The Write Gardener

From the record setting snowfalls of February, to the near-record setting warmth and blaring sunshine of early March, the weather confounds us one month and comforts us the next. I’m sure gardeners in many of the northeastern states were especially thrilled to finally see the official arrival of spring this past Saturday. Backyard garden plots are drying out and some have even been tilled. Drainage problems here at Conner Country Gardens have always prevented us from getting out in the garden too early; it would take a massive amount of new topsoil to give us the added height needed for elevating our vegetable garden. Individual raised beds would be the next best thing; construction should have started on them years ago.

Phenology – I bet you didn’t know it has everything to do with the arrival of spring. And after so many months (how long of a winter was it anyway, years??) of waiting, the season that kicks off the growing of the greens has finally made its debut!
“The study of periodic plant and animal life cycle events and how these are influenced by seasonal and interannual variations in climate.” That’s the definition botanists and horticultural types use to explain Phenology. Gardeners know it simply as gardening. We’ve studied plant life cycles in the garden for most of our lives, and the animals that like our plants have been taken into consideration also. I guess what we kind of forget to take a closer look at is the “interannual variations in climate” that affect how our plants grow.

If we were to tramp around in our gardens before they’ve had the chance to dry out, hurriedly and excitedly digging and dropping seeds and plants, we’d be making a huge mistake. Slogging around in wet garden soil causes compaction, and compaction causes deterioration of soil structure. I mentioned the importance of a soil’s ability to hold and conduct water, nutrients, and air in my previous series about the soil food web. Heavily compacted soils prevent drainage and make it extremely difficult for roots to grow and extract nutrients from the soil. Waiting until the warm air climate of spring to arrive and dry things out is a best practice that will help us be successful in the garden.

Success in the spring garden is measured by many things. Beginning with the colors of early season bloomers like daffodils and crocuses. If you planted bulbs of these harbingers of spring, you’re probably being rewarded now with lots of yellow, white, pink and purple flowers. As the warmer climate of spring continues to influence seasonal growth in the garden, we should make it a point to take a closer look at how weather patterns and Mother Nature work for, and against, our efforts to be successful gardeners. Taking notice of how climate affects the things we grow, and how we affect our climate is an important aspect of sustainable gardening. Welcome spring by enjoying all the early season bloomers in your garden, and in the gardens of your friends and neighbors.

The Write Gardener is pleased to announce an eBook publication: “Spring.”