Article written by Jan Green

If you happen to hear someone humming the well-known Christmas song “ It’s the most Wonderful Time of the Year “, you can probably make a pretty safe bet that, given it’s spring and not December, it’s likely coming from an avid gardener. Much like a young child eagerly looks forward to Christmas, gardeners around the world get that special feeling when planting season is just around the corner and the anticipation of potential bountiful harvests fills their thoughts.

Actually, some of you may already be planting outdoors if you grow cool season crops. We mostly grow warm season crops, but that doesn’t mean planting hasn’t already begun. HPU has once again offered to start our pepper and tomato plants for us. We’re so fortunate to have this opportunity which opens a whole world of tomatoes and peppers to us. We at the garden are also busy planting companion plants indoors for the vegetables we grow. Flowers and herbs like marigolds, basil, dill, cosmos, and amaranth will be used to lure helpers in the form of insects to the garden or repel various garden pests. The plan is to have these ready to pop into the ground before the actual vegetable crops are planted so the plants get a little extra protection from the get go. Every little bit helps, and we hope those flowers and herbs also add a touch of color and beauty to the garden.

Currently, the elbon rye we have planted for nematode control in select beds is being terminated and incorporated into the soil, a backbreaking job. This should give it time to break down so we can plant when the weather is predictably frost free. Thankfully only five beds are left to go, and we’re so ready for that job to be history. It’s been a workout. Planting and harvesting are more preferred tasks, but preparing the soil is vital to the success of the garden, so we endure.

Asparagus is giving it another try, gingerly poking its head above ground to see if old man winter is lurking somewhere nearby ready to attack, causing the asparagus to take cover and dart below the ground once again. Strawberries are beginning to bloom, and the onion tops are putting on size. Those onion tops are crucial in order to have nice big onions. They should grow, grow, grow for the next couple of months after which time the bulbs start doing their thing- putting on size as they begin to push their way out of the ground.

March will continue to be a busy month. Leaves need to be shredded for the mulch that will cover the beds after planting, cattle panel trellises need to be put in place for the vining plants like cucumbers and squash, various beds will get a treatment of Neem seed meal, and ten garden beds will be rebuilt- a huge project that students and staff from HPU will help us to complete. Worms need to be separated from the worm castings so it’s ready to use when we make worm castings tea which happens about two times per month. Those worms have lots of work to do, so we don’t want to lose any in the process. Parts of the garden also need to be repainted to keep it looking good. The plum tree needs to be braced, the entryway and hummingbird gardens need to be pruned and weeded, the cement bird bath is about ready to topple over and needs to be straightened, and on and on it goes. Oh yes, there’s always something to do at the garden. Join us any weekday morning. I’m sure we can find a job to fit your talents and abilities. Come be a part of helping put food on the table of someone who could use a little help right here in our community.