The First Day of Spring, 2004

comments (6) March 6th, 2009 in Gallery

Ruth Dobsevage, editor

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Five years ago, I was shoveling off the walkway for the umpteenth time that winter. On the first day of spring, no less. So instead of feeling sorry for myself for not being able to plant peas, I decided to throw together a snowman for the occasion, hoping that the rake would ward off additional snow.

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Soil Bag Planting

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My Light Setup for Seedlings

Comments (6)

CarlSpangler writes: I have to laugh, because I've outsmarted even myself
Posted: 4:43 pm on March 12th

Ruth writes: Here's an article on how I start lettuce:
http://www.vegetablegardener.com/item/3911/grow-lettuce-from-seed
Posted: 9:09 am on March 10th

Ruth writes: I like to start my lettuces inside, but you don't have to. You can direct-seed into the garden; exactly when to do it is a little trickier. In my experience, you can rush the season, but if you plant a couple of weeks later, those plants quickly catch up to the early birds. I sow seeds for spinach around mid-April; radishes and arugula mid-April through mid- to late May (in two or three plantings); lettuce maybe mid-April; cress mid-April. Try to dig a spade into your planting bed. If the earth is clumpy, it's too early to plant.
Posted: 9:06 am on March 10th

Pellice writes: This leads me to another question: many "salad crop" vegetables say to plant "as soon as the ground can be worked." Yet at the same time I see dire warnings about NOT doing anything with the soil while it's cold and wet, lest its "structure" be destroyed.

What to do with this contradictory advice? And are you starting your lettuce inside or outside?

Thanks!
Posted: 3:22 pm on March 9th

Ruth writes: Don't despair, Pellice. Help is at hand. If you click on the Grow It tab at the top of this page, you'll find lots of articles that can help you. I've just come in from my garden on this lovely 60-degree Saturday, and things are sprouting everywhere. This being New England, though, it would be a mistake to conclude that spring is at hand. You are right to start out with a small garden, I think. That way it won't get out of hand. I don't start beets or spinach inside, but I'll be starting lettuce tomorrow or next week. I'm in SW Connecticut, and I plant spinach in mid-April, usually, and beets in the first or second week of May.
Posted: 4:52 pm on March 7th

Pellice writes: It's been a brutal winter in many parts of the country. Here on the East Coast, I feel so behind - I want some early salad crops, but haven't started anything. Is it too late for beets, spinach, and the like?

BTW, I haven't been a very good gardener. I have spent a lot of money haphazardly. I work, which means I haven't been consistent enough.

My vegetable garden is very small, maybe 12 feet x 9 feet. So I should be able to handle that, right? I'm only one person, so with some help from SFG techniques, it should be enough, particularly since I get many vegetables from a CSA.

But I need help, am beginning to think I am hopeless.
Posted: 5:57 am on March 7th

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