Let’s Get Gardening!
I cannot begin to express my gratitude to the people who have reached out in support of us over the last six weeks. I can only – very humbly – say, “Thank you, from the very bottom of my heart!” Your purchases of gift certificates and items from our website and over the phone have kept us going; we get excited every time another order comes in. Hearing from everyone – over and over – how much you care that we make it through this makes us understand, if we didn’t already, how very fortunate we are to have such wonderful customers (friends), and what a fabulous community we have. Thank you.
Jennifer
In this month’s issue of Let’s Get Gardening
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In this month’s issue:
I saw something recently that said “2020 – the year that has 31 days in January, 29 days in February, 300 days in March, and 5,000 days in April!” I think we can all relate to that. For so many reasons, April has seriously dragged on and on – the fact that we were all pretty much stuck at home, and that the weather wasn’t very conducive for getting outside much of the month among them. Fortunately, the weather is looking up for the next little bit – at least in terms of sunshine. Next week is going to be a bit chillier than average for this time of year, but “average” is an interesting concept, as it’s actually not unusual for it to be chilly for the early part of the month – in spite of what the “average” might be. If you’ve be gardening in Michigan for any length of time, this won’t come as a surprise to you!
Regardless of the temperature, May is the month when gardening really starts to kick into gear in Southeast Michigan, though. For information on what to do when his month, read on:
Vegetable Garden:
- Plant potatoes early in the month, but make sure the soil has warmed up to at least 45°. Potatoes prefer somewhat cooler temperatures for growing, and will stop
producing if the soil temperature goes over 80°. So, planting as early as you can is best, but if the soil is too cold and wet when you plant, the seed potatoes may decay instead of growing. - Onion sets should also be planted early this month, as they need a somewhat long growing time, and also don’t do as well in the heat.
- Broccoli, cabbage, kale, and head lettuce can still be planted now, as can rhubarb, asparagus, and strawberries. But get all of these in the ground soon, as these all prefer cooler temperatures. You likely won’t be harvesting the rhubarb, asparagus and strawberries this year, though – in general, they will need a full year to get established before harvesting.
- Plant herb seedlings that don’t mind the slightly chilly weather such as parsley, thyme, sage, and oregano, early in the month. Others, including rosemary, basil, cilantro, and dill should wait until all danger of frost has passed (which won’t be until at least May 15th).
- Seeds to plant now include leaf lettuce, spinach, carrots, radishes, and beets. Beans can be planted beginning about mid-month, if the soil has warmed up. Seeds planted in soil that is too cold will likely just rot as they wait for the soil temperature that is just right for them.
- If you are starting your own plants, it’s time to start squash and cucumber seeds indoors, so that they are ready to transplant outside at the end of the month.
Flower Garden:
- Now is a great time to get a jump on weeds, before they get out of control. The good thing about all the rain we got the last few days is that it makes pulling weeds a lot easier!
- Most perennials can be planted any time now – sooner is even a little better than later, as you want them to have a chance to get well-rooted before the hot dry weather sets in. This is also a good time to divide late-spring and summer-blooming plants.
- It’s still a little too early to plant most annuals right now. By about mid-month, it should be OK, depending on the temperatures. Remember, all the annuals available now have been living in heated green houses. Putting them in the ground right now would only shock them, and slow their growth.
- Patio pots and hanging baskets can be put out, but you will want to bring them inside at night (an attached garage is fine), if the temps are dipping below about 40°.
Trees and Shrubs:
- Now is a good time to plant new trees and shrubs.
- Prune early-blooming shrubs, such as forsythia and quince, one they have dropped their blossoms, for better growth in the future.
- Don’t be in a hurry to put new mulch down around your trees and shrubs. Doing so when the soil is still cold will keep it cold longer, slowing growth.
Birds:
- If you haven’t gotten out your hummingbird and oriole feeders yet, don’t delay any longer. They’re here, and they’re hungry from their long trip north.
- Keep your seed feeders full at this time as well. Our birds are busy building nests, laying eggs, and raising baby birds – all hard work that requires lots of nutrition.
- It’s also time to put out bird baths, if you haven’t already. Remember to keep them, as well as feeders, cleaned on a regular basis to help prevent disease in your feathered friends.
More info on all of these tips can be found in our monthly newsletter: Read the March 2020 issue of Let’s Get Gardening
Happy Gardening!
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We have a number of our products available for purchase there, and are adding more every day. If you don’t see something you are looking for there, give us a call. We’re in the store Tuesday through Sunday from 10am to 5pm, and would be happy to help you find what you need, and can even send you pictures of items. We can’t let you into the store to browse just yet, but you can do “curbside” pickup out back, and we also offer limited local delivery.