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HOW TO PREP FOR YOUR 2022
Garden By Bethany Beebe
Whether March 1 is a blustery day or the first vestiges of warmth to come, the month can bring activity in the garden. Time and effort now can mean big bounty later, and the initial financial investment of garden supplies can mean a smaller grocery bill in the months to come. A few basic reminders can help us all stay in the know on things that grow!
Removal of old foliage from last season makes room for growth to come (1). With the removal of the unproductive, a fresh canvas awaits the gardener, ready for the coming months of growing. March is not too late to get a soil test for the season’s garden space (1). If this task has already been accomplished, suggested amendments for greater fertility and healthier pH levels can be made based on the feedback offered (1). Check out this URL for the directions to prepare and have analyzed a soil sample through Allen County’s Purdue Extension https://extension.purdue.edu/county/ allen/soil-testing.htmlpurdue.edu. Including those selected amendments into welltilled soil benefits whatever you select to grow. To determine when the soil is ready to work up
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for planting, try to make a ball of soil. If it does not crumble in your hand, it is still too wet (1). Rosie Lerner of Purdue Extension offers that the soil should be tilled to at least six inches in depth (2). She also suggests multitasking when tilling, adding fertilizer and organic material, improving the substance and structure of the soil at the same time(2). Once the soil is ready, many cool-season selections can be planted (1). Extension suggests checking the seed packet to assure proper planting times are achieved(2). March also can be an ideal time to start warm-weather plants indoors (1). It can be challenging to decide when to plant from seed directly into the ground, when to start early indoors, and when to sow directly into the garden. Lerner suggests seeding simple, common plants like beans or sunflowers, getting transplants for garden workhorses like tomatoes or peppers, and starting from seed those selec-
tions that are less common and therefore likely unavailable as transplants (3). What we do now can affect future growing seasons. Making a plan for what to plant where and its success from season to season is made easier with a garden log (4). If your plans include dividing or transplanting perennials, the National Gardening Association suggests early Spring is ideal (5). While there may be many tasks to accomplish this month, the natural world knows not a state of all work and no play. Fall-planting bulbs begin to emerge and bloom (1). Squill, crocus, snowdrops, and daffodils are bright additions to a garden coming back to life after a winter’s rest (1). a photos: shutterstock.com
(1) March Garden Calendar - Indiana Yard and Garden - Purdue Consumer HorticulturePurdue University Indiana Yard and Garden – Purdue Consumer Horticulture (2) Cool-Season Planting Is Hot - Indiana Yard and Garden - Purdue Consumer HorticulturePurdue University Indiana Yard and Garden – Purdue Consumer Horticulture (3) March 1996 - Indiana Yard and Garden - Purdue Consumer HorticulturePurdue University Indiana Yard and Garden – Purdue Consumer Horticulture (4) The March ‘To Do’ Spring Preparation List For Gardeners (deeprootsathome.com) (5) Dividing Perennials - Garden.org
