back when you plant and don’t incorporate your mulch into your soil. It can really be this easy.
Get some tools. To get started you need a stirrup hoe for weeding, a garden fork to aerate your soil, and a yard rake to move mulch around.
***Bermuda Grass Disclaimer*** So, Bermuda grass really messes up the above plan. If you weed whack Bermuda grass, add compost, peat moss, and mulch on top, then plant into it… You’re going to curse me and rightfully demand your money back. So let me say this, if you have a Bermuda grass yard and want to garden, please email me directly - Taylor@acommonlife.co. Eventually I am going to do a whole write-up on how to deal with Bermuda grass. Until then, email me and I’ll be happy to advise.
🍓 Seasonal Eating
Strawberries will be coming in this month! I’m so excited!!! Look for them at roadside stands and at farmer’s markets!
🌕 Lunar Calendar
In modern times, the common name for April's full moon is the Pink Moon, while an old Anglo-Saxon term for it was Paschal Moon, referring to the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The “pink” part of it’s name is an ode to a wildflower that is native to the eastern portion of North America: the Pink Phlox. Where Morgan and I are located, in north Alabama, we usually see the first wild phlox bloom on our farm in late March.
This year, you can catch the full Pink Moon on the evening of Tuesday, April 23rd.
📅 Calendar of Firsts
A calendar of firsts serves as a meaningful tool to celebrate and connect with the ever-changing rhythms of nature throughout the year. Its purpose is to document and acknowledge the first occurrences of various events and natural phenomena that mark the transition of seasons. By recording the first blooming flowers, migrating birds, or changing foliage, individuals deepen their awareness of the subtle shifts that unfold in the natural world. This heightened observation cultivates a sense of awe and appreciation for the beauty and diversity of our environment. Moreover, a calendar of firsts invites us to engage in a deeper relationship with the natural world, fostering a sense of connection, mindfulness, and gratitude. It allows us to truly immerse ourselves in the present moment and develop a greater understanding of the intricate cycles that shape our lives and the world around us.
April firsts to be looking for:
Remember these are general examples for zone 7 in the southeast US. Specific occurances will depend on your regional climate and conditions. Keeping a personal calendar or journal will allow you to capture the unique experiences and observations of each month in your region.
First bite of a fresh strawberry!
Return of hummingbirds from winter habitats
Emergence of butterflies and bees as they become more active
First frog or toad choruses in wetlands or bodies of water
First farmer’s market visit
First clear night for star gazing
Before You Go!
💚 If you love this newsletter, tell us by sharing it with all of your friends and family!
✎ Are you passionate about gardening or seasonal living? Share it with the community and write for The Common! Email taylor@acommonlife.co for more information
🎧 Listen to the pod here: A Common Life Podcast
📜 Missed last week’s newsletter? See it here: Our favorite, easy-to-grow plants for the home garden.
A walk in your woods is always full of special and joyful back to nature moments.
Great info and wonderful to get a glimpse into your lives. I love the journal of “firsts”!