Back in the Garden

Garden updates, spring weather forecast, planting combinations and weekend to-do's

It feels so good to get back in the garden. Last weekend was my first real gardening time basking in that incredibly warming sun. I love this season when the snow has gone (hopefully), everything is waking up, people are excited to spend time outside again, and the garden's energy is coming alive.

Mid April Garden Update

I spread all the compost and worm castings on each bed, but before that, I cleared out all the weeds and weed roots the best I could. I also began to clean up the surrounding area from leaves; there is more to do this weekend for sure. The ground has been very muddy the last few days, so hopefully, with this warmer weather and less rain, it can dry out some, and I can start raking leaves and weeds out.

I have officially planted the first seeds of the season! It's a little late for me, as I usually start my seeds inside in February, but nevertheless, I have planted butter crunch lettuce, a lettuce mix, and snap peas so far. Although I'm a few weeks behind my usual gardening schedule, all the plants should take off nicely now as the weather gets warmer; also, assuming there's no pest pressure, I might have to cover the seedlings once they start popping up.

Weather for the next few days

I'm in Minnesota zone 5b, so everything is in degrees Fahrenheit. The temperature is really starting to hike up. April weather fluctuates wildly. Keeping all the newly planted seeds watered will be key in this crazy weather. As long as the low night temperature keeps warming up, I know that soon, in the next few weeks, I can start planting more frost-sensitive crops, like beans and flowers. I play this by ear but usually shoot for night temps above 40-45 degrees consistently. Usually, this happens in the last week of April or the second week of May for me here in Minnesota.

What’s been accomplished so far

• Removed weeds from garden beds

• Compost and Worm Casting added to each bed

• Peas and Lettuce Seeds Planted

lots of weeds, old trellises, leaves and grasses

Weed free and freshly topped with compost

This weekends Garden To-Do

• Plant Radishes seeds

• Plant Swiss Chard seeds

• Plant Kale seeds

• Plant Spinach seeds

• Add in the Pea and Cucumber Trellis

• Continue to clean up weeds and surrounding path area.

The Garden Planting Plan

My goal is to maximize impact quickly, packing as much in one space as possible and making it as beautiful as possible. As you may or may not know, I have difficulty containing my creativity and enthusiasm for gardening. I just love gardening so much. When I see a space, my mind starts racing with ideas, designs, and plants. This plan is me restraining myself and focusing on making small improvements to the space and making what I have as beautiful as possible. Here are the raised bed layouts I shared in my previous Wednesday posts.

Planting Combinations I’m Trying Again

Tomatoes and Lettuce

I love to plant these two together. Once the tomato plant starts setting fruit, maturing, and spreading out, the ground directly surrounding it becomes shaded, making it perfect for a vegetable like lettuce to fill in and stay cool in the summer heat. This prevents the lettuce from bolting or going to seed and becoming bitter, which also uses an otherwise wasted space.

Sunflowers and Zucchini

Sunflowers, my favorite flower by far, are a great companion with zucchini. The large leaves of a zucchini plant help shade the ground around the sunflowers, keeping the soil cool and moist in the summer heat. Plus, together with yellow pops, this combination looks visually stunning and attracts many pollinators. I'm looking forward to this raised bed plan the most.

What are you looking forward to this weekend? A little gardening maybe, visiting a garden center or greenhouse or spending time outside? Comment below how you are enjoying spring.

There’s so much more to come together in this space, lots more planting to do. It’s going to be a fun couple of months. See you Friday friends!

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