N&C Midwest: March & April 2023

Started preparing for spring planting today.  Prepped two sections of a raised bed for planting in a couple weeks. Refreshed the soil mix with some coarse vermiculite to add to the 5-year-old mixture, and added some compost.


This section of the bed will be planted with spring (green) onions in about 2 weeks.


The section in the front of the bed will be planted with Kale and Swiss Chard in about 3 weeks.

The tree trimmer dropped of 10 yards of wood chips, so I started refreshing the chips around the raised beds. The original chips had composted down so much that the soil was showing through them, so it is in need of some more chips.  I got about 1/4th of the new chips down before it started raining yesterday.

Beautiful pics - now as for me.. I've got peppers/eggplants up.. lettuce/greens/herbs are up, and just seeded the tomatoes - and I'm out of room under the lights.  

Looking forward to spring and moving things to the patio containers.

Still planning here, need to clean out a couple beds and do a refresh.  Will be ready to put in some spinaches and radishes in a couple weeks.  Also will be time then to start my flowers!  Nasturtiums, marigolds for sure.  Will be interesting to see if the fall planted bulbs come up, I hope so!

Removed the straw from the two beds at the arbor so that the sun can start warming the soil for planting the Sugar Peas in a couple weeks.

Also finished spreading the load of wood chips around the beds. Need another load of 10 or 15 yards of chips to finish upgrading the beds for the summer.

Spring can't be too far off, the Daffodils and Hyacinths are blooming.

Since today is the first day of Spring, and since it was such a beautiful warm day, I decided to remove the winter straw mulch from the raised beds to the compost bin so that the sun can start warming the soil in the beds for beginning to plant in a couple weeks. 

I am so jealous of  some of the better weather that is somewhere in the Midwest.  Not by me,   It's cold here near Chicago.

I tried to turn my newly created compost pile today and its still frozen.  Yuk.

Dani from Burr Ridge

danieggert wrote:I am so jealous of  some of the better weather that is somewhere in the Midwest.  Not by me,   It's cold here near Chicago.

I tried to turn my newly created compost pile today and its still frozen.  Yuk.

Dani from Burr Ridge

Don’t despair!  Glad to meet ya!  Spring is a capricious friend.  We cannot get too crazy!  Plenty of time to grow.  

I am suspicious of this weather…what do you want to eat/grow?

The first green onions were pulled today.  They are still a bit small, but they are delicious.  Many more to come since I started 200 seeds.

Happy April 1st everyone!!

I was crazy busy last month and have not been able to post. My 2023 garden plan had a huge last minute change and I have been frantically working on things in the hopes of getting everything ready for my spring crops to go in. We decided to add more raised beds and while I am SUPER excited about it, it has been hard work building and gathering materials needed for the Mel's Mix. But I am happy to say that I now have (2) additional 4x10 foot beds, and (3) additional 2x8 foot beds!

Indoors, I started peppers, tomatillos, thyme, marjoram and kale in late Feb/early March and those are looking good! I started some lettuce, broccoli and bok choy a few weeks after that with mixed results. I have never grown broccoli before so we will see how it goes. Just started my tomatoes, ground cherries, basil and marigolds. Still waiting for them to germinate  

Outdoors, I pulled back my mulched leaf cover yesterday on one of existing beds and was so excited to see how beautiful the soil was and I was delighted by how many worms I saw! Who would have thought how rewarding and excited that would feel! I direct sowed some peas, radishes, mache and spinach. Have a TON of flowers/herbs that I have been winter sowing since January. 

I think my biggest reward so far.....I was able to gather 12-13 cubic feet of HOMEMADE compost from the 2 bin compost system that we have been using. This was the largest amount I have ever been able to gather at one time! I am super proud of myself and have turned my husband into a believer! I flipped the unfinished compost over into the empty bin so I can start filling again. 

I am so excited to see everyone's progress this gardening season and sharing all our successes!

Exciting, JAM23!  I have a lot to do out there….super windy here, lost a bunch of trees in the neighborhood, and of course downed branches.  I have never seen weather like this…

My beds are dormant at the moment.  Starting my marigolds, nasturtiums, Cleome, and others tomorrow.  My cold frame could go in, but I am not prepared this year.  I would love to get my radishes, sugar snaps, lettuces, turnips and beets going!

I hear you about the wind and downed trees/branches. We lost quite a few large branches from our old silver maple and it was a mess! Not doing anything outside today. It's cold and windy here. Yuck! I did start some lettuce inside today just because I wanted to DO something! Still working on getting some cold frames built. I have some great old windows to use, but haven't figured out where to put them in my yard. That's okay. Gives me something to look forward too!

LOL, I get that!  I lost power off and on yesterday to the point I was afraid to get in the shower!  Today cold but less wind….

Got my flower seeds started.  Waiting for the warmer weather they are predicting this week to get out into the SFG.  I have things to amend one bed….so will do that if I get a chance to plant.

Planted some radish & spinach seeds in the raised bed, and started some kale, cabbage, and Bok Choy seeds in the greenhouse.  Getting behind on seed starting this year as life keeps getting in the way.

The seed starting has officially begun....

OhioGardener, I'm hoping the radish and spinach seeds I planted a few days are still there! We have gotten SO MUCH rain over the last few days that I hope they didn't float away!

Started to harden off my kale plants. They have gotten big and I am hopeful that they will be okay getting transplanted in the next few days. May 4th is my "last frost date" so, we are about 4 weeks away. 

Life has a way of doing that! I always find myself wishing I had more time in my garden! Oh well, maybe someday

JAM23 wrote:Started to harden off my kale plants. They have gotten big and I am hopeful that they will be okay getting transplanted in the next few days. May 4th is my "last frost date" so, we are about 4 weeks away.

The good thing about Kale is that it is very frost hardy, and established Kale can even take a freeze. I usually get it planted in the garden a week or so ahead of the last frost date, and if we get a frost or freeze warning after that I just throw sheet over it overnight to protect it.

We will soon be making some Rhubarb pie. It is usually ready around the 1st of May, but this year it is ahead of schedule.

Love rhubarb pie!  Or crisp, or really ANYTHING!

A funny story on Rhubarb.  Last summer a neighbor lady asked if she could have a few Rhubarb stalks to make some Rhubarb Sauce. She said her husband didn't like Rhubarb so she just wanted a little for herself. Of course I gave her some.

The next day she called and said I wouldn't believe what happened to the Rhubarb. She said her husband wanted to taste the sauce she made to see what it was like, so she gave him a spoon and let him taste it. She laughed when she said he liked it so much he ate the entire bowl of it, and she didn't get any!  Ha!

So, I told her to come and get some more stalks, like I tried to give her the first time.

I'm in the minority here.. but every time I see Rhubarb.. I go EWWWWW  - even looking at the plant.  There are a few things I won't eat, and that is one.. so I guess more everyone that loves it - you can gladly have my share.

nrstooge wrote:I'm in the minority here.. but every time I see Rhubarb.. I go EWWWWW.

That is why we encourage people to plant and grow only what they like to eat. Everyone has different likes and dislikes, and they should grow what they like and not grow what they don't like.  As for me, I love Rhubarb and will continue growing it.

So true, plant what you eat.  Same with varieties - plant what works in your area/growing conditions and to your taste buds.  We are not all cookie cutters and I wouldn't have it any other way.  I have just added a Greenstalk planter (vertical) and Tiny tim or mico tomatoes work great in them - Using Mel's in it of course to keep the containers from getting too compacted.  With container gardening on my apartment patio, up was the only way to increase my production.

Phew-direct sowed some beets, chard and carrots after work today. I am hoping these warm days help to warm up the soil to help them germinate and the cooler temps we are expecting next week will help them grow. Hope it's not too early!

My 1st set of radishes have popped up as well as a few peas and spinach. It's exciting to see things growing again!