Preparing the Garden for Spring Planting

Since our theme for the month of March is "Preparing" and the fact that we are itching for Spring to finally be here, we decided to do an interview on how to prepare for spring planting! There isn't a better woman to ask how to prepare the garden than Aunt Mary Ann (Mom and Mother-In-Law to Mary-Kate and Rachel).

If you've ever had the the chance to step foot onto Mary Ann's farm, you would most certainly agree with our decision to interview her. The front yard, with an American Flag

proudly hanging and a white picket fence, it is the epitome of the American Dream. But what makes her front yard look even more sublime are the plants, flowers, and trees that lie within the landscape. As you head around the side of her home, you are instantly greeted with a fruit and vegetable garden so tempting you'll just "have" to reach for something to eat. With a garden only a few steps behind the vegetable garden, sits the statue of an Angel, in memory of her dark haired, brown eye'd son Jacob. Making her garden even more magical are bird-feeders hanging and butterflies swarming her perfect flowers. And as you head to the back of the house, a gorgeous view of God's land is before you and you become entranced with the smells of her flowers and the pure sound of nature surrounding you.

To put it mildly, Aunt Mary Ann's garden is quite magical.

March 15, 2018

Preparing the Garden for Spring Planting

By Mary Ann

Looking out the window at my garden spot is not exactly an inspiration yet. The ground is still wet and cold. We did till the garden last fall after all the vegetables had been harvested and the dead vines had been pulled so that the ground could dry out sooner in the spring. I do see hyacinths, tulips, and daffodils peeking through in my flower beds, so as soon as we have a warm day I will rake off the dead leaves and brush that cover them.

When the soil in the garden is dry, we will spread fertilizer (12-12-12, which can be purchased at any hardware store or garden center)) on the surface and mix it into the soil with a tiller. This usually happens sometime in mid to late April as my farmer-husband can take a break from his field work to help me with the garden. (*Note the red flags in the garden photo--those are marking where my rhubarb plants are so that we don't run over them with the rototiller before they break through the ground.) Now is a good time to prune the raspberry canes to promote new growth and to fertilize the ground around the plants.

The early vegetables I will plant, which can withstand late frosts and cool temperatures, are: broccoli and cauliflower (plants) and lettuce and spinach (seed). Most other planting will be done as the weather gets warmer and the threat of frost is over:

Peppers (plants)

Onions (plants)

Green Beans (seeds)

Sweet Corn (seeds - we plant it in the field)

Tomatoes (plants)

Zucchini (plant)

Squash (plant)

Cucumbers (plant)

In the last few years I have enjoyed planting more herbs: basil, dill, oregano, thyme, and flat-leaf parsley. I made a separate little garden space for them near the house so that I am more likely to use them! They are also easier to keep weeded in this smaller area.

I do refer to reference books and other resources to improve my garden production. However, as with anything, trial and error has been my best teacher. I will never be the gardener that my mother, our Classic Woman, or Jeff's mother was. They spent so many hours bent over the rows of their huge gardens, pulling weeds and picking produce. They truly worked all summer long in their gardens and canned jars and jars of fruits and vegetables to feed their families through the year.