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APRIL 2018 • Vo l . 3 , I s s u e 4 | 7
Lettuce; radishes; beets; Swiss chard; turnips; cole crops, such as
cabbage, kale and broccoli; carrots; other greens; and many other
varieties all can be added to the garden.
Many are planted from seed, but you can also find plants at good
nurseries. I do it both ways.
Tried and true
This is the start of the perennial planting season. These plants come
back every year on their own.
I’m always compelled to write about corydalis lutea, as it blooms
from late April through No-vember.
Long-time subscribers
might be tired of hearing about
this plant, but it’s something
every gardener should know
about.
It will grow just about any-where
and makes a colony of
plants only after a few years.
Mix it up a little
One little trick I like to use an-nually
is combining carrot and
radish seed when planting.
I’ll mix a packet of each and
throw them down on a bed of
compost. The radishes come up
first and will be ready in a month. The carrots take a few weeks to
germinate. As the radishes come up, I’ll thin them, using the thin-nings
for salads. All root crops need room to grow underground. By
the time the radishes are all being pulled, the carrots will come into
their own.
Radishes need cool weather to head up and are milder when har-vested
early in the season.
Take a look at the nursery to find interesting varieties or mixes of
different colors. That goes for both crops.
Talk gardening on Facebook
As the Everybody Gardens Seed of the Month Club contin-ues
to grow, we’re adding a new exclusive group to Facebook.
It’s a place where all of us can talk gardening and compare
notes.
Just go to www.facebook.com/EverybodyGardens, scroll
down until you see the area for groups and the Everybody
Gardens Seed of the Month Club. There’s a button there to
join. Once you click it, an administrator will get you set up
and approved. Then you’ll be able to post.
Right now, there’s a poll I’ve posted, asking “when is your
first planting of the season?” I’d love to know.
I hope you’ll sign up so we can continue the gardening
conversation.
Don’t forget about the lawn
It’s time to fertilize the lawn. There are plenty of organic granular
versions that will do the job. If grass has the right pH and fertility, it
will outgrow anything. Get a soil test from your county’s cooperative
extension office. It’s around $10 and will provide all the details about
what’s lacking in the soil and what needs to be done to correct it.
Keep the grass long, three and a half inches to shade out weeds.
A splash of color
Pansies and violas are one of the first flowers planted in the garden.
They are perfect for containers, adding instant color around the
house. They’re edible too!
Enjoy your time in the garden
The aroma of spring, the long days and warmer temperatures make
April a wonderful month for gardeners. Enjoy every moment of this
special month.
Corydalis lutea is a favorite
of bees and gardeners.