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Queeriscaping
Gardener, Heel Thyself
The cold turn this spring has taken may make you feel like the time to plant might never come, but fret not my gardening friends, as there are many things to be done.
The general rule around these parts is not to plant until Mothers Day, or mid-May. This is the perfect time to start germinating your seeds indoors as most vegetables and perennials suggest germination indoors six weeks before planting. It’s best to begin with a commercially-prepared potting soil, which is sterilized and has the correct balance of nutrients and soil components. The best mix I’ve found is through Gardens Alive. It’s most convenient to plant a lot of seeds in a flat or a 6” to 8” container. Always follow the planting instructions to the letter—depth is critical! After your seeds are snugly planted, place them in the brightest window you have, preferably west or south. Make sure you water daily, as the top layer of soil will dry out quickly. After the first set of true leaves appear, it’s time to transplant the strongest seedlings into their own containers. Choose the seedlings with the strongest stems and the most vigorous looking leaves and gently transplant them into six packs or 4” grow pots, discarding the rest.
Continue to give them consistent water and as much light as possible and you’ll have wonderful young plants to move into the garden on May 15th.
If you ordered potted plants or bare-rooted perennials from a catalogue, you’ll want to take a different approach. If the potted plants are hearty perennials, they can be planted now, but keep an eye on them and cover them if snow is forecast. If they’re not, it’s best to treat them like your seedlings.
If you’ve ordered bare rooted perennials, they are currently dormant and should remain dormant until the danger of frost has passed. These plants can safely remain in their packaging for up to 2 weeks, if stored in a cool, shady location (a garage is good) and their roots are moistened every 3 days or so. In my opinion it is easier and healthier for the plants to “heel” them in. This is basically planting them in a temporary location to prevent them from breaking dormancy, and to prevent the roots from either drying out or rotting. Dig a V shaped trench in a protected and shady location. Make sure the area dug is large enough to completely cover the roots and give the plants enough space to breathe. Lay the plants in at an angle, roughly 45 degrees, and thoroughly cover the roots with soil without packing it down. Keep the soil moist, checking it every week or so, and when May 15th comes, you’ll have healthy roots ready to spring to life in your garden.
It won’t be long now, blossoms. Spring is truly in the air!
Brandie Balken is a horticulturist in Salt Lake City and can be seen at Cactus & Tropicals. |
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by Brandie Balken