As March begins, we can’t be sure if it’s going to snow or rain but there are garden tasks for us to do.  Snow has buried any sprouts peeking up from the ground but the good news is that the snow means more water availability come spring.  As the days get longer there are indoor and outdoor garden preparations we can be doing now, including planting, pruning, and feeding! If you haven’t yet pruned your fruit trees (apples, pears, cherries, etc.) use a mild day to get that pruning done before the trees break dormancy and buds swell.  Basic pruning is the removal of dead, diseased ..read more

February is too early to start most seeds indoors but not too early to get organized and ready for planting in March-April.  Our growing season is too short for many plants like tomatoes, peppers, and many flowers to sow their seeds outdoors in the spring so we can get a jump start by starting them indoors and effectively extend the season. If we provide the right conditions of soil, light, and temperature our favorite plants can be ready to transplant in spring.  Buying our own seeds also lets us select the best varieties for local conditions (not what commercial sellers do!) and to ..read more

Despite the winter season there’s plenty to keep a gardener occupied.  If you haven’t ordered your garden seeds yet, start by listing seeds leftover from last year.   Then look at the short list of local seed companies that I list below (or any others that you like).  Browse online catalogs from the comfort of home. Don’t delay, the best varieties sell out early.  In this article I suggest a few winter tips and easy-to-do ideas that will make the coming garden season more productive.  If you can’t wait and want to grow something in mid-winter, consider micro-green ..read more

The 2024 gardening season has begun with the arrival of new seed catalogs!  Mid-winter is the ideal time to take inventory of what happened in 2023, which seeds will be needed and begin preparations for the next gardening season.  It’s also important to take care of indoor plants and get started with early pruning of woody plants when we have an occasional nice winter day.  Here are some details… Got seeds?  Before ordering new seeds, I like to check my inventory of leftovers that can be used.  Generally, seeds that are 1 or 2 years old will be fine this year so make a ..read more

Here are three simple tips that will help your Christmas tree stay green and hold its needles longer:  1)  Just before placing your tree in the stand, cut off 2 inches from the trunk bottom so there is a fresh wood exposed to submerge in the water.  If the cut surface has dried out after being cut it can no longer take up water. 2)  Always refill the stand reservoir with clean warm water through the holidays.  All cut plants & flowers take up warm water much better than cold water. 3)  Do not place any fresh fruit like bananas, apples, or pears in the same roo ..read more

Trees made the Green Mountains green all summer and now provide the beauty of autumn across the Vermont landscape.  Nature is now releasing them from their trees to add fertility and build soil.  We should convert those rich leaves into compost, not remove them as is often the misguided custom.  This message is all about not raking leaves and how to enrich your soil with your own compost. Since the first green buds of spring, tree roots have been pulling up essential minerals from deep in the earth to feed their growth and productivity.  Those nutrient minerals (calcium, ir ..read more

Seed Saving.  Gardeners and farmers have traditionally saved seeds from their favorite plants because we know that is the best way to have the best varieties and strains adapted to your local conditions.  Seeds contain the genetics of the parent plants and if you have a favorite heirloom tomato, bean or lettuce that does well for you why not save some seeds for next year?  Besides, they are free and abundant right now!  Seed Savers Exchange has been promoting seed saving for many years and offers very practical advice for beginners to get started. Not all plants lend themse ..read more

The rains of July and August have promoted plant diseases, weeds, soil nutrient loss, and some pests.  While harvesting onions, potatoes, tomatoes, and other vegetables it’s important to keep weeding and begin soil preparations for next year’s garden. Potatoes, onions, and winter squashes will store better if they are “cured” in a warmer space before storing.  Pest control in Brassicas is still needed to protect our late harvests from cabbage worms and aphids.  Finally, it’s time to harvest some herbs like basil (pesto!) and dill seeds and plant some more salad greens (but not b ..read more

We are in peak garden season and there’s a lot happening out there. The rainy start of July made two practices essential: weeding and disease control.  While you enjoy some satisfying harvests and flowers, stay alert to slugs and new pests to prevent damage and plant disease introduction. There are some more things that can be planted now too. Garlic harvest is almost here so let’s look at the best way to harvest, cure, and select your crop. Weeds are growing too and it’s important to prevent them from producing seed that will come back next year. This week we’ll look at these topics plus ..read more

June brings better gardening weather, what a welcome change!  Although it’s been dry for Vermont spring, recent rains have created better conditions to get new plants into their outdoor homes for the summer.  Broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, onions, and salad greens have mostly been planted out.  It’s time for heat loving plants like basil, tomatoes, beans, cucumbers, squash, okra, sweet potatoes, & peppers to be in the ground.  Annual flowers like geraniums, petunias, marigolds, nasturtiums, and snapdragons will do well outside now too.  Early transplanted tomatoes ..read more