It’s also a great time to fertilize or sow seeds. 

I hope to get the green beans and cucumber seeds in.

Yesterday, Jacob helped me get more  fences into our new garden plot.  Growing pole beans, cucumbers and tomatos on fences is a great way to keep them up off the soil and makes for easy picking.

Now is the time to prune any flower bushes that have finished flowering.  Alway prune AFTER flowering.

Plant your caladium and elephant ear bulbs now.

Potatoes looking good after the  frost got them.

Spinach almost ready to pick!

“Milk carton” Columbine from last year.

Erin and I are keeping these two cuties (the little ones)  this weekend while Brad and Ali head to Florida for a week!

What  are you doing this weekend?

~Robin

The tomatoes are growing!

See the bloom forming?

One that didn’t make it.  I’m guessing a cut-worm.

We like to grow our tomatoes vertically, by weaving the vines in and out of the fencing.

Some of the blooms around the ManyMeadows.

Fresh is best!  A little olive oil, some fresh rosemary, a couple of microwave minutes.  Yum!

You have plenty of time to get some things growing.  Start with a couple of tomato plants and a couple of peppers.  Place them in a sunny bed with your flowers, or put them in large pots on the patio.  You’ll be glad you did!

We’ll be at the OK Memorial Marathon Sunday morning watching Anna, Cody Light, Ali and Abbi and other friends cross the finish line.  Then we have an “After Marathon Celebration Party” (otherwise known as a junk-food fest) here at our house.  Wish the runners luck!!

~Robin

Whether you grow it, or buy it, the very best way to store fresh asparagus is upright, in a glass with a few inches of water, in the refrigerator.

If you purchase it, look for the bunch with the least shriveled ends.  When you get home, trim the ends, and place the bunch immediately in the glass of water. 

It will keep for several days this way!

For us, asparagus goes in salad, pizza, and stir-fry, even omelets.  Or we steam it in the microwave with a tablespoon of water until tender-crisp and bright green.   Or drizzle it with olive oil, sprinkle with coarse salt, and put it on the grill.  Yum!

Do you like asparagus?

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Time to get those tomatoes into the soil (or containers, if you plan to have a patio garden.)  Just be ready to protect them from the brutal winds until they are more acclimated.  I plant mine next to a fence and grow them vertically, weaving the vines between the wire fence.  You can also use a large cage for support.

Today, I planted some squash seeds and some kohlrabi, hoping to take advantage of our expected rain this weekend.

It’s also time to get the green beans and cucumbers in.  Peppers prefer a little warmer nights than we’re having. 

Flowers can go in now too. 

Do you plan on growing some vegetables?  Have you already planted flowers? 

Robin

I fully expect these plants will make a comeback.    I’ll let you know.

Have you planted any tomato seeds or do you have plants ready for the garden?  It looks like we’ll be able to get those planted out soon.

If you have seedlings coming up in milk jugs or small containers, repot them to something larger.  Those roots need room to grow!  Be sure to protect them from all the wind we’ve been having.

What’s blooming in your yard?  I still have some tulips blooming and the creeping phlox is popping out. And one of my favorites…Star of Bethlehem which is sprinkled everywhere.

It’s still not too late to start some lettuce, or other greens.   Are you trying it this year?  It’s really easy.

And we’ll be at church on Saturday night.  Why not attend a less populated church service than your normal one this weekend and leave your seat for someone who only comes at Easter?

What are your Easter plans?  We have family coming over Sunday afternoon and will have an egg hunt with all 6 grands. (may be indoors if it rains!) (a pic of the grands from last year) 

May my heart be filled with the overwhelming Love of a Father who would sacrifice his only son….for me.

Robin

If you’ve never enjoyed a hummingbird feeder, go purchase one! Now is the time to get one up.   You will so enjoy the flitting and buzzing of those itty-bitty birds. They are FUN to watch!   Buy a feeder that has a large enough container that you won’t have to refill it every few days.  Use 4 parts water to 1 part sugar.  The red fool coloring really isn’t necessary. 

Go ahead and purchase those tomatoes and peppers, but don’t set them out until after April 15.  Repot them into larger containers so their roots will have plenty of room. “Harden” them off by putting them outdoors on warm days, starting in filtered sun, and protected from the wind, a couple of hours a day.  Extend the time until they are able to stay in full sun all day.  Think of it as “sunbathing” for vegetable plants J

Plant green beans, squash, cucumbers and other tender vegetable seeds when it’s warmer….close to April 15, or later if we still have this cold spell. 

Still not too late to apply weed-n-feed to mature grass.

Still not too late to sow shade grass. 

Feed your rose bushes, and cut away anything dead.

Clean out your flowerbeds to have ready for new flowers. 

Prune your flowering shrubs soon AFTER they bloom.

When your daffodils and tulips finish blooming, leave the foliage until it dies back.  Then you can cut it off.  The green leaves give the bulbs their nutrients for next year’s blooms.  You can also bend the foliage over and tie in a bundle with twine or one of the bulb’s own leaves.   

It’s still not too late to plant some lettuce, spinach or swiss chard….even in your flower bed or a pot.

If you planted asparagus recently, don’t be discouraged if you haven’t seen any baby spears.  We just need warmer weather here in OK!

Have you ever had a hummingbird feeder?

What’s going on this weekend?  We’ll be cheering on Ali, Anna, Cody Light, Abbi, and  others who are running the 10K (6.1 miles)  Sunday at the Redbud Classic.

Robin

So?  What will we do about those plants we’ve already put out?  Well, if they’re in pots, bring them inside, or at least into the garage.

Remember these?  They’ll be coming indoors this weekend.

The lettuce

spinach

carrot seeds  we recently planted

the parsley (which has been in the ground about a week)

as well as the peas, potatoes and onions (which are all peeking through the soil) should be okay, even with a freeze, snow or ice.

Now these itty-bitty pears? 

We’ll see…but whatever the frost doesn’t get, the squirrels probably will

The shrubs, rosebushes, and perennials that have already started coming up should all be safe.  But, if you planted flowers, herbs, or plants recently, you may want to cover them during this cold snap with a towel, sheet,  or even a box, just to be safe. 

Now, for a suggestion I think you’ll appreciate.  Go purchase this plant!

This  is rosemary.  If this was “smellavision”, oh my!  You would love this fragrance!  I purchased this plant at Wal-Mart for $3.50, and I’m sure you can find it at Lowe’s, Home Depot, and any nursery.  I use it in hummus (recipe to come next week), chopped and added to olive oil for grilling vegetables, chicken, etc.  and several other recipes.  It adds the most wonderful flavor to your dishes….your family will think you’re a gourmet cook!  And they might just be right!

So, probably no gardening this weekend. What will your family do during the “Big Spring Blizzard”?  Looks like game night and either potato soup or white chicken chili for us.  Stay safe, stay warm!

Robin

You can show your children that carrots actually look like this

Not this

Your kids can learn that potatoes grow underground and that tomatoes grow on a vine. 

You can do all sort of math projects, like measuring your plot, weighing your production, counting seeds and seedlings.  And the science:  Everything from labeling plant parts, the biology of reproduction, to measuring the pH of your soil! 

Entomology—good bugs and bad bugs in the garden

The vocabulary:  decomposition, organic, pollination, germination, etc.

Geography, economics, nutrition.

And the greatest for me:  the scriptural application and Truths found in dirt, seeds, plants, vines, water, giving, receiving…well, you get it.

And then there’s just the good old hard work, not to mention the yummy good taste and high nutritional value of fresh vegetables. 

So? What are you waiting for?  Think it’s time to start growing some veggies of your own?  Experience is the best teacher of all!

Robin

Soon these will be green onions, a LOT of them! 

Potatoes are in the ground

Lettuce, spinach and peas will go in this week.

Time to prune the rosebushes and crepe myrtles. 

Plant shade grass this month

Fertilize already existing shade grass

Scalp Bermuda this month

Begin clearing flower beds of leaves and spring weeds.

Plant perennials this  month and next

WATER everything!  We are extremely dry in Oklahoma right now.

Along with the daffodils, the cherry bushes and peach trees are beginning to bloom.  It’s spring!

Planning some outdoor work this weekend?

Robin

Did you know you can grow your own asparagus bed?

Well, you can!  And it’s fairly easy.  In fact, the hardest part is planting it.  After that, give it some water, keep it mulched a bit and you can enjoy fresh asparagus spears from March to June in central Oklahoma.  And the best part?  Your plants will live for about 30 years! 

Purchase asparagus roots (crowns) at Lowe’s, Home Depot, Farmer’s Grain (in Edmond), or your local nursery. Look for “all-male” varieties, as they will give you heavier production.   Each crown will produce about ½ pound per year, so consider how many plants you’d like to have.

Dig your trench about 6 inches down.  Lay your roots in the trench, about 1 foot apart.  Cover with soil, but don’t tamp down.  Water. 

This year you’re only going to establish the roots by allowing the spears to grow into pretty ferns that will reach about 3 feet tall.  When the ferns die back this fall remove the dead foliage.  Then next year when your asparagus stalks appear, harvest the stalks when they are about 5-8 inches tall, and tips are closed. (cut or break off at the soil line)  Don’t worry if you miss a few days harvesting.  The spears will turn into ferns again giving nutrients to the roots for more growth next year.

That’s it.  A little work for a reward that will last for years to come!

Do you like asparagus?  Ever considered growing it?

Robin

I want to start a vegetable garden this year.  Where do I start? 

My advice:

Start small.  Find a plot that receives at least 6 hours of full sun a day.  It also needs to be a fairly level space.

Next, begin digging out the sod.  (This is the hardest part!)  Remove as many of the roots as possible.  At this point you may choose to add plenty of a good quality garden-blend soil (either bags or have a load delivered), or take your chances with the soil that is there.  You can also have your soil tested at your county extension office to determine if anything needs to be added to improve it. 

Rake smooth ready to receive seeds or plants. 

Your bed can be edged with rocks, bricks, landscape timbers, etc. 

Next, determine what you want to plant.  I’d suggest starting with lettuce, radishes, a couple of tomato and pepper plants and maybe a couple of herbs. We’ll talk about planting lettuce and radishes soon.

Read up on gardening at:

 Square Foot Gardening

Organic Gardening

Garden Web Forums

Keep it simple, and you’ll enjoy some fresh vegetables this summer!

Do you have more gardening questions?  Ask away.

Robin