🌼 March '24: Asparagus, Wildflower Hikes, Vernal Equinox
Spring is upon us!
Y’all, March is here and with it comes Spring! There are a lot of exciting things that will unfold outside in the coming weeks and months. However, cold weather isn’t over. Our frost date in north Alabama is in April, so we can still expect cold temperatures and almost certainly another good freeze. That means while we enjoy the warming, longer days, we have to have patience in planting and not get too ahead of ourselves. But it’s definitely planting season!
In the Garden
🍓 March is the time to put in strawberry and asparagus beds.
📒 Here is Gene Logsdon’s instructions on planting asparagus from his 1973 book Homesteading: How to Find New Independence on the Land.
“The ‘proper’ way to grow asparagus is to buy second year roots (one year old roots). Place them in a hole or trench about six inches below the surface of the soil, being careful to spread the roots out, fan-shaped, in the bottom of the trench or hole. Do the job as soon as the ground is workable in spring. Cover with no more than two inches of soil. As the stalks start to grow (they will be quite tiny at first), gradually fill in dirt around them until the ground is level. Do not harvest any stalks the first year, nor the second. By the third year, you should be able to cut stalks until hot weather - or for about a month from when the first stalks appeared.
I have to be a little obstinate and raise asparagus my own way. I start my plants from seed in peat pots full of vermiculite. After the seed grows to a plant of four or five inches, I set the plant, peat and all in a six inch hole, thentreat it just like plants grown from roots. By the third year after planting, I get almost as many spears to eat from my plants as from roots planted at the same time.”
There are a lot of reasons to love asparagus. Once established, it will produce for decades. It requires minimal labor and thrives on additions of compost each year. Fresh cut asparagus has a unique flavor that can only be enjoyed when its eaten shortly after harvest.
👉 Direct Seed straight into the garden - Carrots, swiss chard, collards, kale, kohlrabi, leaf lettuce, parsley, beets, radishes, green onions
👉 Transplant - After hardening off, plant into your garden your frost hardy, cool season crops that you seeded in January. Plant the smaller, less developed seedlings to avoid bolting.
[Bolting is a term that means ‘going to seed’. I reckon its called ‘bolting’ because whenever a vegetable decides its time to put energy into producing seed, the plant sends a stem straight up and flowers. It literally bolts up. When this happens, the flavor and texture of the plant changes and generally becomes less palatable.]
Some Timely Tips
✔️ In late winter, early spring begin preparing for the growing season by getting hoses and gardening supplies ready for use. Ensure your hoses are flowing properly and do not have holes in them. Also check for pests as they make great over wintering homes for all kinds of critters.
✔️ If you didn't clean, oil, and tune up your lawn equipment before putting them away for winter, early spring is the time to get that done before everything really starts growing.
Seasonal Living
We live near a trail called “The Wildflower Trail.” March is one of the best months for walking that trail because it’s the month for woodland, wild flower ephemerals. The trees have yet to put on leaves and for a brief period, sunlight hits the forest floor and sparks a burst of blooms.
Consider going for a hike this March and when you do, see how many different wildflowers you spot!
🌕 Lunar Calendar
To signify the transition of seasons and the return of earthworms in the winter thaw, the full moon in March is known as the Worm Moon.
Look for it in the evening of March 24th.
Spring Equinox
This year, the sun will shine directly onto the equator as it heads northward in the sky on March 19th. This is known as the spring equinox or the vernal equinox.
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.
March 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 sighting of migratory birds returning from winter migration
Emergence of daffodils (We saw our first daffodil bloom in Feb.)
First blossoms on cherry and peach trees
First signs of new growth on deciduous trees
Arrival of frogs or toads in ponds or wetlands
First really warm and sunny day for an outdoor picnic
First outdoor planting of cool-season crops in the garden
First bluebird sighting
First morel find
✍️ Want to share your passion with The Common community and write? Email Taylor@acommonlife.co [Last week’s newsletter had a survey link that was broken. If you clicked it, please email me instead! Otherwise, I won’t know you are interested!]
🎧 Listen to the pod here: A Common Life Podcast
📜 Missed last week’s newsletter? See it here: Getting the Garden Ready for Spring
I ‘heard’ a first red-headed woodpecker a few days ago but SAW a first pileated woodpecker after that. He/she was magnificent!!! I also saw a first blue bird out scouting.